Senior Judicial Registrars, Judicial Registrars and Deputy Registrars (collectively known as Registrars) each undertake key roles in the operation of the family law jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court). All three categories of Registrar exercise aspects of judicial power which has formally been delegated to them by the Judges of both Divisions of the Court. A table outlining the powers delegated to Registrars can be found in Schedule 4 to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021.

In exercising these delegated powers, Registrars manage cases from the point of filing and undertake tasks which would otherwise be completed by Judges. The Court’s use of Registrars in this way allows Judges to dedicate more time to the hearing and determination of complex interim applications and final hearings.

The roles undertaken by each category of Registrar is outlined in more detail below.

Senior Judicial Registrars

The primary role of a Senior Judicial Registrar is to preside over interim hearings and determine interlocutory applications, generally in circumstances where there is no agreement between the parties. Senior Judicial Registrars have the following powers to:

• make interim parenting or financial orders
• make parenting or financial orders in undefended proceedings
• vary or set aside financial orders
• make orders for spousal or de facto maintenance
• make orders for child maintenance (including adult child maintenance)
• make location orders and recovery orders
• make orders for enforcement of parenting or financial orders
• grant injunctions until further order or in undefended proceedings
• summarily dismiss a proceeding.

In addition to these powers, Senior Judicial Registrars have all the powers delegated to Judicial Registrars, which are discussed below.