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
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Garden & Montgomerie provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
New Farm, QLD · Brisbane CBD
N R Barbi Solicitor provides legal services in New Farm, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Mount Gravatt East, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Wellners Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gravatt East, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Business Lawyers & Advisers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Family Law.
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
Curwen-Walker Conveyancing & Legal provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Neilson Law provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Broken Hill, NSW · Far West
Peter Payne Law provides legal services in Broken Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
IATLawyer provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Warwick, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Lilley , Spanner & Stacey provides legal services in Warwick, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Newstead, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Macpherson Family Law provides legal services in Newstead, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Cannonvale, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
R J Taylor Law provides legal services in Cannonvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Aitkenvale, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Benchmark Lawyers provides legal services in Aitkenvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Dimocks Family Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
MLC Lawyers incorporating Collins Legal provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Railway Estate, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Turnbull Cameron provides legal services in Railway Estate, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Busselton, WA · South West
Cape to Cape Lawyers Busselton office provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hall G H Barrister & Solicitor provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Property & Conveyancing.
Maryville, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Lyn Johnston Conveyancing provides legal services in Maryville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
MAGUIRE BARNES FAMILY LAWYERS provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mansfield, VIC · Hume & North East
Mal Ryan & Glen Lawyers and Conveyancers provides legal services in Mansfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Canning Vale, WA · Perth South
Askew & Co Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Canning Vale, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Ballarat Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family 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.
