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
Morwell, VIC · Gippsland
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Angela Ferdinandy provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Family Property Settlement and Property & Conveyancing.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Mason Mia & Associates provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and De Facto Relationships.
Nimbin Law provides legal services in Casino, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Sayer Jones provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Capalaba, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Hopper Mott Bunting Lawyers (Previously Hopper Green York) provides legal services in Capalaba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Lawyers By The Bay provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Campbell Young provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Cudmore Legal Family Lawyers Brisbane Co provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Leach Legal - Family Lawyers Perth provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
McPherson Christina provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Clayton, VIC · South East Melbourne
Portelli & Co provides legal services in Clayton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
Precision Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Merrylands, NSW · Western Sydney
Prestige Solicitors & Associates provides legal services in Merrylands, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Forest Lake, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Bhardwaj and Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Forest Lake, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Bhardwaj and Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Muswellbrook, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Denman Legal provides legal services in Muswellbrook, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
DGB Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
HazeLegal provides legal services in Kew, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Stirling, WA · Perth North
Thomson Family Lawyers provides legal services in Stirling, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
Allen & Jasnic Lawyers provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
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.
