Catton & Tondelstrand Lawyers

19/10/2026

With Christmas less than three months away, now is a good time for separated parents to start thinking about holiday arrangements for the children.

Who the children will spend Christmas Day with, how travel will work and how the school holidays will be shared are all much easier to sort out in October than in mid-December. Planning early gives both parents time to talk things through, try mediation if needed and put any agreement in writing.

If you already have parenting orders or a parenting plan, check what it says about Christmas and the school holidays so there are no surprises. If arrangements still need to be worked out, getting advice now means you’ll understand your options well before the holidays arrive.

With offices on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, our team advises parents across Southeast Queensland. Call our Sunshine Coast office on 07 5609 4933 or our Brisbane office on 07 3186 9133, or book online at https://www.ctlawyers.com.au/booking/

12/10/2026

Voting is officially open for the Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland (FLPA) Board election, and we could not be prouder to see our Senior Associate, Olivia Le, nominated for both General and Regional Board Member positions!

Since joining Catton & Tondelstrand in 2022, Olivia has been a pillar of our team. Beyond her impressive legal skill in navigating complex financial structures and parenting matters, she brings genuine care, sharp practical sense, and a steady, child-focused heart to everything she does.

Olivia is passionate about supporting regional practitioners and ensuring regional voices are well represented across Queensland. We know she’d bring that same dedication, insight, and energy to the FLPA Board.

To our fellow FLPA members: Voting is open until Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Please consider Olivia when casting your vote.

08/10/2026

With Christmas less than three months away, now is a good time for separated parents to start thinking about holiday arrangements for the children.

Who the children will spend Christmas Day with, how travel will work and how the school holidays will be shared are all much easier to sort out in October than in mid-December. Planning early gives both parents time to talk things through, try mediation if needed and put any agreement in writing.

If you already have parenting orders or a parenting plan, check what it says about Christmas and the school holidays so there are no surprises. If arrangements still need to be worked out, getting advice now means you'll understand your options well before the holidays arrive.

For practical family law advice, call our team on 07 5609 4933 or book online at https://www.ctlawyers.com.au/booking/

02/10/2026

Congratulations to Emily West, who has joined the Sunshine Coast Law Association Committee for 2026-2027.

The SCLA plays an important role in supporting and connecting the Sunshine Coast legal profession, and that depends on practitioners who are willing to give their time. We are pleased to see Emily take on a place on the committee and look forward to the contribution she will make over the year ahead.

28/09/2026

If you're going through a separation, a few quiet days on your file can feel as though nothing is happening. Usually, the opposite is true.

A short letter or a brief update often reflects hours of work behind it. That can mean reviewing years of bank statements, liaising with family report writers and valuers, testing proposals against recent court decisions, and drafting documents where a single phrase can shape what happens next. Some steps also depend on other people's timeframes, including the court, independent experts and the other party.

In her latest article, Accredited Family Law Specialist Angela Tondelstrand explains the work that happens out of sight. She also shares some practical ways clients can help keep their matter moving and their costs manageable.

Read it here: https://www.ctlawyers.com.au/what-does-a-family-lawyer-do-behind-the-scenes/

When you are navigating a separation, whether you are working through parenting arrangements, dividing property, or both, it is completely natural to feel anxious. You want clarity, financial security, and resolution for your family, and you want answers as quickly as possible. When days pass withou...

24/09/2026

We're proud to sponsor the Health & Medical Services category at the 2026 Sunshine Coast Business Awards.

Much of our work involves helping people through some of the hardest periods of their lives, so we have enormous respect for the practitioners and teams who care for the health and well-being of our community every day. It's work that makes a real difference to people and families, and it deserves to be recognised.

Congratulations to this year's finalists:

Aalto
Avenue Dental
Balance Orthopaedics & Fracture Clinic
Blackall Terrace Dental
Coastal Cancer Care
Collective Health Co.
Doctors of Tewantin
EyeHub – Cataract & Laser Vision Specialists
Noosa Junction Chiropractic
Pearl Home Care Sunshine Coast
Thompson Brain & Mind Healthcare
Wandi Nerida

We can't wait to learn more about each of your businesses, and we'll be cheering you all on at the gala in November.

24/09/2026

Tonight's the night. The 2026 Sunshine Coast Business Awards finalists will be announced at 6.30pm on the Sunshine Coast Business Awards page.

As a Silver Sponsor, we're proud to support the Awards and the local businesses that make the Sunshine Coast such a great place to live and work.

Good luck to all this year's applicants. We'll be tuning in.

21/09/2026

A fantastic result from this year’s Aitken Legal Sunshine Coast Corporate Charity Golf Challenge, with $95,000 raised for local charities and community organisations.

Catton & Tondelstrand Family Lawyers was pleased to once again support the event as the raffle sponsor, donating a $5,000 travel voucher as the major prize. The raffle alone raised around $10,000 towards the overall fundraising total.

Congratulations to Sunshine Coast local John Hutchinson, who was the lucky winner and recently dropped into our office to collect his prize.

It was a great day on the course and another wonderful example of the Sunshine Coast business community getting behind a good cause.

Congratulations to Aitken Legal and everyone involved in delivering such a successful event, and thank you to everyone who bought a raffle ticket and helped contribute to the result.

21/09/2026

Family law rarely fits into a single conversation. Separation, parenting arrangements, property settlements, financial agreements - each comes with its own questions, and getting the right advice early gives you a clearer picture of your options.

Catton & Tondelstrand Family Lawyers has offices on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane. The team is led by Liz Catton and Angela Tondelstrand, both Queensland Law Society Accredited Family Law Specialists, with more than 50 years of combined experience across all areas of family law, from parenting and property matters to de facto relationships, spousal maintenance, and mediation and arbitration.

We've been recognised in Doyle's Guide every year since the firm was established in 2018, and we work closely with clients, referral partners and professional contacts across Southeast Queensland.

If you'd like practical advice about your family law matter, call 07 5609 4933 or book online at https://www.ctlawyers.com.au/booking/.

13/09/2026

Starting the week off right with this five-star feedback from one of our clients.

It’s always great to hear that the advice and support we provide has made a difference during what can be a difficult time.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for putting your trust in Nicole and the team.