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
Perth Cbd, WA · Perth CBD
Anthony R Clarke & Associates provides legal services in Perth Cbd, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Bundaberg Central, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Atsils Cairns provides legal services in Bundaberg Central, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Pennant Hills, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Blunden Lawyers provides legal services in Pennant Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Bathurst, NSW · Central West & Orana
Cain Timothy provides legal services in Bathurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Auburn, NSW · Western Sydney
Calvin Nelson & Co provides legal services in Auburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
Cathryn Shiels Lawyers provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Criminal Law.
Hoppers Crossing, VIC · Western Melbourne
El Hawli & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Hoppers Crossing, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Mona Vale, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
John Allanson & Associates provides conveyancing services in Mona Vale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Ingham, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Kahler Lawyers provides legal services in Ingham, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Kim's Conveyancing Works provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lewenberg & Lewenberg Solicitors provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Williamstown, NSW · Western Melbourne
Matthew Oldham - Barrister & Solicitor provides legal services in Williamstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Norwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Nimbin Law provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Vermont South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Vermont South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Baulkham Hills, NSW · Hills District
Peter Dawson & Associates provides legal services in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Nhill, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Nhill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Sykes Pearson Miller provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
Vickers Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Geraldton, WA · Mid West & Gascoyne
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in Geraldton, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Portland, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Portland, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Ermington, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Calvin Nelson & Co provides legal services in Ermington, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Capitol Legal provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Family Law.
Kyogle, NSW · Northern Rivers
Gibson John F. Solicitor provides legal services in Kyogle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial 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.
