Need a family lawyer in Cairns? And looking to keep your issue out of costly court proceedings – so that you’ll settle your dispute as quickly and as 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 know that money is tight, and that you want the best legal advice possible. We offer flexible payment options and affordable rates.

Our services:

Family law attorney
* Family Law Specialist
* Divorce Lawyer 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 Frequently Asked Questions.

When should I contact an attorney for family law? 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. In the same way you wouldn’t think of building a house unless you had the expertise to do so, you run the risk of getting it wrong if you don’t get legal advice. This could be a costly 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 have to know when to choose your battles and not waste money and time arguing over something you will never get. With a property settlement you will need to know the process to working it all out and what you are entitled to. You must know the legal steps to take and how to do 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.

How can I reduce my legal fees? How can I manage my fees? YES! In the lawyer world, our time is your money. Most lawyers charge according to the time they spend in your file. This means, the more time your lawyer spends on your file, the more it costs you.

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.

You can also write your story. It could be therapeutic for you! 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 can do, the less I need to, which reduces your 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. The hard part is usually reaching the agreement in the first place! But once you’ve done that, filling in an application for consent orders is reasonably straightforward. 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 is the part that does require some legal expertise in order to make sure the orders are worded correctly and you don’t miss things out.

Our service areas:

Edmonton
Bently Park
* Mount Sheridan
* Earlville
* Manunda
* Cairns City
* Edge Hill
* Wharf St, Cairns QLD 4888
* Spence Street, Cairns QLD 4870
* Lake Street, Cairns QLD4870
* Bunda Street Cairns QLD4870