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
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Gill & Lane Solicitors provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Adamstown, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Howard Terence provides legal services in Adamstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
MKI Legal provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Employment Law, Business & Commercial Law and Unfair Dismissal.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Blackridge Law provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Bail Applications, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Family Law.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Fallu McMillan Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Personal Injury.
Dundas, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Marriotts Legal Costers provides legal services in Dundas, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
Allison Clark Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Upper Coomera, QLD · Gold Coast
Jeff Horsey Solicitor provides legal services in Upper Coomera, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
SS Business Investments provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Kate Austin Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Strongmark Legal provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Riverland Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Wyndham Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Walsh Sean provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Reservoir, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Lawyers of Preston provides legal services in Reservoir, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Malcomson Lawyers provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Pascale Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Traffic Offences.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
East Coast Conveyancing provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
North Ward, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Kahler Lawyers provides legal services in North Ward, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Loukas Law provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Parenting & Child Custody.
Wonthaggi, VIC · Gippsland
Wakefield Lawyers provides legal services in Wonthaggi, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Bli Bli, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Thompson Southern Law Practice provides legal services in Bli Bli, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family 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.
