Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Anuja Baker Legal Services provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
RM Legal Sydney provides legal services in Harris Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Corporate Law & M&A · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Skilled & Business VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(131)Google rating from 131 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Aspley, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(130)Google rating from 130 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cathy Stevenson & Associates provides legal services in Richmond, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
General Practice (regional generalist)+8 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Debt Recovery · Employment Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(130)Google rating from 130 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
O'Shea & Dyer Solicitors Townsville provides legal services in Townsville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Personal Injury.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Norton Legal provides legal services in Footscray, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+7 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Property & Conveyancing · Superannuation Death Benefits
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(125)Google rating from 125 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Employment Law · Personal Injury · Immigration & Visas · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(124)Google rating from 124 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(123)Google rating from 123 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Caxton Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Brisbane, QLD. Listed practice areas include Human Rights & Discrimination, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Human Rights & Discrimination+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Elder Law & Aged Care · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Family Law · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: tagalog
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(120)Google rating from 120 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallace Davies Solicitors provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law · Traffic Offences · Business & Commercial Law · Drink & Drug Driving
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(117)Google rating from 117 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Craig McKay Legal provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+4 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(114)Google rating from 114 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Fleming David - Solicitor provides legal services in Medowie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(114)Google rating from 114 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
John Stonham & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Fraud & White Collar Crime
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(114)Google rating from 114 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
John Stonham & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Parenting & Child Custody · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Fraud & White Collar Crime
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ABA Family Lawyers provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Devonport, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Connor Hunter Law Firm provides legal services in Cleveland, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law2 languages
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(108)Google rating from 108 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Antunes M C Lawyers & Advocates provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Bankruptcy
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hartley Family Law Services provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(106)Google rating from 106 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mercurio & Co. Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(106)Google rating from 106 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Savannah Legal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in West Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration & Visas.
Family Law+6 moreCriminal Law · Immigration & Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters · Building & Construction
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.
