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
Narellan, NSW · Western Sydney
Caldwell Martin Cox provides legal services in Narellan, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Echuca, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Cosgriff Lawyers provides legal services in Echuca, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Employment Law.
Narre Warren, VIC · South East Melbourne
Silk Legal provides legal services in Narre Warren, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Parenting & Child Custody.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
UNIVERSAL LAWYERS Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Allwright Bourke Lawyers & Conveyancing provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Bushnell & Power Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
ClearPath Navigating Family Law and Mediation provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Proserpine, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Crosby Brosnan & Creen provides legal services in Proserpine, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Grace Jill G provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Runaway Bay, QLD · Gold Coast
Lili Bulyk Solicitor & Attorney provides legal services in Runaway Bay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Muir Lawyers provides legal services in Nerang, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
NSW · Mallee
MYRIALLAKIS AND ASSOCIATES PTY LTD provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Pullos Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
TASC Legal and Social Justice Service provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Nagambie, VIC · Hume & North East
TBA Law provides legal services in Nagambie, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Wyong, NSW · Central Coast
Central Coast Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Chan Lawyers provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Wodonga, VIC · Hume & North East
Harris Lieberman Solicitors provides legal services in Wodonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
St Albans, VIC · Western Melbourne
Lanham Lawyers provides legal services in St Albans, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Wills & Estates.
Chermside, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
MAGUIRE BARNES FAMILY LAWYERS provides legal services in Chermside, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Nelson Keane & Hemingway provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Amanpreet Kaur provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
C F Davies & Co provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal 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.
