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
Clyde North, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clyde Lawyers provides legal services in Clyde North, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Immigration & Visas and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreImmigration & Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Malewska & Associates Lawyers provides legal services in Bentleigh, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Wills & Estates+5 moreImmigration & Visas · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Defamation · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bentleigh East, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★2.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prior Law provides legal services in Bentleigh East, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Black Rock, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Burrell Family Law provides legal services in Black Rock, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+6 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · De Facto Relationships · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robert Halliday & Associates provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+2 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gigliotti Lawyers Moorabbin provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Insolvency & Restructuring and Wills & Estates.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Wills & Estates · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Family Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brighton, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bancroft Lawyers provides legal services in Brighton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Tax Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Quintessential Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+2 moreWills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Seaford, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
YOUR FAMILY LAW CO provides legal services in Seaford, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+3 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moorabbin, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Foster Johnson Family and Collaborative Lawyers provides legal services in Moorabbin, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Parenting & Child Custody · Skilled & Business Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mendis & Gibson Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include NDIS & Disability Law, Business & Commercial Law and Property & Conveyancing.
NDIS & Disability Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Partner & Family Visas · Insolvency & RestructuringFree 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(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Guymer Lawyers provides legal services in Frankston, VIC. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Business & Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation.
Building & Construction+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Commercial Litigation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Debt Recovery · Defamation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cranbourne West, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Kohinoor Legal provides legal services in Cranbourne West, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Criminal Law · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Vera Lawyers provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Immigration & Visas.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Immigration & Visas · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Binding Financial Agreements · Commercial Litigation3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: hindi, punjabi
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Dlegal Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hughesdale, VIC · South East Melbourne
Asher Freeman Lawyers provides legal services in Hughesdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Criminal Law · NDIS & Disability Law3 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, cantonese
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dandenong, VIC · South East Melbourne
Freemont Family Lawyers Dandenong provides legal services in Dandenong, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Criminal LawFree 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.
