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
Lindfield, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Blackman Amanda provides legal services in Lindfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Gawler, SA · Barossa & Adelaide Hills
Dev Smith Nguyen Lawyers provides legal services in Gawler, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Spring Hill, QLD · Brisbane CBD
J.C. Lawyers provides legal services in Spring Hill, QLD. Listed practice areas include Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Goulburn, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Jacqueline Gore & Associates Pty Ltd provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Kilcoyne Lawyers provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Kozarov Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Criminal Law.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Martin Bullock Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Rosebud, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Rosebud, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Dural, NSW · Hills District
Peter Dawson & Associates provides legal services in Dural, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Horsham, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Rossi Simicic Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and De Facto Relationships.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Smart Choice Law provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Eumundi, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Andrew Wallace Legal (AW Legal) provides legal services in Eumundi, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Dalby, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Bond & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Dalby, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
North Lakes, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Brisbane Elder Law provides legal services in North Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Elder Law & Aged Care, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
Carew Lawyers provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
David Marinic & Associates provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
DLM Law provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Building & Construction.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Kim's Conveyancing Works provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Doncaster East, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Laino Michael Solicitor provides legal services in Doncaster East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
McDonnell Schroder provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Workers Compensation, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Murray Bridge, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Prior Law provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Geelong West, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Geelong West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
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.
