Adelaide Metro
Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
68 firms
Mclaren Vale, SA · Adelaide Metro
Thomson & Associates provides legal services in Mclaren Vale, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Modbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
White Berman Ryder - Barristers and Solicitors - Modbury Office provides legal services in Modbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Planning & Environment.
Norwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Norwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Rose Park, SA · Adelaide Metro
Van Dissels Solicitors provides legal services in Rose Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Salisbury, SA · Adelaide Metro
Voumard Lawyers provides legal services in Salisbury, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Tea Tree Gully, SA · Adelaide Metro
Adelta Legal provides legal services in Tea Tree Gully, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Glenelg, SA · Adelaide Metro
Baycity Law provides legal services in Glenelg, SA. Listed practice areas include Commercial Litigation, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Maylands, SA · Adelaide Metro
Clementina Maione Solicitor provides legal services in Maylands, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Modbury North, SA · Adelaide Metro
Montague Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Modbury North, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Property & Conveyancing.
Reynella, SA · Adelaide Metro
Newman Lawyers provides legal services in Reynella, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Glenside, SA · Adelaide Metro
Oxford Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Glenside, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Property Settlement.
Christies Beach, SA · Adelaide Metro
R J Cole & Partners provides legal services in Christies Beach, SA. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Criminal Law and Personal Injury.
Seaford, SA · Adelaide Metro
Riverland Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Seaford, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Port Adelaide, SA · Adelaide Metro
Riverland Legal & Conveyancing provides legal services in Port Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Morphett Vale, SA · Adelaide Metro
SS Business Investments provides legal services in Morphett Vale, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Mile End, SA · Adelaide Metro
Tolis & Co Lawyers provides legal services in Mile End, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Smithfield, SA · Adelaide Metro
Websters Lawyers provides legal services in Smithfield, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
Ridgehaven, SA · Adelaide Metro
Websters Lawyers provides legal services in Ridgehaven, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
Christies Beach, SA · Adelaide Metro
Websters Lawyers provides legal services in Christies Beach, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
Eastwood, SA · Adelaide Metro
Websters Lawyers provides legal services in Eastwood, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Workers Compensation and 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.
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.
Norwood, Glenelg, Salisbury, Marion and Elizabeth are grouped as Adelaide Metro. A listing elsewhere in the metropolitan area may not be convenient for repeated appointments, so compare location with meeting options.
For family & relationships, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant SA experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Adelaide Metro. 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.