This paper examines how the child protection and federal family law systems operate in Australia, so that their intersection may be better understood by those working in each system. The paper begins by discussing evidence of the extent to which issues that may give rise to child protection concerns are evident among separating families. It then describes how the child protection and family law systems operate, identifying areas of overlap and gaps. Finally, the paper outlines recent research findings and policy recommendations that are intended to address some of the difficulties in these systems.