Family & Relationships · South West
22 family law firms in South West, Western Australia, including Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River.
22 firms
Busselton, WA · South West
Conveyancing South West provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Agribusiness & Rural Law and Business & Commercial Law.
A family lawyer's early advice shapes everything that follows: what a fair property split looks like for your circumstances, how parenting time is likely to be arranged, and which steps must happen before court. Most matters resolve through negotiation or mediation, with consent orders making the agreement binding.
Separation affects where children live, the home, super and future finances. Decisions made in the first months, often informally, can shape the final outcome, so early advice avoids costly mistakes.
Family law is federal. The Family Law Act 1975 governs parenting and property for married and most de facto couples, heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, except in Western Australia, where the Family Court of WA hears these matters. Parenting disputes usually require family dispute resolution before court.
Understand the next step
Start by separating immediate arrangements from longer-term decisions. A family-law consultation can identify whether parenting, finances, divorce or personal safety requires a separate step, and who should advise on each.
A general family-law engagement should specify which issues it covers rather than promising to resolve every consequence of separation.
Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River are separate starting points in the South West. For land or business work, explain whether the issue concerns ownership, a proposed transaction, a lease or an existing dispute.
For family law, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant WA experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside South West. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
Explain the relationship history, current arrangements and outcome you want. Identify immediate concerns and provide every existing order or agreement.
Discuss negotiation and family dispute resolution. Parenting applications generally involve prior dispute resolution unless an exception applies; ask the lawyer to assess the appropriate process.
Ask how an agreement would be documented and implemented. Clarify who handles related transfers, finance and estate-planning work.
Ask for separate estimates for advice, negotiation, document preparation and court work. A fixed divorce-application fee does not necessarily cover parenting or financial disputes.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Highlight court dates, proposed travel or relocation and any planned property sale. Ask which time limits apply to your particular issues rather than assuming there is one deadline for everything.
Western Australia is the only state with its own family court: the Family Court of Western Australia hears parenting and property matters for both married and de facto couples. Other matters start in the Magistrates Court, with the District and Supreme Courts for serious cases, and the State Administrative Tribunal for planning, guardianship and many licensing reviews. Lawyers are admitted and regulated by the Legal Practice Board.
Good to know
Consent orders are an agreement about parenting or property that the court makes into formal, enforceable orders without a hearing. Both parties must agree and sign.
Most family matters are resolved without a trial. Court becomes necessary when negotiation fails, when there is urgency, or when safety is at risk.
Most matters start in the Magistrates Court. More serious cases go to the District Court or the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Family law matters are heard by the Family Court of Western Australia.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Bona Fide Law provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Margaret River, WA · South West
Cape to Cape Lawyers Busselton office provides legal services in Margaret River, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
South Bunbury, WA · South West
Rosemary Giles Family Lawyer provides legal services in South Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
South Bunbury, WA · South West
South West Community Legal Centre provides legal services in South Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Eaton, WA · South West
Garvey Chris Lawyer provides legal services in Eaton, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Bunbury, WA · South West
DK Family Legal provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Busselton, WA · South West
Sou' West Legal Services provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Administrative & Government Law and Wills & Estates.
Busselton, WA · South West
South West Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Taegan Irving Lawyer provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Campbell Young provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Busselton, WA · South West
Cape to Cape Lawyers Busselton office provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Lander Lawyers provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Busselton, WA · South West
Jonathan Meyer Lawyer provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Busselton, WA · South West
Jonathan Meyer Lawyer provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Busselton, WA · South West
Leeuwin Legal Collective provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Hammond Legal provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Biddulph & Turley provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Garvey Chris Lawyer provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Bunbury, WA · South West
Peter J Griffin & Co provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
Margaret River, WA · South West
South West Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Margaret River, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Bunbury, WA · South West
South West Community Legal Centre provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Practising certificates in Western Australia are managed by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.