Need a Family Lawyer in Cairns? You want to avoid costly court proceedings so that your dispute can be settled as quickly and affordably as possible.

As a Family law attorney, Nardine Collier has practiced for over 26+ years and is an accredited specialist in divorce & family law, and has successfully resolved hundreds of cases (focusing on fairly dividing property, divorce and children’s matters).

We understand that money is tight and you want to get the best legal advice. We offer flexible payment options and affordable rates.

Our services:

Family law attorney
* Family Law Specialist
Divorce Lawyers Cairns
* Cairns Family Lawyers
* Arrangements for Children
* Separation & Divorce
* DIY Divorce
* Division of assets
Mediation
* Arbitration
* E-Consulting
Advice

We look forward speaking with you today.

Collier Family Lawyers Cairns FAQ

When should I contact a Family Lawyer? The sooner the better! We have people contact even us before they have separated for advice as to what they can do to start protecting assets in case it all goes pear shaped; or just to find out what they need to do. The sooner you get the advice you need, the sooner you can start getting on with what needs to be done to sort out your family law matters. We will discuss your situation with you and give you a checklist of things to think about and attend to in order to streamline the process as much as possible

Do I need a Family Lawyer? Can’t I just do it myself? You may be tempted to not get legal advice, thinking it is too expensive or not necessary. You wouldn’t build a house without the right expertise, so why would you risk making a mistake if you don’t get legal advice? This could be an expensive mistake!

You really do need to know whether you are on the right track with what you think you are entitled to and what might be done if you end up before a judge. You need to pick your battles sometimes and not waste time and money arguing about something you are just not going to get. You will need to understand the property settlement process and what your rights are. You need to know what legal steps have to be taken, and how to go about it.

Each case is unique and what worked for your friend may not work for you. You can also find a lot of useful information online. But, just like with a medical problem, you shouldn’t try to diagnose yourself using Dr Google! It is worth it, to outlay what is really only a small sum in the scheme of things, to get some good advice to get you started.

Can I save money on my legal fees? How can I manage my fees? YES! In the lawyer world, our time is your money. Most lawyers charge based on the time they spend working on your file. The more time your lawyer spends working on your file, you will pay more.

At Collier Family Law, we know that money is tight and you want the best value for money. This is why we will suggest to you that you can do some of the legwork yourself – as this will reduce your fees.

For example, you can write out your story – you might find it therapeutic! If it is a property matter, you can get together all your financial records and prepare them to give to us. You can also fill out an automated letter that gives us all the information we need to give you advice. You doing this yourself will save at least an hour of time.

My clients can also save time by filling out documents in draft form and sending them to me for review. They can also do their own research, such as getting three quotes from an appraiser. The more you do, the less work I have to do. This reduces my fees.

Remember also – your Cairns family lawyers MUST give you a proper estimate of fees at the start of your engagement with them, and keep giving you further estimates throughout the life of your file. Ask why this wasn’t discussed with you during your first appointment.

Is it easy to get a consent order?
Yes it really is quite a simple process. It’s usually the hardest part to reach an agreement! Once you’ve reached an agreement, it is fairly straightforward to fill out a consent order application. Two places are where the “do it yourself” person gets stuck. There are two sections of the form that may require legal advice. Second, the consent order application must be accompanied with a minutes of order in which you state the orders that you want the court make. This part requires some legal expertise to ensure that the orders are formulated correctly and that you don’t miss anything.

Our service areas:

* Edmonton
* Bently Park
* Mount Sheridan
* Earlville
* Manunda
* Cairns City
Edge Hill
* Wharf Street, Cairns QLD 4870
* Spence Street Cairns QLD4870
* Lake Street, Cairns QLD 4870
* Bunda Street Cairns QLD4870