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
Carina, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Connor Hunter Law Firm provides legal services in Carina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Como, WA · Perth South
Consent Order Lawyers provides legal services in Como, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Cessnock, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides legal services in Cessnock, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
North Wollongong, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
Coutts Conveyancing & Legal Services provides legal services in North Wollongong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
CRH Law provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
Culshaw Miller Lawyers provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Curwen-Walker Conveyancing & Legal provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
Darwin Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Partner & Family Visas.
Wagaman, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Wagaman, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Wagaman, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
David C. Story provides legal services in Wagaman, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Lowood, QLD · Ipswich
David Grant & Associates provides legal services in Lowood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
David Marinic & Associates provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Brunswick, VIC · Northern Melbourne
De Marchi & Associates provides legal services in Brunswick, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Diamond Conway provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Milton, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Divorce Hub Brisbane provides legal services in Milton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Norwest, NSW · Hills District
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Norwest, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Erina, NSW · Central Coast
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Erina, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Parramatta, NSW · Western Sydney
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Canberra City, ACT · Canberra
Divorce.com.au provides legal services in Canberra City, ACT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Ivanhoe, VIC · Northern Melbourne
DLT Legal provides legal services in Ivanhoe, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Narre Warren, VIC · South East Melbourne
Domain Conveyancing Lawyers provides legal services in Narre Warren, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Dora A. Jabbour provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation.
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.
