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
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Kekeff & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Orange, NSW · Central West & Orana
Kenny Spring Solicitors provides legal services in Orange, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Laguna Family Law provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Mortlake, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Margaret Donoghue Lawyers provides legal services in Mortlake, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Mark Treherne & Associates provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
Sanctuary Point, NSW · South Coast
Marriott Oliver provides legal services in Sanctuary Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Michael Rawack & Co provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Wodonga, VIC · Hume & North East
Morgan Couzens Legal provides legal services in Wodonga, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Torquay, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Randall Bell Lawyer provides legal services in Torquay, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Reader Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Drug Offences.
Crows Nest, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Sorensen & Brown provides legal services in Crows Nest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Wangaratta, VIC · Hume & North East
Thompson Southern Law Practice provides legal services in Wangaratta, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Riddells Creek, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Tolhurst Druce & Emmerson provides legal services in Riddells Creek, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Universal Legal Recoveries provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Wallace Perkins Family Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
A W Simpson & Co provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
East Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
Aboriginal Family Law Services provides legal services in East Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Child Protection & Care Matters and Family Law.
Tea Tree Gully, SA · Adelaide Metro
Adelta Legal provides legal services in Tea Tree Gully, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
ADL SOLICITORS provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Advocat provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Aherns Lawyers provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Beaconsfield, VIC · South East Melbourne
Alcore Conveyancing provides legal services in Beaconsfield, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
All-Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include 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.
