Family Lawyers in Sydney and Parramatta

Family Lawyers in Sydney

Family law in NSW is federal law, and most court cases are run in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. In Sydney, its registry at Queens Square handles family law services such as divorce and forms, with hearings held in buildings including the Lionel Bowen Building on Goulburn Street.

Most separations never reach a final hearing. Many couples settle property and parenting issues through negotiation, mediation or collaborative law. A good family lawyer will often steer things that way first. Firms across Sydney range from specialist family law practices to full service firms with a family team, and several have offices in Parramatta, the north shore and the northern beaches as well as the CBD.

Watts McCray Lawyers
Level 7, Suite 702, 570 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 1300 398 638

Watts McCray focuses on family law and has offices in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Hornsby, Brookvale and Wollongong. Its lawyers handle separation and divorce, property settlements including business, trust and investment interests, parenting arrangements and child support. Other work covers prenuptial and financial agreements, spousal maintenance, de facto and same sex relationships, domestic violence and international custody and property matters. The firm has mediators, arbitrators and collaborative lawyers, aims to resolve matters without court where it can, and is part of AF Legal Group.

Coleman Greig Lawyers
Level 15, 32 Smith Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: (02) 9895 9200

The Parramatta family law team at Coleman Greig includes five Accredited Specialists in Family Law. It advises on divorce and separation, parenting arrangements, property settlements and superannuation, child support, de facto relationships and AVOs. Where possible the team starts with mediation, and it also offers collaborative law and arbitration. Clients can meet in person at the Smith Street office or remotely, and flexible payment through JustFund is available for eligible clients.
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Swaab
Level 4, 20 Hunter Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9233 5544

Swaab’s accredited family lawyers advise on separation and divorce, property settlements and binding financial agreements from the firm’s Hunter Street office. They often deal with complex finances, tracing assets held in trusts, companies, partnerships and superannuation. Parenting and relocation disputes, Hague Convention child abduction cases, spousal maintenance, AVOs and surrogacy are also covered. The team prefers to resolve matters out of court where possible, works with the firm’s property and estates lawyers, and runs free family law seminars in the CBD.
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Marsdens Law Group
Suite 1, First Floor, 154 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9233 1133

Led by four Accredited Family Law Specialists, the family team at Marsdens Law Group covers divorce, parenting disputes, child support, property disputes and binding financial agreements. It also advises on spousal maintenance, grandparents’ rights and separation for same sex couples, and can formalise agreements through consent orders. The firm treats court as a last resort and works with psychologists, accountants and valuers where a matter needs them. Offices include Elizabeth Street in the city plus Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden and Oran Park.
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Bartier Perry
Level 25, 161 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 8281 7800

Bartier Perry’s family law practice advises on separation and divorce, including for de facto and same sex couples, and on pre and post nuptial financial agreements. Property settlements range from simple to complex, and the team also handles spousal maintenance, child support and parenting matters in high conflict situations. Advice on domestic and family violence is available. Because the firm also offers tax, wills and family business advice, clients can deal with related issues in one place, and the team aims to keep matters out of court where possible.
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Etheringtons Solicitors
Ground Floor, 153 Walker Street
North Sydney NSW 2060
Tel: (02) 9963 9800

North Sydney firm Etheringtons Solicitors helps clients on the lower north shore with divorce applications, property settlements, consent orders and binding financial agreements. Its family lawyers also advise on parenting arrangements, spousal maintenance, child support, de facto relationship breakdowns and superannuation splits. The firm favours early advice and negotiated outcomes over long court cases. New clients complete a questionnaire before an initial consultation, held in person, by phone or by Zoom. Funding through JustFund is also offered.
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Family dispute resolution before court

For parenting disputes, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia says family dispute resolution is mandatory, with limited exceptions, before a parenting application can be filed. People must make a genuine effort to resolve the dispute this way, and a certificate from the practitioner is then provided to the Court. A family dispute resolution practitioner cannot give legal advice, so many people speak with a lawyer before and after the sessions.

Property matters follow a different path, although mediation is still common. A lawyer can help you gather financial documents early, which often keeps costs down later.

What to look for in a family lawyer

The Law Society of NSW runs an Accredited Specialist scheme that includes family law, and you can search the register for accredited solicitors by area. Accreditation belongs to individual lawyers, not firms, so ask who will handle your matter.

Ask for a written costs estimate and how often you will be updated. If your finances include a business, trusts or overseas assets, a firm used to that kind of work may be a better fit. Some firms in Sydney also offer funding options that defer fees until settlement.