Facing an urgent family or custody situation? Legal Hotline's free information line answers 24/7, so you can understand your options straight away — then we connect you with an admitted family lawyer for a fixed-fee consultation, by phone, video or in person, at the earliest available time.
Free legal information, 24/7. Speak with a lawyer via a fixed-fee consult — often within minutes.
Call the free Legal Hotline on 1800 951 176, any time of day. You will get free information about your family law situation immediately, and we prioritise booking a consultation with an admitted family lawyer — by phone, video or in person — at the earliest available time.
Some family matters cannot wait for a standard appointment. Common urgent situations include:
If anyone's safety is at immediate risk, contact police on 000 first. For understanding your legal options, the free information line is available 24/7.
Australian family law has processes for genuinely urgent issues — for example, courts can hear some parenting matters on an urgent basis, and recovery orders deal with a child being withheld. The specific process and timeframes depend on your circumstances and your state or territory, which is exactly what a family lawyer can explain in a consultation.
The free information line answers immediately, 24/7. A consultation with an admitted family lawyer is then booked at the earliest available time — often the same day — by phone, video or in person.
How do I get an emergency family lawyer in Australia?
Call the free Legal Hotline on 1800 951 176, 24/7. You get free information on your family law situation immediately, and we prioritise booking a consultation with an admitted family lawyer at the earliest available time, by phone, video or in person.
What can I do if my child has been taken or kept from me?
If a child has been taken or kept without agreement, you may be able to apply to the court for a recovery order. Call the free hotline for information on your options; if a child's safety is at immediate risk, contact police on 000. We can arrange an urgent consultation with a family lawyer.
Can I speak to a family lawyer today?
Often, yes. The free information line answers immediately, 24/7, and urgent family consultations are usually arranged the same day with an admitted family lawyer, by phone, video or in person.
Is there a 24/7 family law helpline?
Yes. The free Legal Hotline information line operates 24 hours a day, every day, so you can get information on an urgent family matter at any time. A consultation with a family lawyer is then booked at the earliest available time.
Does the call cost anything?
No. The information line is free to call, 24/7, with no appointment. You only pay if you choose a fixed-fee consultation with a family lawyer, and the fee is confirmed up front before anything goes ahead.
Call the free information line any time, or book a fixed-fee consult with a local lawyer.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.