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
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Barry Nilsson provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Wills & Estates.
Glenelg, SA · Adelaide Metro
Baycity Law provides legal services in Glenelg, SA. Listed practice areas include Commercial Litigation, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Bell Miller Solicitors Maroochydore provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Katoomba, NSW · Western Sydney
Benetatos Antony provides legal services in Katoomba, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
NSW · Hume & North East
Benetatos Antony provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Toowoomba City, NSW · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Best Wilson Buckley Family Law provides legal services in Toowoomba City, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Darwin Cbd, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Bowen Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin Cbd, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Werribee, VIC · Western Melbourne
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Werribee, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Belconnen, ACT · Canberra
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Belconnen, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
Bridges Family Law Specialists provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Brisbane City Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Surfers Paradise, QLD · Gold Coast
Brisbane Elder Law provides legal services in Surfers Paradise, QLD. Listed practice areas include Elder Law & Aged Care, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Milton, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Brisbane Elder Law provides legal services in Milton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Elder Law & Aged Care, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Bruce Jay Solicitor provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Manly, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Manly, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Newport, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Bundock Law provides legal services in Newport, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Armadale, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Burke & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Armadale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Fairfield, NSW · Western Sydney
C City Lawyers provides legal services in Fairfield, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Campbelltown, NSW · Western Sydney
C City Lawyers provides legal services in Campbelltown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Woodlands, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
C F Davies & Co provides legal services in Woodlands, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Wills & Estates.
NSW · Ipswich
C V Martin Legal Services provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates 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.
