Australia’s family law system helps people resolve the legal aspects of family relationship issues, including family relationship breakdown.

It encourages people to agree on arrangements without going to court.

To help achieve this, the services listed below can help families by giving them information and where relevant, referrals to providers of alternative dispute resolution services.

If you are interested in:

• participating in a post-separation service, or a referral to another family service:

• • visit the Family Relationships Online website
  • call the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday; 10am to 4pm on Saturdays except public holidays).

• information about legal assistance and related services, visit the Legal Assistance website.
• legal aid assistance, visit the National Legal Aid website.
• for information on superannuation splitting, visit the superannuation splitting laws page.
• information on property settlement and you are in a de facto relationship, visit our de facto property regime page.
• taking your case before a family law court, visit the Federal Circuit Court website or the Family Court of Australia websites. Cases that may go to a family law court include:

• • married couples intending to divorce
  • parents who are unable to agree on arrangements between them on parenting or financial issues
  • one of the exceptions to a family dispute resolution. Specialist family law courts have jurisdiction to make orders on those issues in cases brought before them.

• assistance in understanding the most common family law terms used during separation, visit the Family Law TermFinder website.

The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court hear cases throughout Australia, except in Western Australia, where the Family Court of Western Australia is the specialist court.