Family law cost guide · Court fees updated 16 September 2026
Consent orders typically run $1,500–$3,500. Negotiated property settlements $8,000–$20,000. Contested final hearings $40,000–$120,000. Drawn from Family Court fee schedules.
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Family law costs in Australia depend almost entirely on whether the matter resolves by agreement or proceeds to a final hearing. The difference between these pathways is one zero on the bill.
Median combined costs (both parties’ legal fees combined) for property and parenting matters, May 2026:
| Resolution pathway | Combined cost | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Consent orders (you agree the terms) | $1,500–$3,500 | 2 to 4 months |
| Binding Financial Agreement | $3,500–$8,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Family Dispute Resolution mediation | $2,000–$6,000 | 3 to 6 months |
| Negotiated property settlement | $8,000–$20,000 | 6 to 12 months |
| Contested final hearing (property) | $40,000–$120,000+ | 18 to 36 months |
| Contested parenting final hearing | $30,000–$80,000+ | 18 to 24 months |
Approximately 70% of Australian family law matters resolve without a final hearing (AIFS 2024 data). The earlier and more cooperatively a matter resolves, the dramatically lower the cost.
Filing fees are charged by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (current at May 2026):
| Item | Fee | Reduced fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application for divorce | $1,170 | $390 |
| Application for consent orders | $215 | — |
| Initiating Application (parenting or financial, final only) | $455 | — |
| Initiating Application (parenting and financial, final only) | $740 | — |
| Interim order application (added to the above) | $155 | — |
| Decree of nullity | $1,660 | $550 |
| Setting down for hearing (defended) | $820 Div 2 / $1,115 Div 1 | — |
| Conciliation conference | $510 | — |
A published reduced fee exists only for divorce and nullity applications, and you must apply for it. For every other fee in this table there is no reduced rate — relief comes instead through a fee exemption, available to applicants holding certain Centrelink concession cards or a Health Care Card, and to applicants who can show financial hardship. Source: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, family law fee schedule, effective 1 July 2026. Checked 16 September 2026.
Family lawyers in Australia generally use one of three pricing structures: hourly ($350–$650/hr for solicitors, $700–$1,400/hr for senior counsel), fixed-fee staged packages (e.g. $3,000 for FDR preparation), or blended structures where simple work is fixed and contested work is hourly.
Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (or its state equivalents), a written costs disclosure must be provided before the firm starts acting. Read it carefully — the total estimate is usually the most useful number on the page.
Aim for consent orders. The court’s sealing of an agreed position costs $190 and takes weeks, not years.
Use FDR mediation early. An accredited Family Dispute Resolution practitioner can resolve property and parenting issues for a fraction of what court will cost.
Limit the lawyer’s scope of work. Many family lawyers offer "unbundled" advice — you handle correspondence and the lawyer reviews critical documents. Cheaper, but requires you to be capable and organised.
Disclose fully and early. Most cost blowouts in family matters come from arguments about disclosure. Doing it properly the first time avoids weeks of correspondence.
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