New England & North West
Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
27 firms
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Carr Legal Group provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Rice More & Gibson provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Watson McNamara & Watt provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Stacks Law Firm provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Medical Negligence.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Emalene Gemmell Family Law provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Planning & Environment and Parenting & Child Custody.
Gunnedah, NSW · New England & North West
McArthur Legal Services provides legal services in Gunnedah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
West Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Australian Law Group provides legal services in West Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Personal Injury and Wills & Estates.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Reynolds and Reynolds Legal Services Pty Ltd provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Agribusiness & Rural Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
CHRISTOPHER SEROW SOLICITOR provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
CHRISTOPHER SEROW SOLICITOR provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Gunnedah, NSW · New England & North West
Michel + White Lawyers provides legal services in Gunnedah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Guyra, NSW · New England & North West
Abbott Pardy & Jenkins provides legal services in Guyra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Abbott Pardy & Jenkins provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Glen Innes, NSW · New England & North West
Abbott Pardy & Jenkins provides legal services in Glen Innes, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Lyons Barnett Kennedy - LBK Solicitors provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
North Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Countrywide Legal & Business Services provides legal services in North Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Strata & Body Corporate.
West Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
West Tamworth Legal provides legal services in West Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Manilla, NSW · New England & North West
GW Johnston Lawyers provides legal services in Manilla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Walcha, NSW · New England & North West
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Walcha, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
Property Law & More provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Armidale, NSW · New England & North West
A W Simpson & Co provides legal services in Armidale, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Criminal Law.
Tamworth, NSW · New England & North West
Justice Lawyers provides legal services in Tamworth, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Moree, NSW · New England & North West
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Moree, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
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.
For advice around Armidale, Tamworth, Moree and Gunnedah, distinguish personal matters from business or farm matters at the first enquiry. Land, a trading business and a family estate may involve different owners and documents.
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 New England & North West. 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.