Family Court Services may be able to help if you:
Our service is based on means and immediate need. You are not able to make an appointment with the duty lawyer and the capacity to assist you will depend on how many other people need help on that day. The service cannot represent you at Trial.
Our service is designed to assist you in minor matters in court and by providing limited legal advice if you have started a case in the Family Court. There are some restrictions on what we can do for you. We do not have capacity to represent you on an ongoing basis but can provide some further Legal Assistance by making a follow up appointment with our office.
Our centre provides a duty lawyer service along with a counselling service every Tuesday at the Bunbury Magistrates Court and every second Thursday at the Busselton Magistrates court.
Our duty lawyer provides advice to applicants at the ex-parte stage of their violence restraining order (VRO) application when they attend court. Once clients fill out their initial application and affidavit they go before the Magistrate to determine whether they will be granted an interim VRO. The duty lawyer assists with advice and filling out supplementary affidavits.
Assistance is provided to applicants at the mention hearing stage of the application. This is the hearing after the respondent has objected to the VRO. The duty lawyer may assist applicants with negotiations with the other party and suggest various options to settle the matter or set the matter down for a Trial.
Our Tenancy Advocacy service offers court assistance every Tuesday at the Bunbury Magistrates Court and every Thursday at the Busselton Magistrates Court, subject to court listings. We can also provide assistance at the Collie and Manjimup Court by appointment.
