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
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Caloundra Law provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
West Pennant Hills, NSW · Hills District
Calvin Nelson & Co provides legal services in West Pennant Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Camden, NSW · Western Sydney
Camden Solicitors And Conveyancers provides legal services in Camden, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Terrigal, NSW · Central Coast
Catalyst Family Lawyers provides legal services in Terrigal, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Leeton, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Cater & Blumer And Riverina Compensation Lawyers Service provides legal services in Leeton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
CatholicCare Tasmania provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Burnie, TAS · North West & West Coast
CatholicCare Tasmania provides legal services in Burnie, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Catton Roderick Lawyers provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Personal Injury.
Terrigal, NSW · Central Coast
Central Coast Property Advisory Services provides legal services in Terrigal, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Family Property Settlement.
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
Certus Law provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Caboolture, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
CHAPMAN GRAY & ASSOCIATES provides legal services in Caboolture, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Employment Law.
Punchbowl, NSW · Southern Sydney
Chidiac Legal provides legal services in Punchbowl, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Child & Family Services Ballarat Inc. provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Wendouree, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
Child & Family Services Ballarat Inc. provides legal services in Wendouree, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Pakenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
Christine J Shanahan - Davine Shanahan Fitzpatrick provides legal services in Pakenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
CJL Family Law provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Ballina, NSW · Northern Rivers
Claire Newton Family Lawyer provides legal services in Ballina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law and General Practice (regional generalist).
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
Clark Family Lawyers Warrnambool provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Bermagui, NSW · South Coast
Clarke John provides legal services in Bermagui, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bega, NSW · South Coast
Clarke John provides legal services in Bega, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Maylands, SA · Adelaide Metro
Clementina Maione Solicitor provides legal services in Maylands, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Balwyn North, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Cole (Natalie) Lawyers provides legal services in Balwyn North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Conley Pickering Pendleton provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Renmark, SA · Riverland & Murraylands
Connect Family Law provides legal services in Renmark, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Partner & Family Visas.
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.
