At HHG Legal Group, we pride ourselves on being one of Western Australia’s most trusted family law firms. We have been assisting individuals and families for over 100 years, with offices in Perth, Joondalup, Mandurah, Bunbury and Albany. When dealing with a family law matter, you need legal professional advice that you can trust, and that will help you make fully informed choices about which course of action to take. Our Perth & WA family lawyers are here to support you through the legal process and have the resources, experience, and expertise to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
OUR PERTH FAMILY LAWYERS CAN HELP YOU WITH:
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Asset Protection
- Binding Financial Agreements (also known as a prenuptial agreement)
- Consent agreements
- Child abduction
- Child custody and parenting arrangements
- Child relocation
- Child support
- Divorce
- De facto relationships
- Enforcement
- Financial settlements
- Maintenance
- Property Settlements
- Restraining orders and injunctions
- Setting aside orders or agreements
- Separation
- Superannuation Splitting
HOW DO WE HELP OUR CLIENTS?
Our experienced family lawyers will discuss your matter, the relevant legal issues, and your objectives with you in an initial consultation. At the conclusion of this appointment, you will be provided with an understanding of your rights, entitlements, and your pathway forward.
We can provide you with legal representation that suits your needs. This includes formal representation with full involvement with your matter, or limiting our involvement to focus on a key area of your matter.
Do I have to go to court?
Many family law matters are resolved and formalised using an appropriate agreement outside of court. Depending on the nature of your circumstances, the resolution can be formalised through filing an Application for Consent Orders, entering into a Financial Agreement, a Child Support Agreement, or an informal agreement.
There are strict timeframes that must be adhered to. If you are married, you must resolve your matter or commence proceedings before the 12-month limitation period expires after a divorce order takes effect. If you are in a de-facto relationship, you must resolve your matter or commence proceedings before the 2-year limitation period expires following the date of your final separation.
If you do not agree with the various proposals presented and exchanged to resolve your matter, you may need to participate in a dispute resolution process. This can involve family mediation, conciliation, arbitration, family dispute resolution, or negotiations.
If you are involved in family law proceedings, then you can always reach a resolution up until a decision is made by the Family Court officer presiding over your case. Your agreement can then be formalised through filing a Minute of Consent Orders or by entering into such other appropriate agreements.
You should promptly seek independent legal advice about your rights, obligations, prospects of success, and representation at various stages in relation to your matter.
ARE FAMILY LAW CASES PUBLIC RECORD?
There are restrictions on the publication of family law proceedings. It is unlawful (subject to exceptions) to publish any information that can identify any person who is involved a family law proceeding or is otherwise connected to the proceedings.
If anyone does share information that includes confidential information, they could be committing a serious offence.
Can family law decisions be appealed?
You can ask the Family Court set aside a decision made by a judge or magistrate. However, you will need to identify valid grounds for your appeal. This means you will need to demonstrate that there has been a significant error of law or fact. This is not an opportunity to ask the relevant Court to rehear your case.
It is important to remember that an appeal does not stop the operation of your Family Court Orders.
If you are considering making an appeal, you should seek independent legal advice about the timeframes involved to lodge your appeal, your rights, obligations, prospects of success, the prospects of costs being awarded against you, and representation.
If your agreement has been finalised or a Family Court Order has been made and the other person is not complying, you do have options. You may need to seek enforcement or pursue a contravention application.
If the circumstances of your matter have changed, there is the ability to update your agreement or Family Court Order. They can be varied or new ones can be drafted depending on the change in circumstances. This can be done by a mutual agreement or by the Family Court.
How much do family lawyers cost?
The costs involved in a family law matter depend upon the individual circumstances of the case, including the level of complexity. We believe in full transparency with our clients. All of our clients are fully aware of what their costs are and likely to be. We provide our clients with up-to-date information on their costs at all stages of the process.
HOW CAN OUR PERTH FAMILY LAWYERS HELP?
If you need realistic, accurate, and pragmatic legal advice about your situation, our family lawyers are here to help you define your future.
We understand that going through a relationship breakdown or other family law issues can be a very difficult time. You can be confident knowing that our family law team will find the best possible outcome for you.
For more information about how we can assist you, or arrange a confidential discussion, please visit our contact page to submit an enquiry or reach out to your preferred office directly. We have offices in Perth, Joondalup, Mandurah, Bunbury and Albany. We have experience representing and advising clients throughout all of Western Australia.
Helpful information:
- Appeals
- Collaborative Law
- De Facto Relationships
- Fixed Fee Separation
- Legislation
- Misconduct Restraining Orders
- Negotiations and Mediations
- Parenting Plans
- Readiness Hearings
- Separation and Nullities
- Setting Aside Property Settlement
- Setting Aside Binding Financial Agreements
- Spousal Maintenance Applications
- Spousal Maintenance Orders
- Surrogacy Arrangements, Agreements and Compliance with Surrogacy
- Surrogacy Plans and Advice
- More Family Law Publications