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.
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution10 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: vietnamese, arabic, greek, italian, spanish, hindi, punjabi, filipino, korean
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(56)Google rating from 56 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shamac Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foye Legal provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Traffic Offences and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreTraffic Offences · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macarthur Legal Service provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Partner & Family Visas and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+3 morePartner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Radcliff Taylor Lawyers provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Corporate Law & M&A · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Six Days Legal provides legal services in Port Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Wills & Estates · Family Law
Gladesville, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Williams Roncolato Lawyers provides legal services in Gladesville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Banking & Finance.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Banking & Finance · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in South Morang, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SR Lawyers & Migration Services provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(52)Google rating from 52 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Family Property SettlementNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(52)Google rating from 52 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McIntosh McPhillamy & Co provides conveyancing services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Criminal LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(50)Google rating from 50 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Alliance Compensation & Litigation Lawyers provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP, Property & Conveyancing and Workers Compensation.
Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Workers Compensation · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Medical Negligence · Sports & Entertainment LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Auchenflower, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Personal Injury+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: filipino
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Toowong, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Personal Injury+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: filipino
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brooks Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Personal Injury · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clayhills Solicitors provides legal services in Cabramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Immigration & Visas · Maritime & Admiralty LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Canning Vale, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Drink & Drug Driving+7 moreWills & Estates · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Criminal Law · Traffic Offences · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Albert Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Elder Law & Aged Care
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Thomas David provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Building & Construction+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(48)Google rating from 48 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bannerman Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+2 moreWills & Estates · Divorce & Separation
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.
