Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
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A family lawyer's early advice shapes everything that follows: what a fair property split looks like for your circumstances, how parenting time is likely to be arranged, and which steps must happen before court. Most matters resolve through negotiation or mediation, with consent orders making the agreement binding.
Why family law matters
Separation affects where children live, the home, super and future finances. Decisions made in the first months, often informally, can shape the final outcome, so early advice avoids costly mistakes.
The Australian context
Family law is federal. The Family Law Act 1975 governs parenting and property for married and most de facto couples, heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, except in Western Australia, where the Family Court of WA hears these matters. Parenting disputes usually require family dispute resolution before court.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Summit Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Insolvency & Restructuring and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP Services · Family Law · Criminal Law · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sydney Legal Advisers provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
The Australian Law Firm provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+2 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Burleigh Heads, QLD · Gold Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
The Family Village provides legal services in Burleigh Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Surrogacy & Adoption, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Surrogacy & Adoption+3 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Townsville Family Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Doncaster East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Village Family Lawyers provides legal services in Doncaster East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yea, VIC · Hume & North East
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Williams Hunt provides legal services in Yea, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Buying or Selling a Business · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Williamson Isabella Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Powers of Attorney & Guardianship, Wills & Estates and Personal Injury.
Powers of Attorney & Guardianship+7 moreWills & Estates · Personal Injury · Criminal Law · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Torquay, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Wylde Family Law provides legal services in Torquay, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Skilled & Business Visas.
Family Law+2 moreParenting & Child Custody · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Djugun, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in Djugun, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Partner & Family Visas+5 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Family Law · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Adrian Holmes Law Services provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albany, WA · Great Southern
Albany Family Law provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Binding Financial Agreements · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tumut, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Allwright Bourke Lawyers & Conveyancing provides legal services in Tumut, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Contract Law · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hughesdale, VIC · South East Melbourne
Asher Freeman Lawyers provides legal services in Hughesdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · NDIS & Disability Law3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, cantonese
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Atlas Lawyers Conveyancing provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tuggerah, NSW · Central Coast
Aubrey Brown Lawyers provides legal services in Tuggerah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kiama, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Australian Family Lawyers provides legal services in Kiama, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
West Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Australian Law Group provides legal services in West Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Personal Injury and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 morePersonal Injury · Wills & Estates · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Aylward Game Solicitors provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Professional Negligence · Employment LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lennox Head, NSW · Northern Rivers
Baker Mannering & Hart incorporating SLL provides legal services in Lennox Head, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Elder Law & Aged Care · Traffic Offences
Understand the next step
A practical guide to family law
What to discuss at the first meeting
Start by separating immediate arrangements from longer-term decisions. A family-law consultation can identify whether parenting, finances, divorce or personal safety requires a separate step, and who should advise on each.
A general family-law engagement should specify which issues it covers rather than promising to resolve every consequence of separation.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of work
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Questions to ask a family law adviser
Which issue should be addressed first?
Will you coordinate related property and estate work?
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What are consent orders?
Consent orders are an agreement about parenting or property that the court makes into formal, enforceable orders without a hearing. Both parties must agree and sign.
Do I have to go to court?
Most family matters are resolved without a trial. Court becomes necessary when negotiation fails, when there is urgency, or when safety is at risk.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
