Family & Relationships
Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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.
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.
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.
Family Law firms in the directory
2,444 firms
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
Barry Nilsson provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Glen Iris, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Bartram Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glen Iris, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Auburn, NSW · Western Sydney
Bayari, Ilknur provides legal services in Auburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Caulfield East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Bella & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Caulfield East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
BJH LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Geraldton, WA · Mid West & Gascoyne
Bowlay Family Law WA provides legal services in Geraldton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Gawler South, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Budden Law provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Buscombe Family Law provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Weston Creek, ACT · Canberra
C Power Lawyers provides legal services in Weston Creek, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Parenting & Child Custody.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Clarity Lawyers & Associates provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Coulter Legal provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Camden, NSW · Western Sydney
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides legal services in Camden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wangara, WA · Perth North
D'Angelo Legal provides legal services in Wangara, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Daykin Family Law provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Emerge Legal provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Kent Town, SA · Adelaide Metro
Eminent Lawyers provides legal services in Kent Town, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Freemont Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Albany, WA · Great Southern
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Grover Law provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Gullickson Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Understand the next step
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.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
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.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning 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.
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.
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
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.
Most family matters are resolved without a trial. Court becomes necessary when negotiation fails, when there is urgency, or when safety is at risk.
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.
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.
