Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Tweed Heads, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(192)Google rating from 192 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Carl Edwards Solicitor provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+6 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Property & Conveyancing · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Centrelink & Social SecurityFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Tyndall & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Grafton, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gallagher Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Grafton, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Employment Law · DefamationNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maclean, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mark Vincent Glaser provides legal services in Maclean, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Contract Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Contract Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Byron Family Law provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+5 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Australian Law Group provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Personal Injury+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Attwood Marshall Lawyers provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Employment Law · Elder Law & Aged Care
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
S+P Lawyers provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+8 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Planning & Environment · Bail Applications · Building & Construction · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Kingscliff, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Family Law Gold Coast provides legal services in Kingscliff, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Murwillumbah, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
GOODLAW provides legal services in Murwillumbah, NSW. Listed practice areas include General Practice (regional generalist), Personal Injury and Property & Conveyancing.
General Practice (regional generalist)+8 morePersonal Injury · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nimbin, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Nimbin Law Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Nimbin, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Corporate Law & M&A
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Richardson Murray provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Byron Bay, NSW · Northern Rivers
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Spains Solicitors provides legal services in Byron Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Probate & Estate Administration, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Probate & Estate Administration+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Buying or Selling a Business · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lennox Head, NSW · Northern Rivers
Baker Mannering & Hart incorporating SLL provides legal services in Lennox Head, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Elder Law & Aged Care · Traffic Offences
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.
Why family law matters
Family breakdown is one of the most common reasons Australians need a lawyer, and decisions made early affect children and finances for years.
The Australian context
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
A practical guide to family & relationships in Northern Rivers
Choosing the right kind of assistance
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.
Working with a firm in Northern Rivers
For matters involving Tweed Heads and Queensland, ask about cross-border experience. A nearby office is not enough to establish whether a lawyer can advise on property, proceedings or a business on the other side of the border.
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 Northern Rivers. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
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.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of 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.
Dates to raise at first contact
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.
Questions to ask a family & relationships adviser
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
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
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
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.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
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.
Is mediation compulsory?
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.
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