Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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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.
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Bundall, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(114)Google rating from 114 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pharmacis Canning Lawyers provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Assault & Violent Offences · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(113)Google rating from 113 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Johnstone Crouse Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(113)Google rating from 113 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Verge Legal 维智律师事务所 (Melbourne CBD) provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ajak & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Citizenship, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Citizenship+6 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Criminal Law
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Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Parker Coles Curtis provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tyndall & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
ABKJ Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Strata & Body Corporate · Commercial Litigation
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Varsity Lakes, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Collas Moro Ross Barron provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Partner & Family Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Defamation · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury
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Sunnybank, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Denovo Lawyers provides legal services in Sunnybank, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Rochedale, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(110)Google rating from 110 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
JMR Lawyers provides legal services in Rochedale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Business & Commercial Law.
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Tuggerah, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(109)Google rating from 109 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nash Allen Williams & Wotton provides legal services in Tuggerah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Planning & Environment
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Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(109)Google rating from 109 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rebus Legal provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Probate & Estate Administration+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Traffic Offences · Building & ConstructionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(109)Google rating from 109 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sarah Walsh Conveyancing and Leasing Pty Ltd provides conveyancing services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreCommercial Property & Leasing · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Probate & Estate Administration
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Phillip, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(108)Google rating from 108 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dickson Legal Barker Trevor,LLB provides legal services in Phillip, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Property & Conveyancing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Partner & Family Visas · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Hitesh Kaplish Law Office provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law
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Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Matthews Folbigg Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Debt Recovery.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Debt Recovery · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Resolve Conflict provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters
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Varsity Lakes, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rubicon Law provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Debt Recovery · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law
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Doreen, VIC · Northern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(106)Google rating from 106 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
De Maria & Associates provides legal services in Doreen, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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.
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Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
