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
Lake Cargelligo, NSW · Riverina & Murray
Matthews Williams provides legal services in Lake Cargelligo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Young, NSW · Riverina & Murray
McCabe Partners Lawyers provides legal services in Young, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Partner & Family Visas and Workers Compensation.
East Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
McClelland Lawyers provides legal services in East Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Capalaba, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
McCormick Family Law provides legal services in Capalaba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Wills & Estates.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
MCE LEGAL provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Waurn Ponds, VIC · Geelong & Surf Coast
Michael K Lawyers provides legal services in Waurn Ponds, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Wallsend, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
Mid Coast Retirement Law provides legal services in Wallsend, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Ascot, QLD · Brisbane CBD
Miles Lindsey provides legal services in Ascot, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Hornsby, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
Miller Noyce provides legal services in Hornsby, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wilston, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
Mines & Associates provides legal services in Wilston, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
NSW · Perth North
MINK SETTLEMENT SERVICES provides conveyancing services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Property Settlement.
Drayton, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
Mitchell Lawyers provides legal services in Drayton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Family Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
MLJ Law provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
Moira Ryan Lawyers Pty Limited provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Monardo Legal provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Planning & Environment.
Modbury North, SA · Adelaide Metro
Montague Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Modbury North, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Cobargo, NSW · South Coast
Morrissey Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Cobargo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Milton, NSW · South Coast
Morrissey Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Milton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Eli Waters, QLD · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in Eli Waters, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
NSW · Wide Bay-Burnett
Morton & Morton Solicitors provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Personal Injury.
Essendon, VIC · Northern Melbourne
Nanscawen Lawyers provides legal services in Essendon, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
NashClavey - Mandurah provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Probate & Estate Administration.
Bournewood, NSW · Central West & Orana
Nelson Keane & Hemingway provides legal services in Bournewood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Reynella, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Reynella, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law 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.
