Family lawyers in Brisbane for 2026: divorce, parenting and property settlement firms compared.
Separation is rarely a time for trial and error, so the lawyer you choose matters. The best family lawyers in Brisbane combine genuine family law focus with clear fee information and a realistic view of when to negotiate and when to go to court. Good family law Brisbane clients can rely on will also explain what happens to property, parenting arrangements and finances in plain terms.
To build this list we looked at each firm’s own website. A firm made the list only if it confirmed a Brisbane office and a working family law practice, covering matters such as divorce, property settlements, parenting arrangements and financial agreements. We left out directories, referral services and anything we could not verify. Where a firm states accredited specialists, awards or founding dates, we have used only what it publishes.
Planning a property settlement alongside your legal steps? See our Top Accountants In Brisbane For 2026 and Top Mortgage Brokers In Brisbane For 2026 lists, or browse the Brisbane services hub for more local providers.
Family Lawyers In Brisbane At A Glance
| Company |
Based In |
Best For |
Known For |
| Damien Greer Lawyers |
Brisbane CBD |
Complex and international family law |
Six QLS accredited family law specialists |
| Phillips Family Law |
Ann Street, Brisbane CBD |
Established boutique with specialist depth |
Practising since 1984 |
| Hartley Family Law |
Brisbane |
High-value property and cross-border matters |
Accredited specialist-led team |
| Stone Group |
North Quay, Brisbane CBD |
Dedicated family team with fixed-fee options |
Free 30-minute first consultation |
| Barry Nilsson Lawyers |
Brisbane |
Large accredited specialist team |
Ten family law accredited specialists |
| Cooper Grace Ward |
George Street, Brisbane CBD |
Family matters with business or mediation angles |
Independent Brisbane firm since 1980 |
| Mullins Lawyers |
Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD |
Full-service firm with family law services |
Founded 1980 |
| Attwood Marshall Lawyers |
Turbot Street, Brisbane CBD |
Clients wanting a broad, multi-office firm |
Helping clients since 1946 |
| Unified Lawyers |
Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD |
Multilingual clients and fixed-fee enquiries |
Free first consultation, wide language coverage |
| Lander & Rogers |
Eagle Street, Brisbane CBD |
Clients wanting a larger national firm |
Family and relationship law practice |
Best Family Lawyers In Brisbane
1. Damien Greer Lawyers — Accredited Specialist Family Law Firm On Eagle Street
Damien Greer Lawyers works from Level 40 of the Riverside Centre at 123 Eagle Street in the Brisbane CBD. Its website states that six of its lawyers are Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialists in family law, including Damien Greer, Wendy Miller, Justin Hine, Joshua Williams and Hannah Daley. That is a deep bench of recognised expertise for a single-office firm.
The service list is broad: divorce, parenting and children’s matters, property and financial settlements, binding financial agreements, mediation, arbitration, collaborative law and litigation. It also handles domestic violence and protection orders, and international matters such as child abduction, relocation and overseas property.
The firm cites more than 40 years of experience and lists recognition from Doyles and Best Lawyers for both the firm and individual lawyers. It suits clients with high-conflict, cross-border or financially complex separations who want a team of accredited specialists in one place.
2. Phillips Family Law — Boutique Family Law Practice Operating Since 1984
Phillips Family Law is a Brisbane practice at Level 2, King George Central, 145 Ann Street. Its site carries a “Since 1984” badge, which makes it one of the longer-running dedicated family law firms in the city.
Three lawyers are named as Accredited Family Law Specialists: Tony Phillips, Fiona Caulley and Belinda Jeffrey. The practice covers separation and divorce, children and parenting, property settlements, prenuptial and financial agreements, de facto and same sex relationships, and international family law. It also advises third parties and gives second opinions on existing matters, which is useful if you want a fresh view on advice you have already received.
The website lists 2026 Doyles Guide recognition, including First Tier Family and Divorce Law Firm in Brisbane, and says the firm has been listed as a leading Australian family law firm each year since 2015. It suits clients who want a firm that does family law and nothing else.
3. Hartley Family Law — Accredited Specialist Team For High-Value Property Settlements
Hartley Family Law is a Brisbane practice led by director Brett Hartley, who is listed on the firm’s website as an Accredited Family Law Specialist. The site states that the Hartley team in Brisbane are Accredited Specialists in family law, and that the head of the team has more than 35 years of family law experience.
Its service list includes property settlements, commercial and complex property settlements, binding financial agreements, parenting and child disputes, child custody, divorce applications and international or cross-border family law disputes. The emphasis on complex and higher-value property matters sets it apart from general practices that treat family law as one department among many.
The website displays family law and high-value family recommendations for 2024 to 2026, along with Best Lawyers listings for the firm and Brett Hartley. It is a sensible shortlist option for business owners, professionals and anyone with substantial assets or overseas elements in their separation.
4. Stone Group — Family Law Team With Offices Across South-East Queensland
Stone Group’s Brisbane office is at Level 12, 179 North Quay. Its family law page names Sally Southwood as an Accredited Family Law Specialist and states that she and Rebekah Finlayson practise solely in family law, with more than 25 years of combined experience. The Brisbane team also includes special counsel, senior associates, associates and paralegals.
The firm covers property settlement, parenting orders, de facto and same-sex relationships, divorce and separation, mediation, domestic violence and financial agreements. It works with financial advisers, accountants, psychologists, mediators and family consultants, which helps when a separation involves more than legal paperwork.
Stone Group offers a free initial consultation of up to 30 minutes and fixed fees for some matters, and it also has offices on the Gold Coast and Fraser Coast. It was named a Leading Law Firm in the Doyles Guide in 2018 and 2019. It suits clients who want cost clarity and a team large enough to handle a contested matter.
5. Barry Nilsson Lawyers — Family Law Team With Ten Accredited Specialists
Barry Nilsson Lawyers runs a Brisbane family law team alongside its Sydney and Melbourne practices. The firm’s website states it has ten Family Law Accredited Specialists and has served clients for over 60 years. Principal Matt Hempstead is profiled as a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law since 2017 and as a recommended family and divorce lawyer in Doyles Guide.
Its family law work covers children and parenting, dispute resolution, divorce and separation, domestic and family violence, international family law, and property and financial settlements. A wills and estates group sits in the same firm, which is convenient when separation raises estate planning questions, including updating wills and dealing with guardianship.
The site notes Doyles Guide 2026 recognition as a leading family and divorce law firm in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It suits clients who want a larger firm with many accredited specialists behind a single matter.
6. Cooper Grace Ward — Independent Brisbane Firm With Family Law And Mediation
Cooper Grace Ward is an independent Brisbane firm, established in 1980, with its office at Level 21, 400 George Street. Family law is listed among its areas of expertise, and the firm also lists family business law as a separate practice, which is relevant when a separation involves a family company or trust.
The firm’s website points to family law mediation led by Chris Ward, a founding partner now working as a consultant through Chris Ward Mediations. The site says Chris brings more than four decades of experience acting for clients, appearing in courts and mediating, and that Doyles Guide 2025 listed him among Brisbane family law mediators.
Cooper Grace Ward is a full-service firm rather than a family law boutique, so it is best for clients whose separation overlaps with business, property or succession issues, or who want mediation handled by an experienced practitioner. Ask early how the family team is staffed for your type of matter.
7. Mullins Lawyers — Full-Service Brisbane Firm Offering Family Law Advice
Mullins Lawyers has its Brisbane office at Level 21, 123 Eagle Street, and states on its website that it was founded in 1980. Family law is one of its practice areas, described as comprehensive family law services delivered with expertise, empathy and discretion.
As a full-service commercial firm, Mullins can draw on colleagues in property, wills and estates, and business law when a separation touches those areas. That can be handy if you own a company, an investment property portfolio or a trust, since the family lawyer can coordinate with specialists in the same building rather than relying on outside referrals.
The firm’s website does not publish accredited specialist details for its family practice, so ask which lawyer will run your matter and what their family law experience is. Mullins suits clients who value a long-established Brisbane firm with broad resources and who already have a connected legal need.
8. Attwood Marshall Lawyers — Multi-Office Firm Handling Surrogacy And Financial Agreements
Attwood Marshall Lawyers has a Brisbane office at Level 6, Santos Place, 32 Turbot Street. The firm describes itself as helping people since 1946 and operates additional offices on the Gold Coast, in Kingscliff, Sydney and Melbourne, which suits families with interstate links.
Its Brisbane family law page lists divorce and separation, parenting plans and child custody, property settlements, financial agreements including prenuptial agreements, same-sex and de facto relationships, domestic violence, consent orders and mediation. It also covers child support and surrogacy, a niche that many general practices do not mention.
Partner Hayley Condon practises across all areas of family law and is a member of the Family Law Practitioners Association, the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia and the Queensland Law Society. She was a finalist for Senior Associate of the Year (SME Law) at the Women in Law Awards 2022. The firm suits clients who want a long-running practice with a spread of offices.
9. Unified Lawyers — Multilingual Family Law Practice On Eagle Street
Unified Lawyers has a Brisbane office at Suite 4A, 167 Eagle Street, a short walk from Central Station and the Riverside ferry terminal. Its Brisbane team includes partner Crispian Carlowe, special counsel Kerry Anne Aguilar, and senior associates and associates. The firm also operates across Sydney, the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
The services list is wide: divorce and separation, property settlement, spousal maintenance, binding financial agreements, child custody and parenting orders, child support, grandparents’ rights, mediation, domestic violence, adoption, high-net-worth divorce, LGBTQIA+ matters, international assets and cryptocurrency in family law matters.
The site offers a free initial consultation and fixed fee options, and lists lawyers who speak languages including Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hindi and Greek. It states claims of more than 600 five-star reviews, which we have not independently verified. It suits clients who want a high-volume practice and may value consultation in a language other than English.
10. Lander & Rogers — National Firm With A Family And Relationship Law Practice
Lander & Rogers has a Brisbane office at Level 11, Waterfront Place, 1 Eagle Street. Its website lists family and relationship law as one of its areas of expertise and describes 80 years of legal practice. The firm is a larger national practice rather than a family law boutique.
For clients, that means access to colleagues in employment, property, commercial and wills work when a separation overlaps with those areas, and the resources of a firm with offices around the country. The site notes top honours at the 2026 Client Choice Awards and recognition as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
The firm’s home page does not detail its family law team, so ask who will handle your matter, what their accreditation is and how fees are structured before you instruct. Lander & Rogers is best placed on this list for clients who prefer a national brand with strong infrastructure and who have a matter that may involve interstate or corporate elements.
How To Choose A Family Lawyer In Brisbane
Are They An Accredited Family Law Specialist?
In Queensland, the Queensland Law Society runs a specialist accreditation scheme, and family law is one of the recognised areas. An accredited specialist has passed assessment and has demonstrated substantial experience. Accreditation is not compulsory, and some excellent lawyers are not accredited, but it is a useful shortcut. Ask whether the person running your matter holds it, or whether they supervise someone who does.
How Are Fees Charged And Estimated?
Family law fees are usually hourly, though some firms offer fixed fees for defined steps such as a divorce application or a consent order. Ask for a written costs agreement and a realistic estimate for the stage you are at, not just a single hourly rate. Queensland lawyers must give clients costs disclosure, so a firm that is vague about this deserves caution. Ask about disbursements and counsel fees.
Do They Handle Your Type Of Matter?
Family law covers very different work. A simple consent order, a contested parenting dispute, a high-value property settlement and an international relocation need different skills. Check the firm’s website for experience in your situation, such as business assets, trusts, superannuation, domestic violence or overseas elements. Proceedings are heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, so ask whether the lawyer appears there regularly.
Will They Support Resolution Outside Court?
Most separating couples settle without a trial, and courts expect parties to try dispute resolution first in parenting matters. Good lawyers are comfortable with negotiation, mediation, collaborative law and arbitration, and can still prepare for court if needed. Ask how the firm approaches early resolution and how often matters settle. A balanced answer is better than a promise to fight or a promise to avoid court.
Who Regulates Queensland Lawyers?
Queensland solicitors are admitted by the Supreme Court and hold a practising certificate issued by the Queensland Law Society. Complaints about conduct or fees go to the Legal Services Commission, an independent statutory body. Check that the lawyer you instruct holds a current practising certificate and works for an incorporated legal practice or law firm. Never pay money to anyone claiming to be a family lawyer who cannot show this.
Conclusion
Choosing among the best family lawyers in Brisbane comes down to fit. Dedicated boutiques such as Damien Greer Lawyers, Phillips Family Law and Hartley Family Law bring accredited specialists and a single focus. Larger firms such as Barry Nilsson Lawyers, Cooper Grace Ward and Lander & Rogers add the resources of a broader practice. Whichever route you take, use a first consultation to ask about accreditation, fees and likely timeframes.
Divorce and separation often bring financial decisions as well. If you need help with tax, loans or property afterwards, our Top Accountants In Brisbane For 2026 and Top Mortgage Brokers In Brisbane For 2026 lists are good next steps, and the Brisbane services hub covers more local services. Firms that would like to be considered for a future edition can apply through the submit your company page.
