How the office came to be
Nurani Sirih began in Alor Setar after years of seeing how family disputes were handled in the region — often leaving people more confused after a consultation than before. The founding aim was to change that: to offer family law assistance that is genuinely useful to ordinary people, not just those already comfortable with legal language.
The name draws from the sirih leaf, a plant long associated in Malay culture with honest exchange and quiet hospitality. That is what the office tries to offer: a space where you can sit down, say what has happened, and receive a clear account of where things stand.
The practice focuses exclusively on family matters — divorce, maintenance and children's arrangements — under Malaysian law. This narrow focus is deliberate. It means the office stays current with developments in family law and does not spread its attention across unrelated areas.
Clients are served in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin. This reflects the communities of Kedah, where many families move between languages depending on context and comfort. Meetings can be held at the office, at a client's home or by video, and Saturday mornings are available for those who cannot attend during the working week.
What guides the work
The office follows a few firm habits that shape every matter it handles:
- After each meeting or update, a short written note goes to the client covering what was discussed and what happens next. Nothing is held in verbal memory alone.
- Where a matter could reasonably be settled without formal proceedings, the office says so first. Court is not the default suggestion.
- Costs are stated in writing before any new stage begins. There are no surprises on an invoice.
- If a matter has grown too complicated for a particular level of service, the office says so plainly and recommends what is actually needed.
The people at the office
Nurul Ain Salleh
Principal Solicitor
Called to the Malaysian Bar and working in family law for over a decade. Handles divorce, maintenance and children's proceedings in Bahasa Malaysia and English.
Lim Wei Ling
Associate Solicitor
Specialises in consent-order drafting and Mandarin-language client work. Assists with document preparation and court filings across Kedah.
Siti Rohani Hamzah
Client Coordinator
First point of contact for new enquiries. Manages appointments, written client notes and the office's scheduling, including Saturday sessions.
How the office holds itself to account
Bar membership and CPD
All solicitors hold current practising certificates issued by the Malaysian Bar. Continuing professional development in family law is maintained each year.
Written engagement letters
Before any paid work begins, the client receives a written engagement letter setting out the scope, the fee and what the office will and will not do.
Client confidentiality
Legal professional privilege applies to all communications. Nothing shared with the office passes to a third party without the client's written consent, except as required by law.
Transparent billing
Fees are agreed in writing in advance. If the scope of a matter changes, the cost implication is communicated before the additional work is done.
Complaints handling
The office has a written complaints procedure. Any concern is acknowledged within two working days and addressed in full within ten.
Language access
Advice and written communications are available in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin. The client's preferred language is recorded at first contact and used throughout.
Family law in Kedah — what this office does and does not do
Nurani Sirih works on family matters under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 and the Islamic Family Law enactments of Kedah, depending on the parties involved. The office handles divorce petitions, maintenance applications, child custody and access arrangements, and consent orders recording what parties have agreed.
The practice does not take commercial, criminal or property matters. This boundary keeps the work focused and the team current on developments in family law specifically. When a client's situation touches on areas outside family law — inheritance, property transfer, employment — the office says so and, where it can, refers the client to practitioners in those areas.
Clients come from across Kedah — from Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, Langkawi and the surrounding towns. Many have not dealt with legal processes before and are uncertain what to expect. The one-hour advice session exists partly for this reason: to give someone a clear account of their situation without committing them to a larger engagement.
The office also accepts referrals from community leaders, religious authorities and social workers where a family requires assistance and may not have sought legal advice independently.
Ready to talk through your situation?
An initial session costs RM 160 and lasts one hour. You will leave with a written note and a clearer sense of your options.
Get in touch