Mid North Coast
Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
43 firms
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
GWM Lawyers provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Fraud & White Collar Crime, Banking & Finance and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Hannaway Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Susan Green Legal Practice provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Kempsey, NSW · Mid North Coast
Macleay Coast conveyancing provides legal services in Kempsey, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Taree, NSW · Mid North Coast
Paff Jonathon provides legal services in Taree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Vincent Butcher Lawyers provides conveyancing services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Taree, NSW · Mid North Coast
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Taree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Smart Choice Law provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Wills & Estates.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Leckie Law provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Wills & Estates.
Wingham, NSW · Mid North Coast
Anytime Conveyancing provides legal services in Wingham, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Tuncurry, NSW · Mid North Coast
Sharon Northam provides legal services in Tuncurry, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Franchising.
Forster, NSW · Mid North Coast
All About Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Forster, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Commercial Property & Leasing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
Ellis Lake Lawyers provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Property & Conveyancing.
Macksville, NSW · Mid North Coast
Macleay Coast conveyancing provides legal services in Macksville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
Nolan's Law provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Family Law and Criminal Law.
NSW · Mid North Coast
Paff Jonathon provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
South West Rocks, NSW · Mid North Coast
Paul Stubbs Law Office provides legal services in South West Rocks, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Port Macquarie, NSW · Mid North Coast
Reynolds and Reynolds Legal Services Pty Ltd provides legal services in Port Macquarie, NSW. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
NSW · Mid North Coast
Vincent Butcher Lawyers provides conveyancing services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Family law in Australia is mostly federal. Parenting and property matters run under the Family Law Act and are heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or the Family Court of Western Australia in WA. A good family lawyer will explain your likely outcome early, push for a negotiated agreement where it's safe to do so, and prepare you properly if a court hearing is needed. Where there is family violence, they can also help you get protection orders from your state's local or magistrates court.
Family breakdown is one of the most common reasons Australians need a lawyer, and decisions made early affect children and finances for years.
Family law is one of the few areas run federally, under the Family Law Act 1975, with separate protection order schemes in each state and a separate Family Court in Western Australia.
Understand the next step
Family matters often involve several decisions at once: living arrangements, children, immediate expenses, property and formally ending a marriage. A useful first consultation separates those issues and identifies what needs attention now. Tell the lawyer about safety concerns and existing orders before arranging discussions involving another person.
Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Forster and Kempsey are separate centres within this search area. Start with the legal issue, then compare the office location and the practicalities of ongoing contact.
For family & relationships, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NSW experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Mid North Coast. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
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
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.
For parenting disputes, you usually need a certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner before filing in court, unless an exception applies such as family violence or urgency.