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
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Macpherson Family Law provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Dubbo, NSW · Central West & Orana
Peter Payne Law provides legal services in Dubbo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Geelong West, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Cahill & Rowe Family Law provides legal services in Geelong West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Capital Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Fairfield, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Dellios West & Co provides legal services in Fairfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Freeman York Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Healesville, VIC · Hume & North East
Greg Black provides legal services in Healesville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Springwood, NSW · Western Sydney
McPhee Kelshaw provides legal services in Springwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
Camp Hill, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Mint Legal Brisbane provides legal services in Camp Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
Solari & Stock Lawyers provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Kiama, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Button David provides legal services in Kiama, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Traffic Offences and Business & Commercial Law.
Lander Lawyers provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Eltham, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Lorraine Jones & Associates provides legal services in Eltham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wynnum, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Wynnum, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Bilson Law - Family Lawyer provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
GILL LAWYERS provides legal services in Bella Vista, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
JH Legal provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Gunnedah, NSW · New England & North West
Michel + White Lawyers provides legal services in Gunnedah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Toowoomba, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Murdoch Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Ross Higgins provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Lithgow, NSW · Central West & Orana
Ross Higgins provides legal services in Lithgow, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Shellharbour, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Sward Law provides legal services in Shellharbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Figtree, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Sward Law provides legal services in Figtree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing 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.
