When it comes to a breakdown of a family unit, it can be a tough time on all parties involved. At Gray & Co. Lawyers, we focus on obtaining the best resolution for all individuals, with the aim of preventing your family matters ending up in Court.

Our experience in such emotional times, is to work towards an amicable agreement between all the parties involved to try to alleviate any further stress to the situation. We believe that you should seek legal advice as soon as possible so that you are aware of your rights, and to ensure that your matter(s) can be negotiated if possible.

Our areas of expertise with which we can provide advice and represent you in Court are as follows:

• Financial matters/Property settlement for married, defacto or same sex couples
• Children’s matters/Arrangements for your children which includes:
• Parenting Orders, the time parties spend with the children & shared parenting arrangements
  • Paternity disputes
  • Recovery Orders
  • Relocation Orders
  • Injunctions
  • Allegations of child abuse
• Child Support
• Spousal Maintenance
• Divorce
• Mediation, Family Dispute Resolutions and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolutions
• Appointment as an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL)

Gray & Co. Lawyers provides, advice and assistance should a young person be arrested and due to appear before the Children’s Court. Our team can assist in all areas of Children’s Court which includes advice and representing children in criminal proceedings, traffic matters and violence matters.

This includes simple offences which can be dealt with by the Magistrate and more serious offences which are to be dealt with by the Children’s Court President only.

Our extensive experience in assisting juveniles in achieving good outcomes in the Court process can assist them in the future.

We can provide assistance in:

• bail application;
• advising the juvenile and their responsible adult of the elements of the offence and the likely outcome;
• assisting juveniles and their responsible parent of understanding if they have a defence to the matters in which they have been charged with;
• negotiate with the Police in an effort to discontinue a charge or downgrade it to a lesser charge;
• representing juveniles in the entire court process.

If you find yourself under investigation but not yet charged, Gray & Co. Lawyers can advise you of your rights and the general criminal process.

If you are under investigation or charged with an offence that requires you to go to court, it is essential that you obtain advice from an experienced criminal lawyer as soon as possible. We can guide you through trial sentencing or simply provide advice on your prospects of defending the charge.

Gray & Co. Lawyers provide advice and representation in many Western Australian jurisdictions such as District Court, Magistrates Court and Children’s Court.

Our team can provide advice and representation for:

• Police arrest, Police Search warrants, Police inquiries
• Police interviews
• Bail applications
• Trials Sentencing
• Spent Conviction Applications
• Assault charges
• Burglary and Robbery charges
• Drug charges
• Stealing
• Trespass
• Fraud
• Sex Offences
• Arson

Gray & Co. Lawyers can professionally guide you through trial sentencing or simply advising you on your prospects of defending the charge.

We provide advice and representation for all Traffic Matters including:

• Speeding offences
• Dangerous driving
• Dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm;
• Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm;
• Dangerous driving causing death or grievous bodily harm
• Dangerous driving occasioning death;
• Reckless driving
• Careless driving
• Drink driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and /or illegal drugs
• Refusing a breath test
• Hoon offences
• Driving whilst disqualified, suspended or on a cancelled license
• Extraordinary driver’s license offences and applications
• Applications for removal of life disqualification
• Vehicle impoundment

Will

A Will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. A Will sets out a person’s wishes for his or her property to be disposed of in a particular way upon their death. A Will has to meet certain formal requirements and a badly written Will often leads to delays and disputes.

The most important reason for making a Will is to make sure that, after your death, your property is distributed in the way that you would have wished it to be. When making a Will, you need to have serious thought about who you wish to be your Executor/Executrix and be aware of their residential address as well as the full names of all of your beneficiaries. Such information greatly assists when drafting the Will.

Wills should be reviewed to ensure that your wishes are current and to amend and update any change in circumstances, such marriages, change in beneficiaries etc.

Enduring Power of Attorney

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document created to allow a person to appoint another person or agency of their choice, who will make financial and/or property decisions on their behalf.

This person/s or agency becomes their Attorney. More than one Attorney can be appointed. An Enduring Power of Attorney can only be made by a person whilst they are still capable of making financial and legal decisions for themselves.

By appointing an Attorney, property and financial affairs can continue to be managed in the persons best interests, even if they become unable to manage it themselves.

When the Department of Child Protection and Family Supports/Department of Communities (The Department) intervenes in family life, it’s important to obtain sound legal advice and representation. In some cases, the Department will take steps in deferring parental responsibilities to the Dept, a relative, or other appropriate persons.

Gray & Co. Lawyers can assist parents or interested parties with their applications through the Department in the Children’s Court, Rescission, Variation Applications and Supervision Orders. We can advise and represent parents or interested parties who seek the return of children or increased time with the children, or who find themselves in this difficult situation.

We also act as a child representative for children when the State has taken steps to remove them from the care of their parents/persons.

You can apply to have a Restraining Order made by the court to protect you from someone who commits family violence or personal violence against you, threatens you or your property, harasses or intimidates you, and you are concerned that it will continue

If a person breaches the terms of a Restraining Order, they commit a criminal offence and may be fined or imprisoned.

There are 3 types of Restraining Orders, they are:

Family Violence Restraining Order (FVRO)

If you require protection from a person with whom you are, or were, in a family relationship e.g. married, de-facto partners, ex-partners, related to each other (including by culture or kinship) or otherwise in an intimate or family-type relationship.

Violence Restraining Order (VRO)

If you require protection from a person with whom you are not in a family relationship – e.g. a work colleague, friend or neighbour.

Misconduct Restraining Order (MRO)

If you require protection from a person that you are not in a family relationship with, and if you wish for them to be restrained from behaving in a way that could be considered to be intimidating or offensive, or refraining them from causing damage to your property, or breach of the peace, then a Misconduct Restraining Order may be put in place.

Whether you are the Applicant or Respondent, or if you want to extend any one of the three above mentioned Restraining Orders, or apply to vary or cancel it, Gray & Co. Lawyers can assist its clients through these stressful and emotional matters.

Gray & Co. Lawyers can act for you and attempt to negotiate with the other party to resolve this matter by way of Undertakings. If negotiations are unsuccessful our team can represent you at Court and at Final Hearing Trial if need be.

Legal Aid in Western Australia is an organisation to assist people who are financially or socially disadvantaged with their legal issues. Assessment for a Legal Aid grant is means tested.

At Gray & Co. Lawyers, we can facilitate the lodging of Legal Aid applications on your behalf. We are on the panel of private practitioners who can act on your behalf under a grant of legal aid and are happy to assist you in relation to this.