Which Sunshine Coast court will my charge be listed at?

It depends on where the matter arose. Charges are listed at the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Cornmeal Parade, the Caloundra Magistrates Court at 3 Gregson Place or the Noosa Magistrates Court on Langura Street.

Can I file family law documents in Maroochydore?

No. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia sits on circuit in Maroochydore but does not accept filings there. Applications are filed through the Commonwealth Courts Portal or at the Brisbane registry, 119 North Quay.

Where is Legal Aid on the Sunshine Coast?

Legal Aid Queensland's office is on the ground floor of the M1 Building, Duporth Avenue, Maroochydore, phone (07) 5451 6900.

Best Law Firms in Sunshine Coast, QLD (2026): By Practice Area

Law firms on the Sunshine Coast act in matters heard at the Maroochydore courthouse on Cornmeal Parade, where the Magistrates Court and District Court sit, the Caloundra and Noosa Magistrates Courts, and circuit sittings of the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Maroochydore. Compare firms below by practice area, then check which courthouse your matter belongs to.

Location within the region decides the Magistrates Court, and the type of matter decides whether it stays local. Criminal trials and many family law hearings take place in Maroochydore, while family law filing and probate go through Brisbane. The grid ranks firms for each area, including Criminal Lawyers in Sunshine Coast, Family Lawyers in Sunshine Coast and Conveyancers in Sunshine Coast.

Law firms in Sunshine Coast by practice area

Family Lawyers

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1Greenhalgh Pickard Solicitors & Accountants★★★★★ 4.9 (793)
2Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast★★★★★ 5.0 (103)
3MMLaw★★★★★ 4.9 (107)

Conveyancers

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1Bush to Beach Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (747)
2First Class Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (277)
3Thompson Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (139)

Criminal Lawyers

Full ranking →

1Travis Schultz & Partners★★★★★ 5.0 (316)
2Smith Criminal Law Sunshine Coast★★★★★ 5.0 (103)
3MMLaw★★★★★ 4.9 (107)

Which courts and tribunals are in Sunshine Coast?

Magistrates Courts sit at Maroochydore, Caloundra and Noosa, the District Court sits at Maroochydore, and the federal family court holds circuit sittings there.

Court	What it hears	Where
Magistrates Court of Queensland	Simple offences, committals, civil claims up to $150,000, domestic violence protection orders	Maroochydore (Cornmeal Parade), Caloundra (3 Gregson Place), Noosa (Langura Street)
District Court of Queensland	Indictable matters committed for trial or sentence, larger civil claims	Maroochydore courthouse
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia	Divorce, parenting and property cases on circuit dates	Cornmeal Parade, Maroochydore (circuit only, no filing)
Supreme Court of Queensland	Probate, the most serious charges, the largest claims	Registry at 415 George Street, Brisbane

The Magistrates Court hears civil claims up to $150,000 as well as criminal matters. Domestic violence protection orders are also a Magistrates Court matter, separate from any federal family law case, so a Sunshine Coast family may deal with both courts at once.

What happens outside circuit dates?

Family law matters that are urgent or fall outside the Maroochydore circuit are heard in Brisbane or electronically. Documents for every Sunshine Coast family law case are filed online or at the Brisbane registry, so a local firm files there on the client's behalf. Firms that practise in both places are compared on Law Firms in Brisbane.

Where can you get free legal help in Sunshine Coast?

Free help on the Sunshine Coast comes mainly from Legal Aid Queensland.

Legal Aid Queensland has an office on the ground floor of the M1 Building, Duporth Avenue, Maroochydore, phone (07) 5451 6900, open weekdays from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. It gives criminal and family law advice to Sunshine Coast residents and grants of aid to eligible people.
The Legal Information Line, 1300 65 11 88, answers calls from anywhere in Queensland from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm on weekdays.
The Queensland Law Society can help locate a solicitor for conveyancing and other private work, and the Queensland Government publishes free guidance on property transactions.

A grant of legal aid depends on a means test and a merit test. Our guide to Free Legal Advice in Australia explains both tests.