Family & Relationships lawyers in Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
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
Lane Cove, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(118)Google rating from 118 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Perin Legal provides legal services in Lane Cove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+3 moreCriminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care MattersFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
St Leonards, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sunsolis Legal provides legal services in St Leonards, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Family Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation
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Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(86)Google rating from 86 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
IT Lawyers Australia provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Technology, Privacy & Data, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Technology, Privacy & Data+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Employment Law
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Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(64)Google rating from 64 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Yorkins Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Milsons Point, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dorter Family Lawyers & Mediators provides legal services in Milsons Point, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Balgowlah Heights, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(57)Google rating from 57 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Shipton & Associates provides legal services in Balgowlah Heights, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
GEA Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Criminal Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Family Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Asquith, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(38)Google rating from 38 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Castle Lawyers provides legal services in Asquith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Elder Law & Aged Care · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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Epping, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coelho & Coelho Solicitors provides legal services in Epping, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Balgowlah, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(34)Google rating from 34 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
De Saxe O'Neill Family Lawyers provides legal services in Balgowlah, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreMediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Business & Commercial Law · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Epping, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(33)Google rating from 33 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cameron Legal provides legal services in Epping, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Notary Public & JP Services and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lane Cove, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fuentes Legal provides legal services in Lane Cove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreDivorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(30)Google rating from 30 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Buckley Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Criminal Law · Residential Tenancy · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
North Sydney Conveyancing Company provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Strata & Body Corporate2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(25)Google rating from 25 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wood Marshall Williams provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dee Why, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(24)Google rating from 24 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Wallen Family Law provides legal services in Dee Why, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Binding Financial Agreements · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dettmann Phair Lawyers provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Employer Advisory & Industrial Relations · Commercial Litigation · Commercial Property & Leasing · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
KWL Lawyers provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Family 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.
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 North Shore & Northern Beaches
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 North Shore & Northern Beaches
This search area brings together North Shore and Northern Beaches centres. For a property purchase, family matter or estate, compare the actual office location rather than assuming every firm is close to your suburb.
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 North Shore & Northern Beaches. 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.