Perth South
Family lawyers help with separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and dividing property. Most matters settle through negotiation or mediation, with court as the last step.
52 firms
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Cadelmath Legal provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Parenting & Child Custody and Building & Construction.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
LLB Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Elizabeth Wiese & Associates provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and De Facto Relationships.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Nharo Legal provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Child Protection & Care Matters, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Petherick Cottrell provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Settlement Talk provides conveyancing services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Property Settlement and Licensed Conveyancing (non-lawyer).
Canning Vale, WA · Perth South
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Canning Vale, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Sivan Legal provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
Allen & Jasnic Lawyers provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Rockingham, WA · Perth South
Allen & Jasnic Lawyers provides legal services in Rockingham, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Canning Vale, WA · Perth South
Askew & Co Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Canning Vale, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Morgan Alteruthemeyer Legal Group provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Debt Recovery and Business & Commercial Law.
Cox Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Mediation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Farquhar Ian R & Co provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Parenting & Child Custody.
Applecross, WA · Perth South
Peter J Griffin & Co provides legal services in Applecross, WA. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Workers Compensation and Family Law.
Ardross, WA · Perth South
Graeme A Ryan & Associates provides legal services in Ardross, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Wills & Estates.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Debbie Rayner Settlement provides conveyancing services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Family Property Settlement.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
MP Commercial Lawyers provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Planning & Environment.
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
Aherns Lawyers provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Applecross, WA · Perth South
Anthony R Clarke & Associates provides legal services in Applecross, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Property Settlement.
Como, WA · Perth South
Consent Order Lawyers provides legal services in Como, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Divorce & Separation and Property & Conveyancing.
O'connor, WA · Perth South
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in O'connor, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
Go To Court Lawyers Woolloongabba provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Drink & Drug Driving, Wills & Estates and Immigration & Visas.
Family law in Australia is mostly federal. Parenting and property matters run under the Family Law Act and are heard in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, or the Family Court of Western Australia in WA. A good family lawyer will explain your likely outcome early, push for a negotiated agreement where it's safe to do so, and prepare you properly if a court hearing is needed. Where there is family violence, they can also help you get protection orders from your state's local or magistrates court.
Family breakdown is one of the most common reasons Australians need a lawyer, and decisions made early affect children and finances for years.
Family law is one of the few areas run federally, under the Family Law Act 1975, with separate protection order schemes in each state and a separate Family Court in Western Australia.
Understand the next step
Family matters often involve several decisions at once: living arrangements, children, immediate expenses, property and formally ending a marriage. A useful first consultation separates those issues and identifies what needs attention now. Tell the lawyer about safety concerns and existing orders before arranging discussions involving another person.
Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah and Armadale span a wide southern Perth search area. Compare the actual suburb and service scope before treating a listing as a convenient local option.
For family & relationships, 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 Perth South. 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.
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.
Good to know
Not always. A simple divorce application can be filed online without one. It's worth getting advice before you apply if you have children, shared property or superannuation, because divorce starts the clock on time limits for property claims.
Married couples generally have 12 months from the date the divorce becomes final. De facto couples generally have two years from separation. After that you need the court's permission, which is not guaranteed.
For parenting disputes, you usually need a certificate from a family dispute resolution practitioner before filing in court, unless an exception applies such as family violence or urgency.