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.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Highett, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
De Kretser Law provides legal services in Highett, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Drug Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Contested Wills & Family ProvisionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(76)Google rating from 76 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 Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(73)Google rating from 73 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Mediation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Pakenham, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mepstead Lawyers provides legal services in Pakenham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Probate & Estate AdministrationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Carrum Downs, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(63)Google rating from 63 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fountain Law provides legal services in Carrum Downs, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Sports & Entertainment Law
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Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+1 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rowville, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mackinnon Jacobs Horton & Irving provides legal services in Rowville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · De Facto Relationships · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Denise Dwyer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Powers of Attorney & Guardianship and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 morePowers of Attorney & Guardianship · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(37)Google rating from 37 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Slink & Keating provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dribbin & Brown Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Drink & Drug Driving.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Frankston, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(26)Google rating from 26 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cottier Stenning Lawyers Frankston provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · General Practice (regional generalist) · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOsNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+1 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fleming & Rhoden Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Debt Recovery · Family Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cranbourne, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peninsula Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Cranbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Family Law+1 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dingley Village, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Balfe & Webb provides legal services in Dingley Village, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Building & Construction · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Legoll Legal Practitioners provides legal services in Dandenong North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.6(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
James Dowsley & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Bail Applications and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+6 moreBail Applications · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Drink & Drug Driving · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Coronial InquestsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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.
