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
Malvern, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Lopes Family Law provides legal services in Malvern, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Waverley, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
Maroubra Legal provides legal services in Waverley, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Newport Law provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Nowicki Carbone provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Medical Negligence, Public Liability and Family Law.
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Paige Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Pelican Solicitors provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
S P Lawyers Ballina provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
Schroder Cam Lawyers provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Tara, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Sheehans Country Lawyers provides legal services in Tara, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Tumut, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Tumut, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Junee, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Taylor & Whitty provides legal services in Junee, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Rose Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
Van Dissels Solicitors provides legal services in Rose Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Cooma, NSW · Snowy Monaro
Walker Gibbs & King provides legal services in Cooma, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Pialba, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Wide Bay Burnett Community Legal Service provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Employment Law.
Subiaco, WA · Perth CBD
Brightside Family Law provides legal services in Subiaco, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Divorce & Separation.
Ayr, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
Crosby Brosnan & Creen provides legal services in Ayr, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Deniliquin, NSW · Riverina & Murray
David Grant provides legal services in Deniliquin, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Eden, NSW · South Coast
David Griffiths Lawyers provides legal services in Eden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Battery Point, TAS · Hobart & South
Leonard Fernandez Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Battery Point, TAS. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
NSW · Mallee
Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include NDIS & Disability Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Mildura, VIC · Mallee
Murray Mallee Community Legal Service provides legal services in Mildura, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Laverton, VIC · Western Melbourne
Nanscawen Lawyers provides legal services in Laverton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial 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.
