Family Lawyers Sunshine Coast

Clients describe our team as professional, empathetic and clear in the way we explain options and next steps.

The issues we see most on the coast

Some of what we deal with here is shaped by the coast itself: an older, sea-change population, a health and hospitality workforce, and family wealth built up over decades.

Superannuation and the sea-change asset pool

The Sunshine Coast draws many people later in life, so we regularly act on longer marriages and grey divorce where the family wealth sits in superannuation, a self-managed super fund, an investment property or a business built over decades rather than in a single wage.

Splitting super and valuing those assets properly, under Part VIIIB and the four-step process, is often the whole game in these matters, and we make sure it is done rather than guessed.

Shift work, the hospital and a hospitality economy

Birtinya sits in the Kawana health precinct around the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, and much of the coast runs on health, tourism and hospitality. That shapes parenting arrangements around rosters and night shift, and property matters around casual, seasonal or self-employed income. We build arrangements that fit how Sunshine Coast families really work, and we untangle irregular income with forensic accountants and valuers where needed.

Hinterland property, acreage and rural business

Behind the coast, families around Nambour, Palmwoods and Maleny often have acreage, a small farm or a rural business in the pool. These need the right valuation approach and honest thought about who can realistically keep and run them after separation, and we get the valuations right rather than leaving them to argument.

Meeting us at the Birtinya office

You can see a lawyer in person at our Birtinya office by appointment, in the Kawana health precinct and easy to reach from Maroochydore and Caloundra, or deal with us entirely by phone, email and video if that is easier.

What happens at your first meeting

We start by understanding your situation and your goals, then set out the likely steps, timeframes and costs in writing. If superannuation splitting, a self-managed fund, a business or hinterland property is involved, we flag early what valuations and disclosure will be needed so it does not hold things up later.

Will your matter end up in court?

For most families, no. The great majority of matters resolve through negotiation, mediation and consent orders without a contested hearing. Where a hearing is needed, it is often listed locally at the Maroochydore circuit rather than in Brisbane, and we handle the filing and the appearances for you, so a contested matter never means you are running the court system yourself.

Find us in the Kawana health precinct

Queensland Family Law Practice, Sunshine Coast
2 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya QLD 4575 (by appointment)
Phone: (07) 3172 3777
Email: enquiries@qflp.com.au
In the Birtinya town centre and Kawana health precinct, easy to reach from Maroochydore and Caloundra.

Why families on the coast work with us

We work exclusively in family law, we are experienced with the superannuation-heavy and business matters common to the coast, and we tell you the truth from the first meeting, including whether you actually need a lawyer.

Your first fifteen minute call is complimentary, confidential and without obligation. It is general guidance to help you understand your options and your next step.

Below are some of the questions Sunshine Coast families ask us most.

Will my matter be heard at Maroochydore or in Brisbane?

The Federal Circuit and Family Court sits on circuit at Maroochydore, so many Sunshine Coast matters are heard there rather than in Brisbane. Matters are still filed through the Brisbane registry, and the court decides where a matter is listed. Most of the matters we handle settle without a hearing at all.

Most of our savings are in superannuation. How is that handled?

Superannuation is property and can be split as part of a settlement under Part VIIIB. Valuation matters, especially for a self-managed fund or a defined-benefit scheme, and we make sure it is done properly rather than guessed.

I work shifts at the hospital. Can parenting arrangements fit my roster?

Yes. We build parenting arrangements around real rosters and night shift rather than a standard week, so the arrangement actually works for your family.

We have acreage in the hinterland. What happens to it?

Rural and acreage property has to be valued properly and thought through honestly, including who can realistically keep and run it after separation. We get the valuation approach right rather than leaving it to argument.

Do I have to travel to Brisbane to see a lawyer?

No. You meet us at Birtinya by appointment or deal with us entirely by phone, email and video, and we appear for you if a hearing is needed.