Family & Relationships lawyers in Cairns & Far North
Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(53)Google rating from 53 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Family Law Group provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Mediation & Dispute Resolution2 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Compensation Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Personal Injury+7 moreMedical Negligence · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Property & Conveyancing · Professional Negligence · Partner & Family Visas · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial LawNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Queensland Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Atherton, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Atherton Tablelands Law provides legal services in Atherton, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Native Title & Aboriginal Legal Services · Maritime & Admiralty Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Millyard Family Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Wills & Estates · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Roberts Family Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Divorce & Separation.
Family Law+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adams United Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Binding Financial Agreements, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Binding Financial Agreements+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Family Property Settlement · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury · Divorce & SeparationFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cairns Divorce Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Binding Financial Agreements.
Family Law+6 moreDivorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Parenting & Child Custody · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coral Coast Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Assault & Violent Offences.
Drink & Drug Driving+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Assault & Violent Offences · Business & Commercial Law · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Bail Applications · Fraud & White Collar Crime
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Reaston Drummond Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Property Settlement · Parenting & Child Custody · Binding Financial Agreements · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Port Douglas, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Robert P Palethorpe provides legal services in Port Douglas, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Rights In Action Inc provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, NDIS & Disability Law and Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+5 moreNDIS & Disability Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Building & Construction · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(337)Google rating from 337 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Preston Law Cairns provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Workers Compensation · Family Law · Employment Law · Building & Construction · Family Property SettlementNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(171)Google rating from 171 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Walsh Sean provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Partner & Family Visas · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(95)Google rating from 95 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Corsetti Lawyers provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Building & Construction · Insolvency & Restructuring · Employment Law
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nq Mobile Law Service provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Drink & Drug Driving and Bail Applications.
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(27)Google rating from 27 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
UNIVERSAL LAWYERS Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Parenting & Child Custody · Drug Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Bail Applications · Divorce & Separation
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lawweb Pty Ltd provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Family Law · Traffic Offences · Personal Injury · Business & Commercial LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kahler Lawyers provides legal services in Ingham, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kim's Conveyancing Works provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Family law in Australia is mostly federal. Parenting and property matters run under the Family Law Act and are heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or the Family Court of Western Australia in WA. A good family lawyer will explain your likely outcome early, push for a negotiated agreement where it's safe to do so, and prepare you properly if a court hearing is needed. Where there is family violence, they can also help you get protection orders from your state's local or magistrates court.
Why family law matters
Family breakdown is one of the most common reasons Australians need a lawyer, and decisions made early affect children and finances for years.
The Australian context
Family law is one of the few areas run federally, under the Family Law Act 1975, with separate protection order schemes in each state and a separate Family Court in Western Australia.
Understand the next step
A practical guide to family & relationships in Cairns & Far North
Choosing the right kind of assistance
Family matters often involve several decisions at once: living arrangements, children, immediate expenses, property and formally ending a marriage. A useful first consultation separates those issues and identifies what needs attention now. Tell the lawyer about safety concerns and existing orders before arranging discussions involving another person.
Working with a firm in Cairns & Far North
Cairns, Port Douglas and Atherton bring together different Far North locations. For a property or business matter, tell the firm whether you are based locally, elsewhere in Australia or overseas.
For family & relationships, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant QLD experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Cairns & Far North. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
02
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
03
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Fees and the scope of work
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Questions to ask a family & relationships adviser
Will you handle parenting, property and divorce together or separately?
How will you communicate with me safely?
What would change the proposed approach or budget?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced?
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
How long do I have to settle property after separating?
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
Is mediation compulsory?
For parenting disputes, you usually need a certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner before filing in court, unless an exception applies such as family violence or urgency.
