Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
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2,444
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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.
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Ballarat East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Traffic Offences · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cartwrights Lawyers provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Elder Law & Aged Care · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Davey Law provides legal services in Eatons Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Henry Family Lawyers provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Homeland Conveyancing. provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Immigration & Visas
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Horrocks Solicitors provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lockett McCullough Lawyers Noosa provides legal services in Carrara, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Morgan Alteruthemeyer Legal Group provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Debt Recovery and Business & Commercial Law.
Building & Construction+7 moreDebt Recovery · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Myers Jane provides legal services in Wodonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Family Law+4 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nevin Lenne Gross provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Family Law · Criminal Law · Insolvency & Restructuring
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Medical Negligence+7 morePublic Liability · Family Law · Product Liability · Wills & Estates · Class Actions · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal InjuryNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Oak Fair Lawyers provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Divorce & Separation3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: cantonese, mandarin
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Property & Conveyancing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Elder Law & Aged Care
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Mount Druitt, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Wills & Estates+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Potter Stephanie provides legal services in Lavington, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Family Law · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cahills Solicitors Pty Ltd provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Business & Commercial Law+2 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cox Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Debt Recovery · Family Property Settlement · Criminal Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Culleton Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Commercial Litigation and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 moreCommercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary TrustsNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
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.
