Family Lawyer Sunshine Coast Who Truly Care
Helping Sunshine Coast families move forward with clarity, confidence, and care.
Sunshine Coast Family Lawyers
Maroochydore Office
Our family law solicitors on the Sunshine Coast have many years of experience in dealing with all sorts of matters. We are an experienced team of family lawyers who can help negotiate terms between co-parents, all the while having a good understanding of Australian family law matters.
As leading Sunshine Coast-based family lawyers, we understand it is important that you find a solution that works best for your circumstances. By contacting a professional who has the skills and compassion to support you through your parenting, children’s matters or divorce ordeals, you increase your chances of a successful outcome.
Why choose a local family lawyer on the Sunshine Coast?
Understand the basics of family law before you hire a Sunshine Coast lawyer
There are plenty of choices when it comes to selecting a family lawyer. We want to help you understand some of the key differences you need to think about before hiring a lawyer. Before we do, let’s first clarify exactly what is Australian family law.
What is Australian family law?
Family law explained
Family law is the legal framework or legal practice area that focuses on issues such as divorce, child support, property settlement, domestic violence and financial agreements. Lawyers who practice family law can represent their clients in Family Court proceedings as well as in negotiations between parties. An element of family law includes family violence concerns, such as facing or taking out a domestic violence protection order. Australian family law is governed by the Family Law Act 1975. Matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Since the passing of the Family Law Act in 1975, no-fault divorce has been introduced. When considering divorce, the law does not consider the reasons your marriage has ended, and you do not have to prove yourself. Instead, the only grounds for divorce are that the marriage has broken down and there is no reasonable chance the marriage can be reconciled.
Our family law services
Our experienced family lawyers provide services that cover the breadth of family law. Our services include the following.
- Divorce
We can assist sole and joint applicants in completing the process quickly and without delays.
- Parenting arrangements
There are various ways you can organise parenting matters. We’ll help advise on parenting plans or parenting consent orders if necessary.
- Property matters
Our independent legal advice can help you enter a binding financial agreement. We can also walk you through organising applications for property consent orders.
- Court representation
We strive to take the stress out of court attendance so you can protect your rights effectively. We’ll help to ensure all of your documentation is prepared properly.
- Mediation
Having a lawyer present can be very useful during mediation sessions. We’ll ensure you’re aware of your rights and advocate for your position properly.
Family law court locations Sunshine Coast
On the Sunshine Coast, the courts are based in Maroochydore and Caloundra. There is also a location in Brisbane at the Harry Gibbs Commonwealth Law Court. It may be advisable to note court locations, as it’s not advisable to have your lawyers located far away. It may cost you extra for their time to attend in person. The courts may decide on family matters such as custody of children and can hear all cases related to family and domestic relationships, from grandparents wanting to see their grandchildren to how marital property is shared between parties. Applications for protection orders are heard in the Magistrates Court, which is located in Maroochydore and Caloundra.
What does a family lawyer do?
A family lawyer is an admitted solicitor who helps family members navigate the legal problems they may encounter, from married or de facto parties looking at separating and amicably settling their property affairs with consent orders or binding financial agreements. They may also help parents formalise child support arrangements and custody. They will draft all the important legal documents such as court applications, affidavits, parenting plans and draft property orders. Some family lawyers specialise in specific areas of family law.
Interested in a chat with our principal Luke?
Divorce lawyers near you in Maroochydore
Searching “divorce lawyer near me” at 2 am isn’t fun. We get it. Our office is in Maroochydore, so if you’re in Mooloolaba, Buderim, Caloundra or Nambour, we’re local. You won’t deal with a call centre in Sydney or overseas. We’re people you can meet face-to-face when things get complicated.
Why work with a local divorce lawyer, like Shanahan Family Law?
People search for family law lawyers “near me” for good reasons:
- You can actually sit across from us, not just stare at a Zoom screen.
- We've filed hundreds of applications at the Maroochydore Family Law Registry.
- We return calls the same day because we're not spread across three states.
Whether you’re in Alexandra Headland, Palmwoods or Noosa, same service, same commitment.
How to get started
Want to understand more about family law?
Contact Our Sunshine Coast LAWYER & Support Team
5 Key Tips for Choosing the Best Family Law Firm
Do this before you engage a Sunshine Coast Solicitor
1. Relationship Compatibility
Choosing a solicitor on the Sunshine Coast is probably the second most important decision you will make, after deciding to separate from your partner. A solicitor who is best suited to your situation will make a real difference both in the outcome of your separation and in how you navigate through this very emotional process. You want to work with a family law solicitor where you can build a trusting relationship – one who cares about your situation listens and gets you the results you deserve. Have you met them in person, did you feel comfortable or did something feel odd? Your initial meeting should feel relaxed and in all cases, they should be comforting and understanding to your situation. This is crucial, as you will need to make important decisions about domestic violence, child support, finances and property or support with general advice on taking relationship breaks through counselling and coaching services, not everything requires a lawyer.
2. Finding The Best Sunshine Coast Family Lawyers
When deciding which solicitor to work with, you need someone serious about your case, listens to your needs, and cares enough to want to help you achieve the best possible outcome. Most importantly, you want to hire someone who will stand by your side until your matter is concluded, not drop you halfway through because they’ve decided you won’t win. Understand the skills of the person you are hiring and ask questions about their qualifications and what cases they have managed in the last 5 years. Some lawyers are specialised and will only focus on one area. For example, have they managed court cases or child support cases before, is it something they practice regularly. If they start discussing the confidential matters of another case I would regard that as a red flag, proceed with caution.
3. Family Lawyers Being Addicted to Court
If you’re trying to save money, you want to partner with a legal expert who does everything possible to avoid a hearing in the Family Court. If you choose to partner with a hot-headed professional at courtroom appearances, you are likely going to end up financially and emotionally drained because I bet you’ll find yourself in court. Maybe all you need is good counselling or coaching for divorce services, or consider relationship breaks. Choose a legal representative who is calm and has an excellent track record (Googler Reviews), and who genuinely wants to do what is best for you and your family. You should aim to find a legal team that has a combination of family law experience. If you don’t find the right combination of skills, you will more than likely be subjected to a higher level of stress and spend more money than necessary. On the contrary, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid the legal system. In this case, you’ll need to find someone in family law who understands the process well and can deliver the results you deserve.
4. How can I save Costs?
A divorce can become expensive quite quickly if not managed well. After your first consultation, you should be able to get a clear idea of the cost. If you are price-sensitive, here are 11 tips that will help you save money when experiencing a divorce. However, don’t let price rule your whole decision-making process. A cheap lawyer may cost you a large amount of money, a mid-tier lawyer may save you some money, and a premium-priced lawyer is very likely to save you a lot of money. This is because these lawyers have the skills and experience to navigate you away from lengthy cases and ongoing communication back and forth regarding your case. If cost is still a barrier for you to receiving legal support, you might want to consider legal aid, which provides a form of financial support through government grants. If approved, you will be open to the same professional advice.
5. Navigating stressful Law Cases
When two people decide to separate, it is stressful and both parties are generally more emotional. In these heightened states of emotions, people sometimes feel they want to inflict pain on the other party. Having an experienced l in your corner who is level-headed, grounded and has a moral compass to guide decisions is critical. In most cases, there are children to consider, which means the parties are going to be in each other’s lives for many years. Often, it is pertinent to take a long-term view of your family law matter. One way to understand more about your lawyers is to take the time to read their reviews. You can learn a lot from some of the comments on Facebook and Google.
Testimonials
Top 3 frequently asked questions about family law
Family Lawyer sunshine coast
Useful legal family law matter terms
Lawyer Sunshine Coast
Property consent order
Property settlements cover all assets and liabilities in a marriage. This may include:
- A house or land.
- Superannuation.
- Bank accounts.
- Stock portfolios.
- Mortgage repayments.
- Credit card debts.
A consent order is a written, court-approved agreement that, when granted by the Court, obliges the parties to follow the terms stated in the document. A legal practitioner is pivotal in guiding this process. However, there are options for you to handle this on your own.
Spousal maintenance
Spousal maintenance is an amount payable by one party to a marriage that earns a higher income than the other spouse. Spousal maintenance can sometimes cause a lot of friction and disharmony between the two parties. It is important to remember that spousal maintenance is there to compensate for the ex-spouse’s future needs after divorce.
De facto relationship
De facto relationships have essentially the same rights as married couples when it comes to property and parenting issues. You can enter into consent orders and seek court orders to settle disputes. De facto couples may choose to register their relationship with their state government and receive a certificate that proves the relationship’s existence. Some family law matters, such as deadlines for property settlements, differ between de facto partners and married spouses. You can read more about de facto matters here.
Parenting consent order
Parenting arrangements cover all aspects of child care for your children. A consent order is a written, court-approved agreement that, when stamped by the court, obliges the parties to follow the terms stated in the document. A parenting plan differs from a parenting consent order in that it is a written private arrangement between parents that is not a court-enforceable document. However, a plan may be submitted to the Court to be made legally enforceable.
Child support
Often, one parent will take on most of the child care after a separation. We all know how expensive caring for a child can be. If the primary carer finds it difficult to support their needs financially. In these cases, the parent may get an assessment from Services Australia to calculate a reasonable payment plan based on the number of dependents and level of care. Child support can also be organised informally or with the assistance of a family lawyer.
Litigation
Dispute resolution isn’t always the right option. Sometimes, it places a party at risk because of a history of family violence. Other times, the parties cannot find an agreement, no matter how much mediation they use. Litigation is a last option because it can be expensive and take a long time. Representing yourself is risky during these proceedings. A lawyer can help you build your case and navigate all of the necessary hearings safely.
Shanahan Family Law Reception
Family law premium services
We’re family law experts providing premium services with no exorbitant fees. We have a decade of experience in managing divorces, domestic violence, child custody, financial agreements and property settlement matters. We always encourage negotiations. We’ll work to ensure the preservation of valuable assets. We can also give you advice on parenting and child abuse issues. We have a goal of supporting YOU.
Family lawyer near me
Shanahan Family Law listens, cares and gets results
We believe in caring and listening to our clients and have had a 98% success rate since 2009 for over 4,000 clients. We have made it our hallmark to be different and believe that our clients should not have to just “get through” their legal issues. They should move past them in a dignified and satisfied manner.
Family Law Frequently Asked Questions
What Shanahan Family Law customers are asking
To help you understand more about your circumstances, Shanahan Family Law have answered some of the most common questions with this FAQ.
Joint applications for divorce
Let's work together
Even a joint divorce application can be daunting, let alone when you’re considering filing for a divorce online. Perhaps you have questions about submitting your application to the courts, or you aren’t sure where to start. We’re here to help guide you through the process.
Download Our Free Divorce Guide
Get expert advice on navigating your divorce with ease and confidence.
