If your relationship breaks down, it is important to have friendly and approachable lawyers who can not only provide you with specialist advice, but will strive to ensure you achieve the best result possible.
Our large team of experienced lawyers include a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Family Law, an Australian National Accredited Mediator and a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner
We have the skills and experience to provide expert advice in relation to all areas of family law including:
Property Settlements – all matters from basic property settlements to complex property settlements, including specialist businesses, farming assets, inheritances, gifts, trusts, taxation issues and allegations of wastage
Spousal Maintenance
Different ways to resolve parenting and property matters: Parenting Plans, Consent Orders, Binding Financial Agreements and Court Applications
Children’s living arrangements, including relocation orders and recovery orders
Paternity/DNA
Child Support
Applications for Protection Orders/Breach of Protection Order
Mediation/Family Dispute Resolution
Our team of solicitors will listen to you to gain a full understanding of your needs. We will keep you fully informed of your options, rights and responsibilities. It is paramount to us that you receive specialist advice which is practical and realistic.
We can assist you to negotiate or mediate a settlement and are focused on helping you resolve your matter in a timely way. There are, of course, some instances where there is no other option but to go to court. If those circumstances arise, we will give you the advice you need and tirelessly represent you in your court proceedings.
At McKays, we believe that help is not restricted to legal advice alone and we will work closely with your preferred advisors such as accountants, financial advisors and superannuation and taxation specialists to ensure that the advice you receive is right for you and your financial situation.
McKays regularly represent clients who live throughout Queensland, interstate and overseas. Family law is the same throughout Australia, so distance is no barrier. We have available technology such as emails and Skype which mean that we can obtain your instructions and provide superior service without you needing to come into our office.
In 2025, in recognition of the high standard of work provided by the McKays Family Law team, the team was recommended in the prestigious Doyles Guide as a Leading Family & Divorce Law Firm – North & Central Queensland rankings.
Additionally, Nicole Cullen, Director, was recognised individually as a Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer – North & Central Queensland.
What to expect from your initial consultation
We look forward to meeting new clients at an initial consultation, which can be conducted in person at our Mackay offices, by telephone, or by web conferencing such as Zoom.
At your initial consultation, you will meet with one of our experienced family law solicitors and we will provide you with information specific to the relevant issues in your matter.
Our experienced solicitors understand that family law matters such as property settlements and parenting disputes can be extremely emotional and a stressful period of time for our clients. Our goal is to assist you with that process and to remove as much of the stress as we are able to.
At your initial consultation, we will listen to you to understand your circumstances, and we will provide accurate and clear advice in respect of your rights and options. If you are able to bring a basic assets and liabilities table to your appointment (or email it to our office beforehand) we can often provide advice as to entitlements in a property settlement.
Our family law solicitors are very experienced in all aspects of family law, approachable and focused on providing you with assistance which will help you to resolve your matter as efficiently as possible. It is sometimes necessary to provide clients with advice which may be difficult to hear, but, upfront advice and realistic expectation assists clients to avoid going to court unnecessarily.
We will also provide you with clear advice in respect of timeframes and legal costs.
What to bring to your initial consultation. You don’t need to bring anything with you to receive legal advice, particularly if it would be difficult, time consuming or stressful for you to locate the information prior to your appointment. However, if you have any of the following information available to you, we suggest that you bring it to your appointment or email it to us prior if you have a phone appointment or web conference appointment:
For any family law matter – copies of previous orders, including domestic violence orders
For property settlement matters – a basic list of assets and liabilities owned by either party, including current balances for bank accounts, loans and mortgages. At this stage you may not be able to prepare a complete list. In addition, your most recent tax return and superannuation statement and pay slip would be helpful.
For parenting matters – any previous parenting plans or orders and copies of messages between parties about the arrangements.
Your consultation is confidential. Our clients always comment that they feel far less stressed at the conclusion of the initial consultation and that is our goal – to assist you to make an informed decision about your future.
To book or for more information about our family law initial consultations, please contact us.
Expertise
Some examples of our experience in a variety of matters are:
Assisting a client to obtain Consent Orders from the Court within a month of receiving initial instructions.
Successfully obtaining an Urgent Interim Order to protect funds that formed part of a property pool which one party was attempting to hide.
Assisting a client to finalise a financial case where both parties were also trying to manage dealings with the Trustee in Bankruptcy.
Obtaining urgent Orders to sell a property in circumstances where it was the interests of our client for that to occur.
Representing clients in complex property proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Successfully obtaining Court Orders, within 48 hours of receiving instructions, removing young children from a parent where their safety was at risk.
Successfully defending a spousal maintenance application in circumstances where a significant need for financial support was established by the wife.
Regularly advising clients in property matters involving complex corporate structures, self managed super funds, and asset pools exceeding $15 million.
Successfully obtaining Final Orders in the Court for a 5 year old child to live with the Father despite having always resided with the Mother as it was deemed to be in that child’s best interest.
Successfully obtaining a Location Order and then locating a child who had been withheld from one parent since he was born.
Representing clients in relation to domestic violence proceeding in the Magistrates Court.
Preparing Binding Child Support Agreements.
Testimonials
KN, Mackay
McKays Family Law are thorough and professional with a level of care to understand and then respond accordingly. Highly recommend.
F, Mackay
In brief, quick turn around on emails and phone calls to Cathy and quick updates when she received correspondence from my ex partner made it a very smooth and comforting process. I would definitely recommend McKays.
KL, Mackay
I would like to sincerely thank Laura Clout of McKays Family Law for the professional and caring way in which she acted to ensure this matter was processed smoothly and with respect. I would strongly recommend Laura and McKays Family Law.
B, Mackay
Thank you Nicole for seeing me the other day at short notice. I left with clear direction and an optimism that I am not wasting your time and my money which is how I felt previously. I thank you most sincerely for your advice that has allowed me to feel comfortable in achieving a possible result, and more importantly lessening my anxiety and stress.
T, New Zealand
The staff have been professional, helpful and straight to the point. Everything has been kept simple to understand and explained well where necessary.
W, Mackay
I have recently been in the unfortunate position of dealing with a divorce and settlement. These situations are extremely taxing emotionally and financially. Without any hesitation, I would recommend Nicole Cullen at McKays Family Law. Without her specialised, professional and experienced assistance, I have no doubts that emotional and financial costs would have been unnecessarily substantially higher. Having resolved my matter, words alone cannot express my gratitude for her help. Thank you, Nicole, thank you so very much.
KR, Mackay
When I found myself as a separated parent requiring assistance in my family law matters, I engaged the services of Nicole Cullen at McKays Solicitors. Nicole was not only very knowledgeable and professional as a Lawyer, but she displayed a high level of empathy and calmness that made the family law process more decisive and less emotional for me. Nicole and her dedicated team gave me the understanding, support and confidence I needed to achieve the best outcome for me and my family. I have since recommended and personally engaged McKays Solicitors in a number of matters requiring legal advice and found them to be very professional and I would highly recommend Nicole Cullen and her team in all aspects of law.
MF
The McKays team and Cathy Cover in particular, supported me throughout my legal matters. I was listened to, treated respectfully at all times and given realistic advice. Ultimately, I received the outcome I wanted. The team were professional, friendly and diligent. Cathy Cover is an outstanding solicitor and I could not recommend her more highly. In one of the most difficult times in your life, it’s comforting to know you have someone that you can trust on your side. I have now used McKays to do my contract purchasing a new property. The firm covers all your legal needs and do so in a professional and timely matter.
L, Brisbane
Emlyn, I personally want to thank you and regret I didn’t have you (and McKays Solicitors) from the start of this case.