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
Yarrawonga, VIC · Hume & North East
Hargraves provides legal services in Yarrawonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
JHL Conveyancing provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
Keating Kate Lawyer provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
Bombala, NSW · Snowy Monaro
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Bombala, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Rockdale, NSW · Southern Sydney
Lovemore Lawyers provides legal services in Rockdale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Immigration & Visas and Criminal Law.
Essendon North, VIC · Northern Melbourne
MDM Lawyers provides legal services in Essendon North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
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.
Durack, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Ward Keller Lawyers provides legal services in Durack, NT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
Abetz Curtis provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Planning & Environment.
Manly, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Manly, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
East Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
Camatta Lawyers provides legal services in East Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
NSW · Brisbane South & Logan
CG Legal Group provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Lakes Entrance, VIC · Gippsland
Hibbert & Hodges provides legal services in Lakes Entrance, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Kim Wilson & Co provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Family Property Settlement.
Paddington, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Nicholas Eddy & Co provides legal services in Paddington, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Sale, VIC · Gippsland
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Sale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Wellners Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Whyalla, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Whyalla Conveyancers provides legal services in Whyalla, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Proserpine, QLD · Mackay & Whitsundays
Brown & Baker Solicitors provides legal services in Proserpine, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Belmont, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Fennelly Legal provides legal services in Belmont, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Ferrier Athanasiou & Kakulas provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Partner & Family Visas.
Ardross, WA · Perth South
Graeme A Ryan & Associates provides legal services in Ardross, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
Kennedy & Cooke Lawyers, Narooma provides legal services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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.
