Family & Relationships lawyers in South East 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.
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(400)Google rating from 400 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bayside Solicitors Mornington provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug DrivingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Hallam, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(334)Google rating from 334 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Jay & Co Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Hallam, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Family Law+4 moreCriminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Bail Applications · Child Protection & Care Matters
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St Kilda, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(327)Google rating from 327 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MK Law Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Drug Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Drug Offences · Bail Applications · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Centrelink & Social SecurityFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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St Kilda, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(242)Google rating from 242 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
R.E.T Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in St Kilda, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreLicensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer) · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(241)Google rating from 241 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Allied Lawyers & Conveyancing - Waverley Office provides conveyancing services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts
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South Melbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(200)Google rating from 200 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Batten Sacks provides legal services in South Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Immigration & Visas · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(186)Google rating from 186 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
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Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(170)Google rating from 170 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Sharma Solicitors and Conveyancers Cranbourne provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(158)Google rating from 158 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Kingston Lawyers provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration
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Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(150)Google rating from 150 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Pentana Stanton Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation · Family Property Settlement · Wills & Estates · Divorce & SeparationNo win, no fee
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Cheltenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(146)Google rating from 146 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cogent Legal Lawyers and Solicitors provides legal services in Cheltenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
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Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
A. Shenken & Co provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(133)Google rating from 133 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Littlejohn Legal provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(132)Google rating from 132 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
PRD Compensation provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Public Liability, Family Law and Employment Law.
Public Liability+7 moreFamily Law · Employment Law · Workers Compensation · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Partner & Family Visas · Unfair Dismissal
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Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(127)Google rating from 127 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
VK Lawyers and Conveyancers provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Contract Law · Debt Recovery · Probate & Estate Administration
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Mulgrave, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(121)Google rating from 121 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Eminent Lawyers provides legal services in Mulgrave, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs
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Albert Park, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(111)Google rating from 111 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Turnkey Conveyancing & Matt Behan Legal Services provides conveyancing services in Albert Park, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+3 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment
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Notting Hill, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(93)Google rating from 93 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
JK Lawyers provides legal services in Notting Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(92)Google rating from 92 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Warna Legal provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Immigration & Visas · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Willerby's Solicitors & Conveyancers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Seaford, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
EMConvey provides legal services in Seaford, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+1 moreFamily 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 South East Melbourne
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 South East Melbourne
Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne and Moorabbin span a broad search area. A firm’s suburb, meeting options and experience with your matter are more informative than the South East Melbourne label alone.
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 South East Melbourne. 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.
