Family lawyers advise on separation, parenting arrangements, property division and divorce.
firms
2,444
regions
16
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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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CKL Lawyers provides legal services in Caulfield North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: vietnamese, greek
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cooroy Legal Centre provides legal services in Cooroy, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Wills & Estates · De Facto Relationships · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.1(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Law Society of South Australia provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreFamily Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Building & Construction6 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: vietnamese, arabic, greek, italian, hindi
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Camden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment · Notary Public & JP ServicesNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
ONeills Law provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Wills & Estates · Commercial Litigation · Family Law · Criminal Law
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Simon Ratcliffe Insurance Pty Ltd provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Employment Law · Family Law
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baker Ryrie Rickards Titmarsh - Parramatta provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Assault & Violent Offences and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreAssault & Violent Offences · Traffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Drug Offences · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BHM Lawyers provides legal services in Batemans Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gale Family Law provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ideal Legal Services provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · De Facto Relationships2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Maryborough, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Personal Injury · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child CustodyNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mullane Lindsay Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Professional Negligence
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Employment Law · Personal Injury · Child Protection & Care MattersNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consult
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Philip Welch Lawyers provides legal services in Burnie, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+6 moreFamily Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Taree, 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.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Clare, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Personal Injury · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Parenting & Child CustodyNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: french
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Balaclava, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Abbott Pardy & Jenkins provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Business & Commercial Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Abbott Pardy & Jenkins provides legal services in Guyra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Abraham Legal Services provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates
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.
