The Sunshine Coast runs from Caloundra to Noosa and up into the hinterland, and its courts are spread out to match. Maroochydore is where the District Court sits, where the family court visits on circuit and where Legal Aid Queensland and the local community legal service have their offices.
Our Sunshine Coast lists cover criminal law, family law and general solicitors, with where each firm is based and what it handles. With a Coast this long, ask whether you can meet by phone or video, and who goes to court or mediation with you.
Lawyers in Sunshine Coast by area of law
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How legal matters work on the Sunshine Coast
Criminal charges start in the Magistrates Court. Maroochydore Courthouse on Cornmeal Parade has both the Magistrates Court and the District Court, which holds criminal sittings there, including trials and sentences. Caloundra Magistrates Court is at 3 Gregson Place, and there are also Magistrates Courts at Nambour and Noosa, plus smaller courthouses at Landsborough and Pomona. Young people's charges start in Maroochydore's Youth Justice Court list on Wednesdays, and Caloundra sends its Childrens Court matters there.
Family law works differently. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia sits at Maroochydore on circuit, but it has no registry on the Coast, so documents are filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal or at the Brisbane registry. Domestic violence orders are a Queensland matter. You can apply at any Magistrates Court in the state, and both Maroochydore and Caloundra hear applications.
There's no drug court on the Coast. The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court sits in Brisbane, but Maroochydore runs Court Link, a bail based program for people with drug, alcohol, mental health or housing problems.
Courts in Sunshine Coast
- Magistrates Court at Maroochydore
- Most criminal and traffic matters start here, along with domestic violence orders. The courthouse is on Cornmeal Parade, and it also runs the Coast's Youth Justice Court and a Murri Court on set dates.
- Caloundra, Nambour and Noosa Magistrates Courts
- Other Magistrates Courts on the Coast include Caloundra, at 3 Gregson Place, which also hears domestic violence matters, Nambour on Currie Street and Noosa. There are smaller courthouses at Landsborough and Pomona.
- District Court at Maroochydore
- Serious criminal charges committed from the Magistrates Court. The District Court holds criminal sittings, including trials and sentences, at Maroochydore Courthouse.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
- Separation, parenting and property matters. The court sits at Maroochydore on circuit, but there's no registry, so matters are filed online or at the Brisbane registry on North Quay.
Free and low cost legal help
- Legal Aid Queensland gives free legal information to anyone, and advice or representation to people who qualify.
- Legal Aid Queensland, Maroochydore: Ground floor, M1 Building, Duporth Avenue. Its duty lawyers attend the Maroochydore, Caloundra, Nambour and Noosa courts, and a family law duty lawyer visits when the family court sits at Maroochydore.
- Suncoast Community Legal Service: Level 3, 29 The Esplanade, Maroochydore. Short free advice sessions for Sunshine Coast residents, covering areas such as family law, domestic violence and criminal matters. Bookings are essential.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service: Suite 3, 115 to 117 Aerodrome Road, Maroochydore, for criminal, family and civil law.
- Women's Legal Service Queensland: Free legal help for women on family law and domestic violence, on 1800 957 957.
- Duty lawyers at the Magistrates Court at Maroochydore can help on the day if you're due in court and don't have a lawyer yet.
- Community legal centres give free advice on everyday problems like debts, tenancy, fines and employment.
- Private firms often offer a free or fixed price first appointment. Ask when you call.
- Check a lawyer's standing with the Queensland Law Society, the professional body for lawyers in Queensland.
Need help finding a lawyer in Sunshine Coast?
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Finding a lawyer in Sunshine Coast: common questions
How do I choose a lawyer in Sunshine Coast?
Start with the area of law your problem falls under, then shortlist two or three firms that do that work regularly. If your matter is going to court, ask how often they appear in that court. Ask what the first appointment costs and how fees work after that, and go with the lawyer who explains things clearly rather than the one with the biggest ad.
Can I get free legal advice in Sunshine Coast?
Often, yes. Legal Aid Queensland gives free legal information to anyone and advice or representation to people who qualify. Community legal centres also give free advice, and duty lawyers at the Magistrates Court at Maroochydore can help if you're due in court that day.
How do I check a lawyer can practise in Queensland?
Every practising lawyer needs a current practising certificate. Ask the firm for the lawyer's full name and check it with the Queensland Law Society or the local regulator. A good firm won't mind you asking.
Is there a family court on the Sunshine Coast?
Not a registry. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia sits at Maroochydore on circuit, but documents can't be filed there. You file through the Commonwealth Courts Portal or at the Brisbane registry at 119 North Quay. Domestic violence orders are a state matter and are heard in the local Magistrates Courts, including Maroochydore and Caloundra.
Is there a drug court on the Sunshine Coast?
No. The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court sits in Brisbane, and you have to live, or intend to live, in the Brisbane Magistrates Court district to take part. At Maroochydore, Court Link is a bail based program that links people with support for substance use, mental health, housing and other needs.
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