Family Court of Western Australia

Family Court of Western Australia
Entrance to Family Court of Western Australia at 150 Terrace Road in Perth, situated between Perth Concert Hall and Victoria Avenue
31°57′32″S 115°51′51″E / 31.9588609°S 115.8642993°E / -31.9588609; 115.8642993 (Family Court of Western Australia)
Established	1975
Jurisdiction	Western Australia
Location	Full time sittings are held in Perth, and a few sittings are held in Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie
Coordinates	31°57′32″S 115°51′51″E / 31.9588609°S 115.8642993°E / -31.9588609; 115.8642993 (Family Court of Western Australia)
Composition method	Governor appointed by the recommendation of Cabinet.
Authorised by	Parliament of Western Australia via the Family Court Act 1997 (WA)
Appeals to	Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Supreme Court of Western Australia
Judge term length	Mandatory retirement by age 70
Number of positions	25
Website	www.familycourt.wa.gov.au
Chief Judge
Currently	Gail Sutherland
Since	7 Jan 2019

The Family Court of Western Australia is a state court that deals with family law. It was established by the passing of the Family Court Act (WA, 1975) and commenced operation in 1976. It is a state family court under section 41 of the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975,^[1] and deals with the same family law matters as the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, including divorce, marital property settlements, and child custody, and also adoption and surrogacy. Although funded by the Australian Government, it is the only state-based family court in Australia. The reason for the creation of the court as a state court was to bestow additional jurisdiction related to family law on the court, which were beyond the scope of federal power, such as de facto arrangements and adoptions.