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
Camberwell, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Coote Family Lawyers provides legal services in Camberwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Camberwell, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Clancy & Triado provides legal services in Camberwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Kirwan, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Rapid Legal Solutions provides legal services in Kirwan, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Greenslopes, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Arora Legal Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Greenslopes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Thornbury, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Novatsis & Alexander Solicitors provides legal services in Thornbury, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Power & Cartwright Solicitors provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Lavington, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Ross Doyle Legal provides legal services in Lavington, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Vietnam Veterans-Illawarra (Sub Branch) provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Family Property Settlement.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Beck Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
NSW · Western Melbourne
Ebejer & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Prospect, SA · Adelaide Metro
Matthew Mitchell Solicitors provides legal services in Prospect, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Cannonvale, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Hinschen Lawyers provides legal services in Cannonvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
KPA Lawyers provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
LGee and Julius Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Kempsey, NSW · Mid North Coast
Macleay Coast conveyancing provides legal services in Kempsey, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Epping, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Epping, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Brookvale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Reid Family Lawyers provides legal services in Brookvale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Seaforth, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Robertson Saxton Osborne Lawyers provides legal services in Seaforth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Mount Barker, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Barker, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Taree, NSW · Mid North Coast
Paff Jonathon provides legal services in Taree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Darlinghurst, NSW · Sydney CBD
Tiyce & Lawyers provides legal services in Darlinghurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
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.
