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.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Konstantin F. Tringas provides legal services in Caulfield North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: german
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Luna & Xia Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Doncaster, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Madden Solicitors (Rockhampton) provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Personal Injury · Skilled & Business Visas
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Gawler South, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Personal Injury · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Workers Compensation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal LawNo win, no fee
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Perth Mediation Services provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Mediation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Mediation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Family Property Settlement · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Steel Chinka (HEP) Lawyer provides legal services in Greenvale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Buying or Selling a Business · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stojanovic Solicitors provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Commercial Litigation2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: italian
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Thomas David provides legal services in Berri, SA. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Building & Construction+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Thompson Norrie Solicitors provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Family Property Settlement · Building & Construction · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adrian Abrahams Family Lawyers provides legal services in Toorak, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.2 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: french
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Blackwell Short Lawyers provides legal services in Orange, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Personal Injury
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Baker Solicitors provides legal services in Cannonvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Personal Injury.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Immigration & Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
C V Martin Legal Services provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Christine J Shanahan - Davine Shanahan Fitzpatrick provides legal services in Hazelwood North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clarke John provides legal services in Narooma, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Countrywide Legal & Business Services provides legal services in North Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Strata & Body Corporate.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Strata & Body Corporate · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Notary Public & JP Services
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Grant Lawyers provides legal services in Bundall, QLD. Listed practice areas include Insolvency & Restructuring, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Insolvency & Restructuring+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Personal Injury · Immigration & Visas · Personal Bankruptcy · Traffic Offences · Drink & Drug DrivingNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Hozack Clisdell Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Notary Public & JP Services · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Justice Lawyers provides legal services in Picton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Personal Injury+7 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Medical Negligence · Workers Compensation · Family Law · Criminal Law · Competition & Consumer LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Leckie Law provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Michael J. O'Doherty & Co provides legal services in St Marys South, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law
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.
