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
South Townsville, NSW · Townsville & North Queensland
Kalo Children's Law provides legal services in South Townsville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
Legal Solutions provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Traffic Offences.
Oran Park, NSW · Western Sydney
Marsdens Law Group provides legal services in Oran Park, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Port Lincoln, SA · Eyre, Yorke & Mid North
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Port Lincoln, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
NSW · Hume & North East
Osborne & Osborne Pty Ltd provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Robertson Lawyers provides legal services in Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
Warilla, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Robertson Lawyers provides legal services in Warilla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
Dapto, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Robertson Lawyers provides legal services in Dapto, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
Thompson Paul provides legal services in Eden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
Ashby Family Solicitors provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Stones Corner, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Stones Corner, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
Bayside Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Milsons Point, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Biddulph & Salenger Solicitors provides legal services in Milsons Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Eltham, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Carew Gartlan McClelland provides legal services in Eltham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Cannington, WA · Perth East
Castle Settlements provides legal services in Cannington, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Redcliffe, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Catton Roderick Lawyers provides legal services in Redcliffe, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Personal Injury.
Roma, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Creevey Horrell Lawyers Roma provides legal services in Roma, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Coronial Inquests and Business & Commercial Law.
Bega, NSW · South Coast
David Griffiths Lawyers provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Penshurst, NSW · Southern Sydney
Duncan & MacKenzie Solicitors provides legal services in Penshurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Education Law.
Edgecliff, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Dunwoodie Legal provides legal services in Edgecliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
East Maitland, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in East Maitland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Karratha, WA · Pilbara & Kimberley
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Karratha, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Thornton, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Helen Volk Lawyers provides legal services in Thornton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Commercial Litigation.
Lawyers Plus provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal 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.
