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
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Rigby Cooke Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
Smythe & Mallam provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Riverwood, NSW · Southern Sydney
Warren & Warren Incorporating the office of Adrian G Byrne provides legal services in Riverwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Glen Innes, NSW · New England & North West
Abbott Pardy & Jenkins provides legal services in Glen Innes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Loganholme, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Advance Family Law provides legal services in Loganholme, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Huonville, TAS · Hobart & South
Baker Wilson Lawyers provides legal services in Huonville, TAS. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Rockdale, NSW · Southern Sydney
Bryant-Thomas Legal Services provides legal services in Rockdale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Button David provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Catalyst Family Lawyers provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
CBD Law provides legal services in Wyong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
E.Law International provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Emery Partners provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Horsley Tim provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
NSW · Southern Sydney
Jessep & Storm Solicitors provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Sutherland, NSW · Southern Sydney
Jessep & Storm Solicitors provides legal services in Sutherland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
JHK Legal Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Debt Recovery and Banking & Finance.
Port Augusta, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Johnston Withers, Port augusta provides legal services in Port Augusta, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Busselton, WA · South West
Jonathan Meyer Lawyer provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Busselton, WA · South West
Jonathan Meyer Lawyer provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
Kennedy Legal & Mediation Services provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
KP Lawyers & Barristers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Lyons Barnett Kennedy - LBK Solicitors provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family 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.
