Family & Relationships lawyers in Western District & Wimmera
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
Hamilton, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Melville, Orton & Lewis Solicitors provides legal services in Hamilton, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Debt Recovery and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreDebt Recovery · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Warrnambool, 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
Horsham, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Victoria Legal Aid provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Domestic Violence & AVOs+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Traffic Offences
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Colac, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arundell Murray & Ryan provides legal services in Colac, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown McComish Solicitors provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Horsham, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Saines Lucas Solicitors provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Workers Compensation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Workers Compensation · Medical Negligence · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Building & Construction · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Irvine Lawyers Warrnambool provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Debt Recovery · Criminal Law · Divorce & Separation4 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: german, polish, spanish
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Personal Injury · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(18)Google rating from 18 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Horsham, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Probate & Estate Administration · Partner & Family Visas · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★3.5(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Peter Murphy & Associates provides legal services in Nhill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Portland, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Probate & Estate Administration · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Brown & Proudfoot provides legal services in Ararat, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Workers Compensation.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Workers Compensation · Probate & Estate Administration · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Family LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
DwyerRobinson Pty Ltd Lawyers provides legal services in Port Fairy, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Notary Public & JP Services · Residential Tenancy · Commercial Property & Leasing
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 Western District & Wimmera
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 Western District & Wimmera
Warrnambool, Hamilton, Horsham and Portland represent different parts of the Western District and Wimmera. For farming, business or property work, describe the transaction and ownership rather than assuming a general regional practice offers every service.
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 Western District & Wimmera. 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.
