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
Murarrie, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Macpherson Family Law provides legal services in Murarrie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Torquay, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Torquay, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Cobar, NSW · Central West & Orana
Peter Payne Law provides legal services in Cobar, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Cobar, NSW · Central West & Orana
Peter Payne Law provides legal services in Cobar, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
St Clair, NSW · Western Sydney
Rafton Family Lawyers provides legal services in St Clair, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Selvaggio Lawyers provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
AFL Withnalls provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Molendinar, QLD · Gold Coast
AJ Family Law provides legal services in Molendinar, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Chermside, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Biggs Fitzgerald Pike provides legal services in Chermside, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Browns Lawyers provides legal services in Miami, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Donnie Harris Law provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Neutral Bay, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
GJA Conveyancing provides legal services in Neutral Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Jeffery Cuddihy & Joyce provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Bail Applications.
Busselton, WA · South West
Leeuwin Legal Collective provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Lion Legal provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Assault & Violent Offences.
Burwood, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Middleton Gardiner and Associates Solicitors and Public Notary provides legal services in Burwood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Applecross, WA · Perth South
Peter J Griffin & Co provides legal services in Applecross, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
Murray Bridge, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Riverland Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Murray Bridge, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Beerwah, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Spire Law - Beerwah provides legal services in Beerwah, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Stojanovic Solicitors provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Sykes Pearson Miller provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Kilmore, VIC · Hume & North East
BK LAWYERS CONVEYANCERS provides legal services in Kilmore, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Castlemaine, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Castlemaine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
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.
