Five Fantastic Best Family and Divorce Lawyers in Adelaide, South Australia
Choosing a family or divorce lawyer in Adelaide is easier when you can compare specialists at a glance. Below are five fantastic firms, plus two special mentions, each with quick facts, core services, one short client testimonial, and source-backed endnotes for verification. Jump to: Swan Family Lawyers | The Family Law Project | Clark Panagakos Family Law | Adelaide Family Law | Tindall Gask Bentley | Special Mentions | FAQs | Endnotes
Swan Family Lawyers
Lead lawyer: Christopher Swan. Accredited Family Law Specialist, Nationally Accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner[1][2].
Why this firm stands out: client-centred strategy, strong mediation focus, and clear pathways for parenting and property matters[3].
- Services: divorce, parenting and child custody, property settlement, de facto matters, binding financial agreements, mediation and FDR[4][2].
- Service area: Adelaide and South Australia.
“Excellent representation. Highly recommend for family court.”
Client review[5]
The Family Law Project
Lead lawyer: Shaya Lewis-Dermody, Founding Director. Boutique, socially responsible model with fixed fees and Independent Children’s Lawyer expertise[6][7].
- Services: divorce, parenting, child support, property settlement, care and protection, wills and powers of attorney[6].
- Service area: Adelaide and South Australia.
“Responsible, professional, responsive and proactive. They saved me time and money.”
Client review[8]
Clark Panagakos Family Law
Lead lawyer: Bev Clark. Among the first in South Australia trained in Collaborative Law and a founding member of Adelaide Collaborative Practice Group[9]. The team provides cost-effective, resolution-focused advice across family law issues[10].
- Services: collaborative practice, mediation, divorce, de facto matters, property disputes, children’s matters, financial agreements[10].
- Service area: Adelaide and South Australia.
“Expert, sensitive and family-focused support.”
Social page descriptor[11]
Visit Clark Panagakos Family Law
Adelaide Family Law
Focused on effective and compassionate resolutions in divorce, separation, children’s issues and property settlements[12].
- Services: divorce, separation, parenting and children’s matters, property settlements, de facto separations[12].
- Service area: Adelaide and South Australia.
“Professional and friendly. They solved a difficult issue.”
Client review excerpt[13]
Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers (TGB)
Large multi-office firm with an established family and divorce team offering mediation and collaborative options[14][15].
- Services: divorce, parenting and custody, property settlements, de facto relationships, mediation and collaborative processes[14][15].
- Service area: Adelaide metro and South Australia.
“Highly recommend. We had a difficult situation and they helped us through it.”
Client feedback post[16]
Visit Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
Special Mentions in Adelaide
Resolve Divorce — specialist family law practice with accredited specialists and advanced collaborative training[17]. Visit Resolve Divorce.
Andersons Solicitors — long-standing Adelaide firm with a dedicated family law team for separation, parenting and property matters[18][19]. Visit Andersons Solicitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short, direct answers help you compare options quickly. For firm-specific details, see the endnotes for service links.
1. How long does a divorce take in South Australia?
Most uncontested divorces take several months from filing to a final order, depending on court timelines. Parenting and property issues are separate and can run in parallel resolution processes.
2. Do I need to be separated before applying for divorce?
Yes. In Australia a minimum of 12 months separation is required before filing an application for divorce.
3. Can we resolve parenting and property without going to court?
Yes. Mediation, collaborative law and lawyer-assisted negotiation are common pathways that can be faster and less stressful than litigation[15].
4. What is a Binding Financial Agreement?
It is a private agreement between partners about how assets, liabilities and spousal maintenance will be handled. Independent legal advice is required for validity.
5. What is an Independent Children’s Lawyer?
An Independent Children’s Lawyer is appointed to represent a child’s best interests in parenting disputes. Some Adelaide firms provide this specialist service[6].
6. How are de facto relationships treated?
De facto partners can have similar rights and obligations to married couples regarding property settlement and maintenance, depending on circumstances and time limits.
7. What should I bring to an initial consultation?
Bring key dates, a brief asset and liability list, any court orders, parenting plans, and questions about costs or process.
8. What does mediation involve?
A neutral mediator guides structured discussions to help you reach agreement. Many Adelaide firms offer in-house mediation or can refer to independent mediators[4][15].
9. Can I apply for divorce online?
Yes. The Commonwealth Courts Portal enables online filing. A lawyer can still assist with strategy, parenting and property agreements.
10. How are legal fees structured?
Firms may offer fixed fees for discrete tasks or hourly rates for complex matters. Ask for a costs agreement and a scope of work at the outset[6].
Endnotes and sources
[1] Swan Family Lawyers, Christopher Swan profile. Accredited mediator and FDRP.
[2] Swan Mediation. Family Dispute Resolution services.
[3] Swan Family Lawyers homepage. Firm overview and approach.
[4] Services at Swan Family Lawyers. See firm site and mediation page for: divorce and parenting | mediation and FDR.
[5] Swan Family Lawyers testimonials. Client feedback excerpt.
[6] The Family Law Project services. Divorce, child support, ICL.
[7] The Family Law Project about page. Firm model and fixed fees.
[8] The Family Law Project review snippet. Testimonial excerpt (site displays client comments).
[9] Clark Panagakos, Bev Clark profile. Collaborative Law background and professional listing.
[10] Clark Panagakos services and philosophy. Family law and mediation | Article on approach: why not the most aggressive.
[11] Clark Panagakos social page descriptor. Facebook.
[12] Adelaide Family Law overview and services. Firm site.
[13] Adelaide Family Law client review excerpt. Yelp page.
[14] TGB firm site. Family and divorce practice.
[15] TGB family law mediation page. Mediation process.
[16] TGB client feedback post. Facebook snippet. Historical survey: 97 percent would recommend.
[17] Resolve Divorce mission and team credentials. Mission | team with accredited specialists.
[18] Andersons Solicitors family law page. Family law information.
[19] Andersons Solicitors firm overview. Practice areas.
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Notes on links: all external links are standard followed links and use no opener no referrer attributes.
