Separation is one of the hardest things many people go through, and the choice of lawyer shapes the cost and the outcome. Family lawyers Perth clients rely on handle divorce, parenting arrangements, property settlements, financial agreements and child support, and the best ones explain the realistic range of outcomes before any court filing. Western Australia also has its own Family Court alongside the national family law courts, so local knowledge matters.
Each firm below publishes a Perth office and describes its family law services on its own website. We used the Law Society of Western Australia’s April 2026 list of accredited family law specialists as a cross-check, and we have quoted only facts the firms state themselves. Where a firm gave no founding year or team detail, we have left it out. Generalist firms with a small family law desk were excluded in favour of practices where family law is the main work.
For related professional services, our Perth hub links to lists such as mortgage brokers in Perth, which often matter during a property settlement.
Family Lawyers In Perth At A Glance
Company
Based In
Best For
Known For
Kerr Fels
Perth CBD (St Georges Terrace)
Complex property and business separations
Boutique practice exclusively in family law
Kim Wilson & Co
Subiaco
Contested matters needing senior counsel
In-house Senior Counsel
Paynes Lawyers
West Perth
Clients who want a small specialist team
Family law practice representing WA clients since 1982
O’Sullivan Davies
Perth CBD (St Georges Terrace)
Clients wanting a full family law service in the CBD
Family law with international and succession matters
Leach Legal
Perth CBD (St Georges Terrace)
Business owners and specialist-led matters
Specialist family law group with wills and estates
DS Family Law
Perth CBD
Clients wanting a detailed written advice upfront
Exclusively family law, 20 years in practice
Paterson & Dowding
Perth CBD (Hay Street)
Clients wanting a long-established general firm with family law depth
Established 1967, Perth, Joondalup and Mandurah offices
Clairs Keeley
East Perth
Mediation and collaborative separations
Family dispute resolution and collaborative practice
ASB Law
West Perth
Clients focused on cost clarity
Transparent costs and early assessment of outcomes
Australian Family Lawyers
Perth, Joondalup and Cockburn
Clients wanting multiple local offices
National family law specialist with Perth team
Best Family Lawyers In Perth
1. Kerr Fels — Boutique Family And Divorce Law Firm On St Georges Terrace
Kerr Fels is a boutique firm at Level 4, 167 St Georges Terrace that practises exclusively in family and divorce law. Directors Denby Kerr and Amy Fels are accredited family law specialists, as are two senior associates and a consultant, and the Law Society’s April 2026 list shows four accredited specialists at the firm. The site says it has been listed in the Doyles Guide as a leading family law firm in Western Australia each year from 2019 to 2026. Its service list is wide: property settlement, parenting arrangements, financial agreements, spousal maintenance, divorce, consent orders, enforcement, child support, appeals, relocation, restraining orders, de facto relationships, surrogacy and adoption, and international child abduction. The firm also highlights experience with separations involving family businesses, trusts, company structures and farms, which can need specialist handling. Kerr Fels suits clients with significant or complicated assets, and those who want a practice that does nothing but family law. As with any firm, ask for a clear fee estimate at the first meeting.
2. Kim Wilson & Co — Subiaco Family Law Firm With In-House Senior Counsel
Kim Wilson and Co is based at Level 1, 415 Roberts Road, Subiaco. Its website states that it is the only family law firm in Perth with in-house Senior Counsel, with Kim Wilson SC as a director, and it reports a team that includes accredited family law specialists, nationally accredited mediators and an arbitrator. The site also notes that Kim Wilson SC was recognised in Doyles 2020 as one of the recommended family law Senior Counsel in Australia. Services cover property settlements, arrangements for children, divorce and separation, de facto separation, financial agreements, consent orders, Family Court representation, enforcement, spousal maintenance, relocation of children, child support agreements and restraining orders. Mediation, family arbitration and family dispute resolution are offered as well, so clients can try to settle before a hearing. The firm does not publish a founding date on the pages we reviewed. It is a strong match for people facing a contested or high conflict dispute who want a barrister-level adviser involved from the start without briefing separate counsel.
3. Paynes Lawyers — West Perth Boutique Family Law Practice Since 1982
Paynes Lawyers is a boutique family law practice at 11 Ventnor Avenue, West Perth. The firm says it has represented Western Australian clients since 1982 and has specialised in family law for more than three decades. Director Anne Payne has practised family law since 1982, became an accredited specialist in 1994 and completed mediation training at the University of Western Australia in 2013. Julia Mansfield is also an accredited specialist who has practised exclusively in family law since 2010 and previously worked as a legal associate at the Family Court of Western Australia. James Mansfield, who joined in 2016, was a legal associate to the Chief Judge of the Family Court. The firm handles divorce, property disputes including superannuation, parenting and relocation disputes, de facto relationships, maintenance, child support, consent applications, financial agreements, mediation and enforcement. Paynes suits clients who prefer a small, experienced team with first-hand knowledge of how the Family Court operates, rather than a large practice with many layers of staff.
4. O’Sullivan Davies — Perth CBD Family Law Firm With International Experience
O’Sullivan Davies operates from Level 21, 197 St Georges Terrace and describes itself as a first tier family law firm. The Law Society’s April 2026 list of accredited family law specialists shows four at the firm, matching the highest count of any Perth practice on that list. Its website lists dispute resolution, divorce and separation, property and financial settlement, parenting, de facto relationships, prenuptial and financial agreements, international matters, and succession and future planning. The firm says its team volunteers weekly with the Sussex Street Community Law Service night legal program, and it offers a client portal for sharing documents. Its public messaging stresses early advice, arguing that speaking to a family lawyer sooner gives clients more certainty about the process and their future. The site does not publish a founding date, so none is quoted here. It suits clients who want a CBD firm able to cover both the family dispute and the planning that follows it, such as updating wills or arranging financial agreements after a new relationship.
5. Leach Legal — Perth Specialist Family Law Group For Business Owners
Leach Legal is a specialist family law group at Level 7, 150 St Georges Terrace, Perth. Its website calls it WA’s largest group of specialist family lawyers and says it is not a generalist practice. The Law Society’s April 2026 list shows three accredited family law specialists at the firm. Catherine Leach is the named lead, with a team that includes Chanetelle McGarvie, Elizabeth O’Sullivan and Kylie Truscott. Services include property and financial matters, binding financial agreements, spousal maintenance, child support, parenting plans, relocation, surrogacy, international matters, divorce, de facto relationships and family violence. A separate wills and estates practice covers wills, enduring powers of attorney, probate and business succession. The firm also targets business owners, offering commercial insight on business and asset issues, and it provides mediation through negotiation. Media appearances, including on ABC News and 6PR, are listed on the site. Leach Legal fits clients who want a focused family law team and may also need estate planning or help protecting a business during separation.
6. DS Family Law — Perth Exclusive Family Law Practice Founded In 2004
DS Family Law practises exclusively in family law and marked 20 years since its inception on 16 April 2024. It lists a Perth CBD office and has been certified as a Quality Assured Practice by the Law Society of WA since 2008. Managing Director Milos Supljeglav is an accredited family law specialist, as is Senior Associate Caley Kim. The firm says it has previously operated in Darwin, Geraldton, Karratha, Kalgoorlie and Esperance, and that it has experience with farming, mining and cray-fishing disputes. Its service list covers divorce, property settlement, financial agreements, consent orders, parenting arrangements, spousal maintenance, child support, relocation, de facto and same-sex relationships, surrogacy, adoption and IVF, mediation, arbitration and court representation. New clients complete a questionnaire before their first consultation and receive a detailed letter of advice on likely outcomes. The firm is open that it does not offer fixed fees or cut-price first appointments. It suits people who value thorough preparation and written advice, including those with regional or overseas connections to Western Australia.
Paterson and Dowding was established in 1967, and the firm notes that one of its founding partners was former Western Australian Premier Peter Dowding SC. Its Perth office is at Mint House, Level 5, 326 Hay Street, with further offices in Joondalup and Mandurah. The website lists accreditation and memberships with the Law Society of WA family law program, the Family Law Section, the Family Law Practitioners Association of WA and mediator groups, and says it has consistent peer recognition in Doyles. Family law services include divorce, mediation, parenting orders, property settlement, financial agreements, spousal maintenance, superannuation splitting, family trusts, child support, Hague Convention matters, relocation, collaborative law and urgent restraining orders. The firm describes its pricing as transparent and reasonable, and says it aims to reach agreement without going to court where possible. The site also describes an award winning team but does not name the awards, so we have not repeated that claim. It suits clients who want a long-established firm with offices in several parts of the metropolitan area.
8. Clairs Keeley — East Perth Firm Focused On Mediation And Collaborative Practice
Clairs Keeley is based on the ground floor at 2 Brook Street, East Perth. Its family law practice is led by principals who include Debbie Clinch, an accredited family law specialist with more than 29 years of experience who is also a nationally accredited mediator and family dispute resolution practitioner. Madeleine De Leo is another accredited specialist, and Vincent Tan holds a Masters in Family Law and is an accredited mediator. The firm describes itself as a leader in mediation and collaborative practice, and its website says family dispute resolution can often be cheaper and faster than other options for agreeing arrangements about children and finances. Beyond family law, it offers wills and estate planning, deceased estates, will disputes and business and property law, so related issues can stay with one firm. Its liability is limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation. Clairs Keeley suits couples who want to reach agreement without a hearing and who are open to mediation or a collaborative process.
9. ASB Law — West Perth Family Law Firm With Transparent Costs
ASB Law is on the ground floor at 58 Kings Park Road, West Perth. The Law Society’s April 2026 list shows four accredited family law specialists at the firm, and its website says its lawyers are accredited specialists and links to the Law Society accreditation scheme, the Family Law Section and the Family Law Practitioners Association of WA. The site does not name individual lawyers or give a founding date. What the firm emphasises is cost transparency. It says it gives an initial assessment of the likelihood of a positive outcome so that clients receive frank advice from the start, offers upfront costs for straightforward procedures and uses predictable structures for more complex issues. Its services are described as advice, negotiation and representation. The messaging encourages people to take the first step early, which can help with options such as negotiation or mediation. ASB Law suits clients who want to understand the likely outcome and cost before committing to a long dispute.
Australian Family Lawyers is a national practice focused on family law, with Western Australian locations listed in Perth, Joondalup, Yanchep and Cockburn. The Perth team named on its website is led by Richard Crane as head of family law, with Portia Winkler as senior practice leader and Breanna Deakes, an accredited specialist family lawyer, as practice leader. The Law Society’s April 2026 list shows two accredited specialists at the firm. Services include separation and divorce, child custody and child support, spousal maintenance and property settlement, asset protection, high net worth divorce, family mediation, binding financial agreements and post-nuptial agreements, and advice for LGBTQ+ clients. The firm says it works exclusively in family law and that over 95 per cent of its matters settle before a final hearing. It also reports finalist placings in the Australian Law Awards for Law Firm of the Year in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. It is a good option for clients who want a nearby suburban office or flexible payment and funding arrangements.
How To Choose A Family Lawyer In Perth
What Does Accreditation As A Family Law Specialist Mean?
In Western Australia, the Law Society of Western Australia runs a family law specialist accreditation program, and it publishes a list of accredited specialists. Accreditation indicates a lawyer has met extra requirements beyond a general practising certificate. It is not compulsory, and many excellent family lawyers are not accredited. Treat it as one useful signal, then check how much of the firm’s work is family law and who will handle your file day to day.
How Are Family Law Fees Usually Structured?
Most family lawyers charge by the hour, with rates that depend on seniority, and ask for an upfront payment into trust. Some offer fixed fees for defined tasks such as consent orders or a divorce application. Under the legal costs disclosure rules, you should receive a written estimate and explanation of how costs are calculated. Ask what is included, how often you will be billed and how costs could change if the matter becomes contested.
Which Court Handles My Matter In Western Australia?
Family law matters in Perth can be heard in the Family Court of Western Australia or in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, depending on the type of dispute and the parties’ circumstances. Your lawyer should explain which court is likely to apply and why. Many matters settle through negotiation, mediation or consent orders before a hearing, so ask about the realistic pathway and timeline rather than assuming court is inevitable.
Is Mediation Worth Trying First?
Often yes. Mediation and family dispute resolution can be quicker and cheaper than litigation, and agreements reached this way are generally less adversarial for children. Several firms in this list offer mediation or collaborative practice in house. It may not suit situations involving family violence or serious power imbalances, so tell your lawyer about any safety concerns early. They can advise whether another process, or urgent court orders, is more appropriate.
How Do I Check A Lawyer Or Raise A Complaint?
The Legal Practice Board of Western Australia is the independent statutory authority that handles complaints about lawyers in the state, and it can help if you have concerns about conduct. Before engaging a firm, confirm that the lawyer holds a current practising certificate and ask about their experience with matters like yours. Clear communication, written costs information and prompt responses to your questions are good signs from the start.
Conclusion
Choosing among family lawyers in Perth comes down to fit: the complexity of your assets, whether you expect agreement or a contested hearing, and how you want costs explained. Boutique specialists such as Kerr Fels and Paynes suit clients who want focused advice, while Kim Wilson and Co offers senior counsel in house, and firms such as Clairs Keeley lean towards mediation and collaborative practice.
Whichever firm you approach, ask for a written cost estimate, confirm who will run your file and take advice early. Related guidance is gathered in the Perth hub, and our list of the top SEO agencies in Perth may help law firms that want to be found.
