Family Lawyers Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast
Practical, supportive family law advice on divorce, property settlement and parenting.
- Getting the right advice early matters
- Founded in 2009 by Luke Shanahan (admitted 2009)
- Over 4,000 clients helped from our Kon-Tiki Business Centre office on Plaza Parade, Maroochydore.
- Our Sunshine Coast family lawyers help people through separation, divorce and de facto relationship breakdown
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About us
Helping Sunshine Coast Families Since 2009
Luke Shanahan founded our Maroochydore family law firm after around ten years with a long-established Queensland law firm, where he was a partner overseeing the insurance and injury compensation department.
He was admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 2009.
You’re in good hands with Luke and our family law team, who bring experience, care and attention to every matter.
Meet Our Sunshine Coast Family Lawyers
Sara Konczak
Solicitor
Need Urgent Legal Help?
Need urgent legal help near Maroochydore? Contact our family law team as soon as possible. We can assist with urgent parenting disputes, recovery and relocation matters, domestic violence and protection orders, upcoming family law proceedings and other time-sensitive family law matters. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services first.
For urgent legal assistance, call our Maroochydore office on (07) 5408 4470.
Common Family Law Challenges
Explore how we address the most common challenges.
A family lawyer’s approach to conflict directly affects your stress and your costs. We focus on resolution-first strategies that keep Sunshine Coast families out of court wherever possible, reducing both.
Book a free discovery call
Your first appointment is a free initial consultation with our Maroochydore family lawyers. Book a discovery call and our team will help you understand your legal position, your options and the next step. We can also explain our family law services and costs, so you know what to expect financially.
Why Choose Us?
Reputation and referrals matter when choosing who represents you. Much of our work as a Sunshine Coast family law firm comes from past clients and trusted local referrals.
We Care
We lead with empathy and compassion. Separation and relationship breakdown are among the hardest things you’ll go through, and we meet every client with care, patience and genuine understanding.
We Listen
We take time to understand your situation, needs and goals. We also work with trusted local professionals, including mediators, family dispute resolution practitioners and counsellors across the Sunshine Coast, to help resolve matters efficiently.
Focused on Resolution
Transparent, Cost-Conscious Approach
We discuss fees with you at the outset and set out our costs in writing.
Servicing the Sunshine Coast
Our Maroochydore family lawyers act for clients across the Sunshine Coast, from Caloundra to Noosa. Their experience and local knowledge of how matters proceed through the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia help your case run smoothly.
Proud sponsors of USCLSA
University of the Sunshine Coast Law Students' Association. Building our students, building our profession.
Client's Complimentary Feedback
There will never be enough words to show my appreciation for the support and guidance that was shown to me from Danielle and all the team. They took me under their wing from the moment I walked through the door, and I felt safe, supported, heard, informed and above all I never felt alone. Luke and Danielle, there will never be enough words to describe just how thankful I am to you both for all the support and for making me feel empowered throughout this process.
Take a look at what our clients say
Testimonials
Real Sunshine Coast Client Stories
A client with a complex property portfolio who wanted a professional, “no-drama” resolution.
A father who achieved a smooth transition and full-time care of his daughter without going to court.
BLOGS
Latest Family Law Resources
Contact Our Maroochydore Family Lawyers
Send an enquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Sunshine Coast family law team answers common questions about divorce, separation and your family law matter.
He understands the importance of building strong, enduring and lasting relationships. Luke is committed to his clients receiving clear and practical legal advice, while remaining accessible and responsive. Luke believes everyone deserves a second chance at a better life, and he aims to do this through his family legal support services. Luke was admitted as a solicitor in 2009. You can learn more about Luke Shanahan by visiting our team page.
It depends on your circumstances. You can often file a simple divorce application yourself, but property settlement, parenting arrangements and protection orders are more complex. Our Maroochydore family lawyers can explain your rights, prepare documents and provide legal representation in negotiations, family dispute resolution and court. Every family law matter is different, so the outcome depends on your situation.
First, check that Australia recognises your marriage. It will not be recognised if either party was already married to someone else, a person was underage by Australian law, or a person married under duress.
If the marriage is valid, you can apply for divorce in Australia if you or your spouse is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or has lived mainly in Australia for 12 months before filing. Our blog explains more.
Not always. Many family law matters can be resolved through negotiation or family dispute resolution. For divorce, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia explains when you need to attend, and Family Relationships Australia covers other family law matters. Divorce applications are filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal, and many hearings now run by video link.
You must be separated for at least 12 months before you apply. This can include separation under one roof if the relationship has genuinely ended. Once the Court grants a divorce, it takes effect one month and one day later.
An uncontested divorce usually takes several months. A contested application, or trouble locating your spouse, can take longer. Our Maroochydore divorce lawyers can explain the likely duration of your matter.
You must be separated for 12 months before applying for divorce. If you still live in the same home, you will need evidence of separation under one roof, such as sleeping in separate bedrooms and keeping separate social lives.
The law allows you to reconcile for a time during the separation. If you get back together for no longer than three months and separate again, your separation period resumes where it left off. If you reconcile for longer than three months, the 12-month separation period starts again.
Yes. If you have an urgent family law matter in Maroochydore or elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast, call our family lawyers on (07) 5408 4470. We help with child recovery and relocation, urgent parenting orders, domestic and family violence, temporary protection orders and upcoming court hearings. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services first.
Urgent legal advice may be needed where a child has been removed or withheld, there are concerns about relocation, family violence or safety, urgent parenting arrangements are required, or a court hearing is approaching. The appropriate response will depend on your circumstances, so getting legal advice early can help you understand your available options.
Yes. We can advise you about urgent parenting disputes, including whether parenting, recovery or location orders may be appropriate. Shanahan Family Law assists clients in Maroochydore with parenting matters and can provide advice about the steps available where a child’s living arrangements or safety require urgent attention.
Shanahan Family Law assists clients with domestic and family violence matters, including advice about protection orders and urgent temporary protection orders. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services first. For legal advice about your family law situation, you can then speak with the Shanahan Family Law team in Maroochydore.
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Facing a Family Law Matter?
Our Sunshine Coast family lawyers can help you take the next step and move forward with confidence.