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
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Geelong, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Geelong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Sutherland, NSW · Southern Sydney
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Sutherland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Woolloongabba, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Woolloongabba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Toowong, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Toowong, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Windsor, NSW · Western Sydney
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Windsor, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Gosford, NSW · Central Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Gosford, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Liverpool, NSW · Western Sydney
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Liverpool, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Tuggerah, NSW · Central Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Tuggerah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Kingaroy, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Kingaroy, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
O'connor, WA · Perth South
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in O'connor, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Blacktown, NSW · Western Sydney
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Blacktown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Helensvale, QLD · Gold Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Helensvale, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Jimboomba, QLD · Gold Coast
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Jimboomba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Point Cook, VIC · Western Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Point Cook, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Murgon, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Murgon, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Tintenbar, NSW · Northern Rivers
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Tintenbar, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & 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.
