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
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(203)Google rating from 203 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Brandon & Gullo Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Building & Construction and Business & Commercial Law.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution+8 moreBuilding & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Property & Conveyancing · Personal Bankruptcy · Insolvency & Restructuring · Domestic Violence & AVOs · General Practice (regional generalist)No win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(102)Google rating from 102 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Traffic Offences, Criminal Law and Drug Offences.
Traffic Offences+7 moreCriminal Law · Drug Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Assault & Violent Offences · Family Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Domestic Violence & AVOs
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(98)Google rating from 98 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Freedom Family Law provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Divorce & Separation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(98)Google rating from 98 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
LEAD Conveyancing Sunshine Coast provides conveyancing services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Building & Construction.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(62)Google rating from 62 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
CHOMLEY FAMILY LAW provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and International Family Law & Hague Abduction.
Family Law+7 moreParenting & Child Custody · International Family Law & Hague Abduction · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Property & Conveyancing · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(60)Google rating from 60 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Griffiths Parry Lawyers & Notary provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Family Law and Property & Conveyancing.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreFamily Law · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Notary Public & JP Services · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Twin Waters, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(59)Google rating from 59 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lever Law provides legal services in Twin Waters, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Family Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Strata & Body Corporate
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clarity Law provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Assault & Violent Offences, Fraud & White Collar Crime and Criminal Law.
Assault & Violent Offences+7 moreFraud & White Collar Crime · Criminal Law · Centrelink & Social Security · Property & Conveyancing · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Bail ApplicationsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Windsor Craig Solicitors provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Elder Law & Aged Care · Wills & Estates · Buying or Selling a Business · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts
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Tewantin, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Anumis Legal provides legal services in Tewantin, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Family Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Banking & FinanceFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Gympie, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(39)Google rating from 39 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baldwins Lawyers provides legal services in Gympie, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & EstatesFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(32)Google rating from 32 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Miller Sockhill Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Business & Commercial Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Strata & Body Corporate · Commercial Property & Leasing
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Coolum Beach, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sunshine Coast Legal Pty Ltd provides legal services in Coolum Beach, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Birtinya, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bennett Carroll Solicitors provides legal services in Birtinya, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Traffic Offences · Partner & Family Visas
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Noosaville, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BJH LAW PTY LTD provides legal services in Noosaville, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Criminal Law+5 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Divorce & Separation · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Caloundra, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(20)Google rating from 20 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ferrall & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Caloundra, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreDivorce & Separation · Parenting & Child Custody · Property & Conveyancing · De Facto Relationships · Criminal Law · Medical Negligence · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Meridan Plains, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DJ Hinton Lawyers provides legal services in Meridan Plains, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Commercial Litigation and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+4 moreCommercial Litigation · Property & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
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Maroochydore, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Insolvency & Restructuring · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nambour, QLD · Sunshine Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Baldwins Lawyers provides legal services in Nambour, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Divorce & Separation · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Business & Commercial Law · Wills & EstatesFree 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 Sunshine Coast
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 Sunshine Coast
Maroochydore, Caloundra, Noosa and Nambour are grouped within the Sunshine Coast. Clients comparing firms should identify whether the work involves a personal matter, business interest or property held through an entity.
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 Sunshine Coast. 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.