Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
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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.
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Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sarinas Legal provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
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Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(127)Google rating from 127 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
VK Lawyers and Conveyancers provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Contract Law · Debt Recovery · Probate & Estate Administration
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Norwest, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Greenleaf Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sage Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(123)Google rating from 123 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
New South Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing · Tax Law
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New Gisborne, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(122)Google rating from 122 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
LS Law & Conveyancing provides legal services in New Gisborne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(122)Google rating from 122 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Spencer Lawyers provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Criminal Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Property & Conveyancing
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Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cassab and Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Commercial Property & Leasing · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Family Law
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Mulgrave, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Eminent Lawyers provides legal services in Mulgrave, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Joondalup, WA · Perth North
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Furstenberg Solicitors & Notaries provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
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East Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kennedy Spanner Lawyers provides legal services in East Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
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Merrylands, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Maclarens Solicitors provides legal services in Merrylands, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Coolangatta, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Coolangatta, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · DefamationNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Belperio Connell Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Williams Landing, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
SIKAND SOLICITORS provides legal services in Williams Landing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Citizenship · Commercial Property & Leasing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Immigration & Visas
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Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(119)Google rating from 119 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Clark Panagakos Family Law provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(119)Google rating from 119 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
NSW Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+6 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(118)Google rating from 118 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Bryson Kelly Legal provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Traralgon, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(118)Google rating from 118 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pace & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Traralgon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(118)Google rating from 118 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
SCB Legal provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Criminal Law · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Divorce & Separation · Drug Offences · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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.
