Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
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Southbank, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(637)Google rating from 637 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
AB Morison Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Southbank, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Buying or Selling a Business and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBuying or Selling a Business · Business & Commercial Law · Building & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(604)Google rating from 604 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ghothane Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Citizenship.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Wills & Estates · Contract Law · Property & Conveyancing · Skilled & Business Visas · Family Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(544)Google rating from 544 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Provey Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 morePlanning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Building & Construction · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(459)Google rating from 459 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
LEAD Conveyancing Melbourne provides conveyancing services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Immigration & Visas
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(351)Google rating from 351 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Aston Legal Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(324)Google rating from 324 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Blackwood Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(312)Google rating from 312 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
DCM Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Building & Construction.
Family Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Building & Construction · Commercial Litigation · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Personal Injury · Property & Conveyancing
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(269)Google rating from 269 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Nevile & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(226)Google rating from 226 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Saundh, Singh & Smith Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Corporate Law & M&A.
Family Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Corporate Law & M&A · Insolvency & Restructuring · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Administrative & Government Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(192)Google rating from 192 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Vstar Lawyers and Consultants provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Administrative & Government Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(164)Google rating from 164 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
MJ Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Skilled & Business Visas · De Facto Relationships · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Binding Financial Agreements
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(141)Google rating from 141 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Berry Family Law provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Binding Financial Agreements · Family Property Settlement
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(137)Google rating from 137 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Pearsons Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Divorce & Separation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Carroll & O'Dea provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Unfair Dismissal.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Unfair Dismissal · Professional Negligence · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Employment Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(135)Google rating from 135 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Unite Legal provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Criminal Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(128)Google rating from 128 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(126)Google rating from 126 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sage Family Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Binding Financial Agreements and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+5 moreBinding Financial Agreements · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(113)Google rating from 113 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Verge Legal 维智律师事务所 (Melbourne CBD) provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Franchising · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Planning & EnvironmentFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(112)Google rating from 112 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Ajak & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Citizenship, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Citizenship+6 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Criminal Law
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Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(107)Google rating from 107 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Resolve Conflict provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters
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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne CBD
A Melbourne CBD search can be useful for comparing teams with different specialisations. Ask who will do the work and who will supervise it, especially when a firm has several practice departments.
For family & relationships, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Melbourne 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.
