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
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Pigdon Norgate Family Lawyers Albury provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and De Facto Relationships.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
PRD Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreFamily Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bexley, NSW · Southern Sydney
Slattery Jurd & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Bexley, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
Smoke Family Law provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+2 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Helensvale, QLD · Gold Coast
Springwood Lawyers provides legal services in Helensvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+6 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Sports & Entertainment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Starlight Legal (Chatswood) provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Immigration & Visas and Criminal Law.
Family Law+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Staunton & Thompson Lawyers provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Defamation · Family Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bunbury, WA · South West
Taegan Irving Lawyer provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Youth Justice & Children's Court.
Partner & Family Visas+6 moreChild Protection & Care Matters · Youth Justice & Children's Court · Family Law · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Edensor Park, NSW · Western Sydney
The Australian Law Firm provides legal services in Edensor Park, 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
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Toongabbie Legal Centre Inc. provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and NDIS & Disability Law.
Family Law+2 moreCriminal Law · NDIS & Disability Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Townsville Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+3 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Baulkham Hills, NSW · Hills District
Van Houten Law Solicitors Barristers Notaries provides legal services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+2 moreCriminal Law · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Five Dock, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Vincent Love & Co provides legal services in Five Dock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Binding Financial Agreements
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Gladesville, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Vizzone Ruggero Twigg Lawyers provides legal services in Gladesville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Notary Public & JP Services
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mascot, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Vizzone Ruggero Twigg Lawyers provides legal services in Mascot, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Notary Public & JP Services
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
VM Family Law provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mount Barker, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Von Doussas Lawyers, Charles Gillam provides legal services in Mount Barker, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Thomastown, VIC · South East Melbourne
Warna Legal provides legal services in Thomastown, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hornsby, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Watts McCray Lawyers Hornsby provides legal services in Hornsby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Partner & Family Visas · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates
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.
