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
Lamont Law provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Albany Creek, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Lockett McCullough Lawyers Noosa provides legal services in Albany Creek, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Orange, NSW · Central West & Orana
Longman Hill Solicitors provides legal services in Orange, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Malcolm Murray & Associates provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Insolvency & Restructuring and Family Law.
Nuriootpa, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Mellor Olsson provides legal services in Nuriootpa, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Seven Hills, NSW · Western Sydney
Michael Vassili Lawyers (Accredited Specialist provides legal services in Seven Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Newtown, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Millar Trost Legal provides legal services in Newtown, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
MLG LAWYERS provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Morrow & McKenzie provides conveyancing services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Murray & Associates provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Budgewoi, NSW · Central Coast
Nash Allen Williams & Wotton provides legal services in Budgewoi, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Toorak, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Natalex Lawyers provides legal services in Toorak, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Building & Construction.
Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
National Conveyancing provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Nayel Lawyers provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Contract Law and Criminal Law.
Singleton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Neilson & Co Legal provides legal services in Singleton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Neilson Law provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Neilson Law provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Northcote, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Northcote Conveyancing provides legal services in Northcote, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Olivia Wilson Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Open House Conveyancing Lawyers provides conveyancing services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Family Law.
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Otway Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Footscray, VIC · Western Melbourne
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Preston, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Preston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
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.
