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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. This is why we offer affordable rates and flexible payment options.

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 to speaking to you today.

Collier Family Lawyers Cairns Frequently Asked Questions.

When should I contact a Family Lawyer? The sooner you contact a family lawyer, 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 with you your situation and give you a list of things you need to consider and do to streamline the process.

Do I really 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 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 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.

Every case is different and just because your mate got a certain outcome doesn’t mean you will. 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 world of law, your time is our money. Most lawyers charge based on the time they spend working on your file. This means, the more time your lawyer spends on your file, the more it costs you.

We at Collier Family Law understand that money is a concern and you want to get the best deal possible. We will tell you to do some of the work yourself, as it will lower 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. We also have an automated letter of instruction which you fill in, and it gives us the background we need from you to give you advice. By doing this yourself, you will save an hour.

As another great time saver I regularly have my clients fill in documents in draft for me to check over; or make their own enquiries where they can – for example, getting three quotes from a valuer. 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. If this isn’t covered with you at the first appointment, ask why.

Is it easy to get a consent order?
It is a very 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. There are two places where the ‘do it yourself’ person comes unstuck. Firstly there are a couple of sections in the form that are not as straightforward as other parts of the form and might require some legal advice. The second is that the application for consent orders must be accompanied by minutes of order where you set out the orders you want the court to 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 St, Cairns QLD 4888
* Spence Street, Cairns QLD 4870
* Lake Street, Cairns QLD 4870
* Bunda Street Cairns QLD4870