News and media centre

The Brisbane and Lismore Registries will be open as normal on Tuesday 11 March 2025.

The Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus KC MP, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Justice Jacoba Brasch as Chair of the Family Law Council.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1 and Division 2) (‘the Courts’) are thrilled to announce the expansion of the successful Court Dog Program with the addition of three new facility dogs to operate in the Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle registries.

The Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Mark Dreyfus KC MP has today announced the appointment of Ms Di Simpson as a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 1). Justice Simpson has been appointed to the Sydney registry of the Court and will commence on 3 February 2025.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) (the Court) is pleased to announce that the Commonwealth Courts Portal has been updated to permit the eFiling of documents in its appellate jurisdiction from 9 December 2024.

The Court is pleased to announce that as of 9 December 2024 appeals will be commenced, and documents in appeals filed, on the Commonwealth Courts Portal

Lighthouse update from the Chief Justice - two years since the implementation of Lighthouse

The Chief Justice has issued Family Law Practice Direction – Defaulters’ List. The purpose of the Defaulters’ List is to ensure compliance with the rules of court, and any case management orders and directions made by a Registrar in family law or child support proceedings. The Defaulters’ List is intended to further the overarching purpose of family law practice and procedure.

The Courts have made a minor amendment to a large number of family law forms to introduce a 'filed in' check box option for the FCFCOA (Division 1) and the FCFCOA (Division 2).

The Chief Justice has approved updates to four family law forms; Notice of Address for Service, Notice of Ceasing to Act, Subpoena – family law and Proposed Consent orders template

The Court seeks to draw several matters to the attention of arbitrators and practitioners seeking to register arbitral awards

Update regarding urgent Initiating Application cannot be eFiled through the Commonwealth Courts Portal currently without all of the documents set out in paragraph 2.5 of the Family Law Practice Direction: Parenting Proceedings and paragraph 2.6 of the Family Law Practice Direction: Financial Proceedings being filed.

With today’s commencement of the Family Law Amendment Act 2023 and the Family Law (Information Sharing) Act 2023, amendments have taken effect to four practice directions: Central Practice Direction: Family Law Case Management, Family Law Practice Direction: Parenting Proceedings, Family Law Practice Direction: Financial Proceedings and Family Law Practice Direction: Critical Incident List. In addition, the COVID-19 List Practice Direction has been revoked.

Today the Courts are providing an update in relation to amendments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (Family Law Rules).

A number of court forms require amendments due to the commencement of the Family Law Amendment Act 2023 and the Family Law (Information Sharing) Act 2023 (the Family Law Act Amendments). Some forms have had new questions added or the structure of the form has changed. Other forms have only had minor changes to legislation references (sections of the Family Law Act) or words in the instruction pages. To allow parties and practitioners to prepare for the changes, copies of the new forms are hyperlinked below. They should be filed on or after 6 May 2024.