Department of Justice (Western Australia)

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The Department of Justice is the Western Australian government department responsible for courts and tribunals, corrective services, legal services, and related justice, registry, guardianship and trustee services across Western Australia.

Perth, Western Australia, Australia
justice.wa.gov.au

About Department of Justice (Western Australia)

The Department of Justice (Western Australia) is a state government department responsible for delivering court and tribunal services, corrective services (prisons and community corrections), fines enforcement, victims’ services, criminal injuries compensation, justice‑related registries, and guardianship and trustee services across WA. Through its various business units and offices, it manages matters such as court filing and hearing fees, enforcement of fines and infringements, mediation services, offender supervision, public trustee services (including management of deceased estates and trusts), and administrative support for boards and tribunals. Payments to the Department are often processed centrally and may appear simply as “Dept of Justice WA”, “DOJ WA”, “WA Justice”, or similar on bank and card statements.

A charge from the Department of Justice (Western Australia) may appear on your bank statement for a range of reasons. Common examples include payment of court filing or hearing fees, fines or infringements referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry, bailiff or enforcement costs, criminal injuries compensation repayments, probation or community supervision fees, and services provided by the Public Trustee (such as estate administration, will preparation, or trust management). You might also see charges for copies of court records, search or registry fees, mediation or tribunal application fees, or ongoing management fees if the Public Trustee or a guardianship/administration order is in place. Charges can be one‑off payments, scheduled instalments under a payment arrangement, or periodic service fees.

To verify or resolve questions about a Department of Justice (Western Australia) charge, start by checking any recent fines, court matters, tribunal applications, or Public Trustee dealings in your name or in your capacity as an executor, attorney, or guardian. Match the amount and date on your statement to any notices, invoices, or receipts you have received from the Department (including email or SMS payment confirmations). For assistance, visit justice.wa.gov.au and use the “Contact us” or specific business area pages (e.g. Courts, Fines Enforcement, Public Trustee) to find the correct phone number, email, or online enquiry form; have your reference number, infringement or court case number, and payment date ready. If you believe a payment was taken in error, contact your bank as well as the relevant Justice business area promptly—refunds on government fees are generally limited and may only be available where a payment was duplicated or a matter was withdrawn or cancelled under the applicable legislation and policy.

Bank Statement Variations

2 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Department of Justice (Western Australia).

  1. DEPT OF JUSTICE-CTG PA PERTH AU
  2. DEPT OF JUSTICE-CTG PA PERTH AUS

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was I charged by the Department of Justice (Western Australia) when I paid a fine or infringement?

If you have an overdue fine or infringement that was referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry, any card or online payment you make will typically appear on your statement as a charge from the Department of Justice (WA). The amount can include the original fine plus enforcement fees or additional costs if your matter has progressed to enforcement or warrant stage. If you are on a time‑to‑pay plan, you may see repeated charges on the agreed instalment dates. Check your fines notice, enforcement order, or payment arrangement letter for the exact amounts and due dates.

What kinds of court or tribunal fees can appear as a Department of Justice (WA) charge?

Court- and tribunal‑related charges can include filing fees for civil claims, family law or guardianship applications, setting down or hearing fees, appeal fees, and charges for copies or certified copies of court orders and records. These fees may be paid at a court registry counter, via phone, or through an online payment facility, and will generally show as a Department of Justice (WA) transaction on your card statement. Amounts vary widely—from modest search or copy fees under $50 to several hundred dollars or more for certain applications and hearings. Your receipt, court file number, or online payment confirmation will list the specific fee type you paid.

Why do I see multiple smaller Department of Justice (WA) charges instead of one large payment?

Multiple smaller charges usually indicate that you have set up an instalment arrangement, such as a fines time‑to‑pay plan or periodic payments for Public Trustee services or supervised orders. Each scheduled instalment is processed separately on or around the agreed date, so your statement may show several identical or similar amounts over time. Review your payment agreement or fine enforcement correspondence to confirm the instalment schedule and amounts. If charges do not match your agreement, contact the relevant Justice business area immediately.

Can Department of Justice (Western Australia) charges be refunded if a matter is withdrawn or I paid in error?

Refunds for Department of Justice (WA) payments are limited and subject to legislation and internal policy, but may be considered where a matter was withdrawn, a fee was paid more than once, or a clear administrative error occurred. Fines and most court fees are generally non‑refundable once the service has been provided or the fine has been lawfully imposed. To request a review or possible refund, contact the specific area that received your payment (for example, the court registry, Fines Enforcement Registry, or Public Trustee) with your receipt, reference number, and payment details. The Department will assess your request and advise whether a refund or credit is available and how it will be processed.

How do I query or correct a Department of Justice (WA) charge related to fines or infringements?

For fines- or infringement‑related charges, refer to the Fines Enforcement Registry details provided on your notice or enforcement order. You can usually lodge an enquiry by phone or through an online form linked from justice.wa.gov.au under the Fines or Fines Enforcement section. Have your infringement number, enforcement order number, and payment details ready, including the date, amount, and the last four digits of your card. If you believe the infringement itself is incorrect, you may need to follow the formal objection, appeal, or court election process described on your notice.

Why is there a Department of Justice (WA) charge related to a deceased estate or trust?

If the Public Trustee is administering a deceased estate, managing a trust, or acting as administrator/financial manager for someone, it may charge fees for estate administration, investment management, or ongoing trustee services. These fees can be deducted from estate or trust funds, or in some cases paid by an attorney, executor, or family member using a personal card, and will appear on statements as a Department of Justice (WA) or Public Trustee‑related charge. The fee schedule is set by regulation and can include establishment, administration, and ongoing management fees. For a breakdown of charges, contact the Public Trustee office listed on your correspondence or visit the Public Trustee section of justice.wa.gov.au.

What does a pending or temporary Department of Justice (WA) charge mean on my card?

A pending or temporary charge can occur when you make a payment through an online portal or over the phone and your bank has authorised the amount but not yet fully processed it. In most cases, this will settle into a final posted transaction for the exact amount you authorised within a few business days. If the transaction fails or is reversed, your bank should release the hold automatically. If a pending Department of Justice (WA) charge remains on your account longer than a few days, contact both your bank and the relevant Justice payment office with the date, amount, and any reference number shown on your receipt or confirmation screen.

How can I confirm which Department of Justice (WA) office charged me and get a copy of my receipt?

Start by matching the transaction date and amount with any paperwork you have—such as a fine notice, court filing receipt, Public Trustee letter, or email/SMS payment confirmation. Then visit justice.wa.gov.au and navigate to the area that best matches your matter (Courts, Fines Enforcement, Public Trustee, Guardianship, etc.) to find the correct contact details. Provide your full name, any case or reference numbers, the exact payment amount, and the last four digits of your card so staff can locate the transaction. They can usually issue a replacement receipt or written confirmation of payment and clarify what the charge relates to.

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