Eastern Melbourne
Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
88 firms
South Yarra, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Apel I provides legal services in South Yarra, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Astute Conveyancing provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Armadale, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Burke & Associates Solicitors provides legal services in Armadale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Balwyn North, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Cole (Natalie) Lawyers provides legal services in Balwyn North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Probate & Estate Administration.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Balwyn, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Grice Legal provides legal services in Balwyn, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hall & Petranis provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Kew, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Hugh Bowers Barrister & Solicitor provides legal services in Kew, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and De Facto Relationships.
NSW · Eastern Melbourne
Hum Law provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Camberwell, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
JH Legal provides legal services in Camberwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
NSW · Eastern Melbourne
Joyful Family Day Care provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Wantirna South, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Knox Family Law Specialist provides legal services in Wantirna South, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Glen Waverley, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
MLJ Law provides legal services in Glen Waverley, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Ringwood, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Peter Lunt & Associates provides legal services in Ringwood, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Assault & Violent Offences.
Balwyn North, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Probate Professionals The provides legal services in Balwyn North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Toorak, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
Zolis Lawyers provides legal services in Toorak, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing 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.
When comparing Box Hill, Ringwood, Glen Waverley and Doncaster firms, look for the practice area that matches the work required. Reviewing a sale contract and handling an existing property dispute are different engagements.
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 Eastern Melbourne. 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.