Not published on the firm's site. Book through the contact page or by phone.
Office
Centreway Arcade, 19 Paterson Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Bishops started as Steve Bishop's sole practice in 1988 and has grown into one of Launceston's bigger firms, with family law its best known work. Partner Julia Higgins heads the family team, acts as an Independent Children's Lawyer and is listed as preeminent in Doyle's 2026 lists for Tasmania, according to her profile. Fellow partner Tianna Freeman is recommended by Doyle's for parenting and divorce work. The team handles parenting, property, child protection and family violence matters. First consultation terms aren't on the site, so ask when you book.
Founded in 1988
Also worth knowing
Steve Bishop holds a Graduate Diploma of Advanced Family Law.
Lawyers
Julia Higgins, Partner, heads the Family Law team
Tianna Freeman, Partner, Family Law
Steve Bishop, Managing Partner and Consultant (family law property, civil)
Areas of family law handled
Parenting arrangements
Recovery applications
Property division
Spousal maintenance
Child support
Binding financial agreements
Child protection
Family violence and restraint orders
Divorce and separation
Office
Centreway Arcade, 19 Paterson Street, Launceston TAS 7250
The firm's site doesn't set out first consultation or fee terms. Call the Launceston office to ask.
Office
Level 3, 113 Cimitiere Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Rae & Partners is a locally owned northern Tasmanian firm that dates to 1986 and says it now employs around 70 people across Launceston and Devonport. Family law is one of several practice groups. Sarah Howard leads the family team, with senior associate Christie Cox-Haines alongside her. The firm covers property, parenting, child support and spousal maintenance, and runs matters through mediation or into the federal family courts. It suits people who want a large local practice with other teams on hand. The site doesn't publish first consultation terms, so ask when you call.
Founded in 1986
Also worth knowing
Handles mediation as well as representation in the Federal Circuit and Family Court.
Lawyers
The site doesn't say which office each lawyer works from.
Sarah Howard, Principal Solicitor, Family Law (leads the family law team)
Christie Cox-Haines, Senior Associate, Family Law
Areas of family law handled
Property settlements
Parenting and living arrangements for children
Post-separation financial agreements
Voluntary and compulsory mediation
Family violence matters
Child support
Spousal maintenance
Divorce
Federal Circuit and Family Court representation
Office
Level 3, 113 Cimitiere Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Other details
Other offices
Devonport (13 Fenton Street), plus regular visits to Bicheno and other northern regional centres
Enquire online, by phone or by email. The first meeting can be in person, by video or by phone, and a written costs agreement follows it. The firm mostly charges by the hour.
Office
45 Cameron Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Simmons Wolfhagen traces its history to 1845 and is one of Tasmania's oldest firms, with six offices around the state. Its family law team works statewide and the firm says it has twelve lawyers, led by directors Kristi Foale and Charlotte Griffith, who appear to be Hobart based. Associate Darcy Tobias works from the Launceston office on Cameron Street. The team covers property, parenting, relocation, surrogacy, grandparents and family violence orders, and offers private mediation through an accredited mediator. A written costs agreement follows the first meeting.
Founded in 1845
Also worth knowing
Has offices in Devonport, Smithton and Scottsdale as well as Launceston.
Lawyers
The family law page lists 14 people statewide. Only Darcy Tobias's profile names Launceston as her office.
Darcy Tobias, Associate, Family Law, Launceston office
Melinda Torney, Senior Associate, Family Law
Kristi Foale, Director, Family Law
Charlotte Griffith, Director, Family Law
Areas of family law handled
Married and de facto property settlements
Binding financial agreements
Parenting and consent orders
Relocation disputes
Grandparents and significant others
Child support
Surrogacy
Family violence and restraint orders
Pre-mediation and private mediation
Court representation
Office
45 Cameron Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Other details
Other offices
Hobart, Kingston, Devonport, Smithton and Scottsdale
Start with a short online questionnaire. The initial appointment covers your options and an estimate of costs, and a written cost agreement follows before you engage the firm.
Office
40 George Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
A family law only firm with offices in Melbourne and on George Street in Launceston. Principal Evelyn Young has 15 years in family law, and the firm says she and special counsel Jane Bentley are accredited family law specialists. LawConnect lists lawyer Jolene Ogle at the Launceston office, but the firm's site doesn't say who works from there and its published phone number is a Melbourne one, so ask who will run your matter. Enquiries start with an online questionnaire, and the first appointment includes a cost estimate.
Also worth knowing
Gives a cost estimate at the first appointment, the firm says.
Lawyers
The firm's site doesn't say which lawyers are based in Launceston. LawConnect lists Jolene Ogle there.
Evelyn Young, Principal, Accredited Family Law Specialist (according to the firm) Accredited family law specialist
Jane Bentley, Special Counsel, Accredited Family Law Specialist (according to the firm) Accredited family law specialist
The firm asks for an initial deposit held in trust for costs. Fees are explained on request and hardship arrangements can be discussed. Book by phone or email.
Office
7 Wellington Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Legal Solutions is a small Wellington Street practice that Rebecca Brown set up in 2008 after time at Crawford and Crawford and at Bishops. She was admitted in 1997 and has worked mostly in family law since. The firm handles parenting, relocation, recovery orders and property, and also does conveyancing and Magistrates Court work. It prefers to settle by agreement and uses mediation, including Tasmanian Mediation Services. It suits people who want the principal on their file. The firm asks for a deposit into trust before work starts.
Founded in 2008
Also worth knowing
Uses mediation, including Tasmanian Mediation Services, to reach consent agreements.
Lawyers
The site names only Rebecca Brown as a lawyer, plus a conveyancer.
Not published on the firm's site. Call the office to ask.
Office
Level 2, 65 Brisbane Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Roger Murray set up this small practice in 1982 and does all the legal work himself with help from paralegals, so you deal with him from start to finish. The firm says it covers all areas of family law, alongside wills, conveyancing and commercial work. He has acted as an Independent Children's Lawyer for more than 20 years and is a Law Society approved Nationally Registered Arbitrator, which can help where a property dispute suits arbitration. It suits people who want a long serving local lawyer. Consultation terms aren't published, so call to ask.
Founded in 1982
Also worth knowing
He handles all legal work personally, with paralegal support.
Lawyers
The firm's site names only Roger Murray; paralegals are not named.
Suite 15, Coulter Court, 87-91 Brisbane Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Andrea Trezise runs a small family law practice from Coulter Court on Brisbane Street. Her business listing says she has practised family law in Tasmania since 1985 and opened her own Launceston practice in 1993. She handles property, children's and de facto matters and appears in the federal family courts around the state. Her own website is a single contact page, so there is little detail on process. It suits people who want one experienced family lawyer handling their matter. Call to ask about first consultation terms.
Own practice since 1993
Also worth knowing
Appears regularly in the federal family courts across Tasmania, per the listing.
Lawyers
Her website names no other staff.
Andrea Trezise, Principal, Barrister and Solicitor
Areas of family law handled
Property settlements
Children's matters
De facto relationship matters
Federal Circuit and Family Court appearances
Court work throughout Tasmania
Office
Suite 15, Coulter Court, 87-91 Brisbane Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Not sure which firm suits you?
Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Launceston family lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Launceston office that do family law as a real part of their practice. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. We list seven firms, not ten, because we couldn't find more Launceston firms that met that test. Fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them in your costs agreement. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.
No firm pays for its place on this list, and the order is our own. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules are as published by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Tasmanian Government and Tasmania Legal Aid in October 2026.
Where Launceston family law cases are heard
Divorce, parenting and property cases in Launceston go to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Its Launceston registry is at Henty House, Level 1, 1 Civic Square. The court moved into these premises in April 2023, with two courtrooms, a mediation suite and offices for Legal Aid and the Family Advocacy and Support Service.
Registry counter: open 8:45am to 4:30pm on weekdays
National enquiries: 1300 352 000 during business hours. For urgent after hours matters, such as a risk that a child will be taken overseas, call 02 9966 7988
Magistrates Court: 73 to 76 Charles Street, Launceston. It can deal with some family law property and parenting matters, and hears family violence order applications
Most cases never reach a final hearing. They settle through negotiation, mediation or family dispute resolution, so ask any lawyer you call how they approach settlement.
Time limits you can't ignore
What you need to do
Time limit
Apply for divorce
After at least 12 months of separation. You can be separated under one roof, with an affidavit explaining it
Property or spousal maintenance after a marriage
Within 12 months of the divorce taking effect, which is usually one month after the order
Property after a de facto relationship
Within 2 years of the relationship ending
If you miss a property deadline, you can still apply if your former partner consents. Otherwise you need the court's permission, which is generally only given where refusing would cause hardship. Get advice before the deadline passes. The divorce application fee is $1,170, or $390 if you qualify for the reduced fee.
Family dispute resolution comes first
Before the court will hear an application for parenting orders, you generally need a certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner. The certificate says whether the other parent refused or didn't attend, whether you both made a genuine effort or one of you didn't, or whether dispute resolution wasn't appropriate, or stopped being appropriate.
Since 10 June 2025, without a certificate the registry won't accept your application unless the court grants an exemption. Grounds include family violence or child abuse or a real risk of it, urgency, or someone being unable to take part effectively. You don't need a certificate to apply for consent orders. The court can also refer you to dispute resolution at any stage.
Relationships Australia Tasmania Family Relationship Centre: 6 Paterson Street, Launceston, 1300 364 277
Tasmania Legal Aid: runs lawyer assisted family dispute resolution conferences where at least one party has a grant of legal aid
Family Relationship Advice Line: 1800 050 321
What changed in family law in 2024 and 2025
Parenting, from 6 May 2024. The presumption of equal shared parental responsibility was removed. The law has never required equal time. Courts now look at a shorter list of best interests factors, starting with arrangements that keep the child and each carer safe, including from family violence. Before reopening a final parenting order, the court must consider whether circumstances have changed significantly and be satisfied that it's in the child's best interests, unless everyone agrees.
Property, from 10 June 2025. The steps a court follows are now set out in the Act: identify the property and debts, assess each person's contributions, consider current and future circumstances such as children's housing needs, and make orders that are just and equitable. Courts must consider the economic effect of family violence, and the definition now expressly names economic and financial abuse, with more examples. Pets are treated separately, and the duty to fully disclose your finances is now in the Act itself.
The 2024 parenting changes and the 2025 property framework apply to existing cases too, unless the final hearing had already started. The new duty of disclosure in the Act applies to cases started on or after 10 June 2025. Get advice that reflects the current law.
Family violence orders in Tasmania
In Tasmania, family violence orders are made under the Family Violence Act 2004. A family violence order covers a spouse or partner, current or former, including a significant relationship. Other people, including other relatives, are covered by a restraint order.
Court orders: apply at the Magistrates Court registry. There's no filing fee for a family violence order, and police can apply with or without your consent. An interim order can be made quickly. It takes effect straight away if the other person is in court, or once it's served on them
Police orders: police can issue a police family violence order without going to court. It's made by a sergeant or above, or another officer the Police Commissioner authorises, and lasts up to 12 months. It ends once a court family violence order or interim order is made and served
Breaches: breaking an order is a crime, with penalties that rise for each repeat offence, up to 5 years in prison
Recent changes: since 13 December 2024, family violence includes harming or threatening to harm animals to intimidate or control someone. Economic abuse and emotional abuse have long been crimes in their own right
Tasmanian family violence orders made since 25 November 2017 are recognised automatically in every other state and territory. In an emergency call 000. For non urgent police help call 131 444, and for counselling and support call the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service on 1800 608 122.
Free and low cost family law help in Launceston
Tasmania Legal Aid: Level 1, 117 Cimitiere Street, Launceston. Legal Help line 1300 366 611
Family Advocacy and Support Service: 1800 431 157. Free duty lawyer and support at court for families affected by family violence
Launceston Community Legal Centre: Suite 2, Level 2, 42 to 48 St John Street, (03) 6334 1577. Free one off family law advice and referrals, help with parenting plans and consent orders, and support at family dispute resolution. It doesn't represent clients in court
Women's Legal Service Tasmania: 1800 682 468. Free, confidential advice for women, including face to face appointments in Launceston. The office address is given when you book
Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service: 1800 595 162, for parenting and child safety matters
Launceston family law: common questions
How long do I have to apply for a property settlement?
If you were married, within 12 months of your divorce taking effect. If you were in a de facto relationship, within 2 years of it ending. After that you need your former partner's consent or the court's permission, which is generally only given where refusing would cause hardship.
Is there a family court in Launceston?
Yes. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has a registry at Henty House, 1 Civic Square, with its own courtrooms and a mediation suite. The Magistrates Court on Charles Street can also deal with some family law matters.
Do I have to try mediation before going to court?
For parenting orders, generally yes. You need a family dispute resolution certificate, or the court must grant an exemption, for example because of family violence, child abuse or urgency. Property matters don't need a certificate, but the court expects you to try to settle first.
Does the law say children should spend equal time with each parent?
No. The law has never required equal time, and since May 2024 there's no longer a presumption of equal shared parental responsibility. The court decides what's in the child's best interests, starting with safety.
Are there accredited family law specialists in Tasmania?
The Law Society of Tasmania doesn't run a specialist accreditation scheme, and it points Tasmanian lawyers to the Law Institute of Victoria's scheme. Some lawyers here hold accreditation from interstate schemes. On this list, Lighthouse Family Lawyers says two of its lawyers are accredited family law specialists.
Can I get free family law help in Launceston?
Yes. Launceston Community Legal Centre gives free advice, Tasmania Legal Aid helps people who qualify, and Women's Legal Service Tasmania gives free advice to women. Some private firms will also talk through your options before you commit.
How do I get a family violence order?
Apply at the Magistrates Court registry, or ask police to apply for you. There's no filing fee, and an interim order can be made quickly. Police can also issue their own order without going to court.
General information only, not legal advice.
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