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
Manilla, NSW · New England & North West
GW Johnston Lawyers provides legal services in Manilla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Mornington, VIC · Mornington Peninsula
Hunt, McCullough Kollias & Co provides legal services in Mornington, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Lindfield, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Lander & Lander Lawyers provides legal services in Lindfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Law Tram provides legal services in Varsity Lakes, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Defamation.
Devonport Cbd, TAS · North West & West Coast
Levis Stace & Cooper provides legal services in Devonport Cbd, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Partner & Family Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Caringbah, NSW · Southern Sydney
McCabe Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Caringbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Partner & Family Visas and Workers Compensation.
Castle Hill, NSW · Hills District
Mcgillivray Solicitors provides legal services in Castle Hill, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Subiaco, WA · Perth CBD
Pacer Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Probe Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Charters Towers City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Rapid Legal Solutions provides legal services in Charters Towers City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Wheelers Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Sapling Lawyers Wheelers Hill provides legal services in Wheelers Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Tuncurry, NSW · Mid North Coast
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Tuncurry, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Shepparton, VIC · Hume & North East
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Shepparton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Mitcham, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Wainwright Ryan Eid provides legal services in Mitcham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Building & Construction and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Atherton, QLD · Cairns & Far North
Atherton Family Lawyers provides legal services in Atherton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Mount Isa City, QLD · Outback & Torres Strait
Atsils Cairns provides legal services in Mount Isa City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Bassil George & Associates provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bowen Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Albany, WA · Great Southern
Byrnes Family Law provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Mount Gambier, SA · Limestone Coast
DeGaris Lawyers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Business & Commercial Law.
Thomastown, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Dellios West & Co provides legal services in Thomastown, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Goondiwindi, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Doyle Wilson Solicitors provides legal services in Goondiwindi, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Corio, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Corio, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
JH Mobile Lawyer provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates 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.
