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
Ayr, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Harrington Legal provides legal services in Ayr, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Building & ConstructionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Heidelberg, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Hartleys Lawyers provides legal services in Heidelberg, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Hawker Family Lawyers provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Forster, NSW · Mid North Coast
Hebblewhite Family Lawyers provides legal services in Forster, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Heydons Lawyers & Attorneys provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
General Practice (regional generalist)+8 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Hinde Ginges Boyd Lawyers provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Commercial Litigation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Essendon, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Hughes Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Essendon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Probate & Estate Administration2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: italian
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Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
James Taylor Bathurst Lawyer provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates · Traffic Offences · Bail Applications · Coronial Inquests · Drink & Drug Driving
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Bega, NSW · South Coast
Jennifer Chalker Lawyer provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · General Practice (regional generalist)Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bondi Junction, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
JGP Lawyers & Conveyancers provides legal services in Bondi Junction, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Somerton, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Justice First Legal provides legal services in Somerton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · NDIS & Disability Law · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law
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Karratha, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Karratha Legal Alliance provides legal services in Karratha, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Kelly & McHale Family Lawyers provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides conveyancing services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Narooma, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Narooma, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Kozarov Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & SeparationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
KPW Lawyers provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
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.
