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
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Waterfront Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Administrative & Government Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Digital Age Lawyers provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sydney Family & Criminal Defence Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Northan Legal Sydney provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Banking & Finance · Family Law · Employment LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Orman Solicitors provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, International Family Law & Hague Abduction and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreInternational Family Law & Hague Abduction · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · De Facto Relationships · Probate & Estate Administration · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Property & Conveyancing
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Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(22)Google rating from 22 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Neville & Hourn Legal provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Insolvency & Restructuring · Criminal Law · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Woolloomooloo, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Livingstone & Company Lawyers provides legal services in Woolloomooloo, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Debt Recovery · Employment Law · Unfair Dismissal
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cityscape Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Property & Conveyancing and Traffic Offences.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Traffic Offences · Drug Offences · Medical Negligence · Defamation · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
E.Law International provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment Law4 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sydun & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Buttar, Caldwell & Co. provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Contract Law, Personal Injury and Business & Commercial Law.
Contract Law+6 morePersonal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CANARY LEGAL provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+4 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cunningham Legal provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law
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Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clearys Commercial Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Banking & Finance and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreBanking & Finance · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Insolvency & Restructuring
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Haymarket, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Chen Shan Lawyers provides legal services in Haymarket, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Family Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sydney Criminal & Traffic Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Traffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship TribunalFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Construction Expert Witness Australia provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Building & Construction+3 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Daniel Wakim Law Firm provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Administrative & Government Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Administrative & Government Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Drug Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Fraud & White Collar Crime
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(387)Google rating from 387 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
GMH Legal provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation and Property & Conveyancing.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreCommercial Litigation · Property & Conveyancing · Banking & Finance · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Family LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Streeton Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+7 moreDrink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Traffic Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Drug Offences · Partner & Family VisasFree first consult
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 Sydney CBD
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 Sydney CBD
A city-centre address can be convenient for meetings, but it does not tell you which solicitor will handle the file. For a business transaction, employment issue or dispute, ask whether the team has experience with your particular industry and the size of the matter.
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 Sydney CBD. 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.
