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
The Entrance, NSW · Central Coast
Cutlers The Law Firm provides legal services in The Entrance, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
DCH Legal Group provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Surrogacy & Adoption.
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
Hamilton Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Jamestown, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Kelly Kelly Legal provides legal services in Jamestown, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Newstead, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Sambanis Family Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Newstead, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Sheehans Country Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Torquay, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
The Will Factory provides legal services in Torquay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Underwood, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Burns Law provides legal services in Underwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Criminal Law and Wills & Estates.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Candice Bell provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Clewett Lawyers provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Kippa-ring, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Conveyancing Services (QLD) provides conveyancing services in Kippa-ring, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Nedlands, WA · Perth CBD
Davies & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Nedlands, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Greenway, ACT · Canberra
Erindale Discount Meats provides legal services in Greenway, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Victoria Point, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Fry Ian K & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Victoria Point, QLD. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Berwick, VIC · South East Melbourne
Neal Collin Lawyers provides legal services in Berwick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Contested Wills & Family Provision.
Monbulk, VIC · Hume & North East
Neesham White Gentle provides legal services in Monbulk, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Geraldton, WA · Mid West & Gascoyne
Regional Alliance West (formerly Geraldton Resource Centre) provides legal services in Geraldton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Tanunda, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Teusner & Co provides legal services in Tanunda, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Mullumbimby, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Mullumbimby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Naracoorte, SA · Limestone Coast
Westley DiGiorgio Norcock provides legal services in Naracoorte, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Varsity Lakes, QLD · Gold Coast
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
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.
