Aussie Lawyer DirectoryEvery state · Every practice area
Claim your listing

Practice area

Family Lawyers in Australia

Separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and property settlements. Family lawyers help you reach an agreement without going to court where possible — and represent you when court is unavoidable.

124 listed nationallyQLD 35NSW 33VIC 32SA 8WA 6ACT 6NT 4

Overview

What family lawyers actually do

Family law covers what happens to children, property and money when a relationship ends. It applies to married and de facto couples alike, and — with the exception of Western Australia, which runs its own Family Court — it is federal law, so the rules are the same wherever in Australia you live.

Most family matters never see a courtroom. The system is built to push separating couples toward agreement first, through negotiation and compulsory family dispute resolution, and a good family lawyer spends far more time settling matters than arguing them.

The work they handle

  • Divorce applications and the paperwork that goes with them
  • Parenting arrangements — where children live, how time is shared, who decides what
  • Dividing property, superannuation and debts after separation
  • Binding financial agreements, both before and during a relationship
  • Consent orders, so an agreement you have already reached becomes enforceable
  • Family violence intervention and protection orders
  • Child support disputes and departures from the standard assessment

When to call a family lawyer

  • You have separated, or you are seriously considering it
  • You cannot agree on where the children live or how time is shared
  • There is property, a business or superannuation to divide
  • You have been served with court documents and there is a date on them
  • You feel unsafe, or a protection order has been applied for against you

What it costs

Family lawyers usually charge by the hour, often with a fixed fee for discrete pieces of work like a divorce application or consent orders. Ask for a written costs agreement before you start, and ask specifically what happens to the estimate if the matter has to go to court — that is where the range widens most.

How to choose

Accreditation is a real signal

Several state law societies accredit specialists in family law. It is not a guarantee, but it means someone has been assessed on this area specifically.

Ask how they resolve matters

A firm that settles most of its files will say so. If the answer is vague, ask what proportion of their matters end in a contested hearing.

Match the lawyer to the matter

A straightforward divorce with no children and no property does not need the most expensive litigator in town.

Common questions

Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?

No. A divorce application can be filed without one, and where there are no children under 18 and nothing to divide, many people do it themselves. Lawyers matter far more for the property and parenting questions, which are separate from the divorce itself.

How long do I have to sort out property after separating?

There are time limits, and they differ depending on whether you were married or in a de facto relationship. They are strict enough that it is worth asking a lawyer early rather than assuming you have time.

Will we have to go to court?

Usually not. In most cases you are required to attempt family dispute resolution before a court will hear a parenting matter, and the majority of separations are resolved by agreement.

Can one lawyer act for both of us?

No. A lawyer can only act for one party — the interests are opposed. If you have reached agreement between yourselves, one of you can instruct a lawyer to draft consent orders and the other should have them independently reviewed.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ between states and every situation turns on its own facts — speak to a qualified Australian lawyer before acting. If you cannot afford one, Legal Aid operates in every state and territory.

Family Lawyers by suburb

Family Lawyers in Adelaide, SA7Family Lawyers in Brisbane, QLD7Family Lawyers in Cairns, QLD5Family Lawyers in Canberra, ACT5Family Lawyers in Lismore, NSW5Family Lawyers in Darwin, NT4Family Lawyers in Spring Hill, QLD4Family Lawyers in Beaconsfield Upper, VIC3Family Lawyers in Maitland, NSW3Family Lawyers in Melbourne, VIC3Family Lawyers in Richmond, NSW3Family Lawyers in Black Rock, VIC2Family Lawyers in Brighton, VIC2Family Lawyers in Camberwell, VIC2Family Lawyers in Chermside, QLD2Family Lawyers in Dee Why, NSW2Family Lawyers in Epping, NSW2Family Lawyers in Geelong, VIC2Family Lawyers in Gosford, NSW2Family Lawyers in Highgate Hill, QLD2Family Lawyers in Malvern, VIC2Family Lawyers in Perth, WA2Family Lawyers in Wodonga, VIC2Family Lawyers in Albany, WA1Family Lawyers in Albert Park, VIC1Family Lawyers in Albion, QLD1Family Lawyers in Attadale, WA1Family Lawyers in Avondale Heights, VIC1Family Lawyers in Balaclava, VIC1Family Lawyers in Ballina, NSW1Family Lawyers in Baulkham Hills, NSW1Family Lawyers in Beaumaris, VIC1Family Lawyers in Bondi Junction, NSW1Family Lawyers in Bowral, NSW1Family Lawyers in Bundall, QLD1Family Lawyers in Carlton North, VIC1Family Lawyers in Ceduna, SA1Family Lawyers in Chatswood, NSW1Family Lawyers in Coorparoo, QLD1Family Lawyers in Dandenong, VIC1

By state and territory

Family Lawyers in New South Wales33Family Lawyers in Victoria32Family Lawyers in Queensland35Family Lawyers in Western Australia6Family Lawyers in South Australia8Family Lawyers in TasmaniaFamily Lawyers in Australian Capital Territory6Family Lawyers in Northern Territory4