Last updated: 1 September 2025
What changed?
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2025 (New GFL Rules) were made by the Court, and commenced on 1 September 2025.
The New GFL Rules were approved by a majority of Judges and replaced the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2021 (GFL Rules 2021).
To assist the public and the profession to become familiar with the New GFL Rules, they were registered early on the Federal Register of Legislation: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2025.
There were also amendments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Bankruptcy) Rules 2021 (Bankruptcy Rules) to update references to the New GFL Rules and updates to Schedule 1.
Practice and procedure updates
27 August 2025 - General federal law and migration practice directions and forms updates
11 August 2025 - New General Federal Law Rules made and registered, commencing 1 September 2025
Related links
Federal Register of Legislation – www.legislation.gov.au
The new legislation is available on the Federal Register of Legislation:
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2025
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Bankruptcy) Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Rules 2025
The accompanying explanatory materials for these amendments are available:
Last updated: 10 June 2025
The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 was passed by the Australian Parliament on 10 December 2024.
From 10 June 2025, the Family Law Act 1975 includes changes to the law about:
- how the courts will determine a property settlement
- what the courts will consider when determining a property settlement. This includes the economic effect of any family violence, where relevant.
These changes apply to all separating couples, whether their property settlement is determined by the courts, or they are negotiating outside of court.
You can find preliminary information in the Attorney-General’s Department factsheet:
- Family law (property) changes from 10 June 2025: Fact sheet for separating couples
- Family law changes from June 2025: Information for family law professionals
What is changing?
The Amendment Act makes significant changes to the framework for resolving the property and financial aspects of relationship breakdown in the Family Law Act 1975.
The key changes that will impact couples seeking to resolve their property and financial matters include:
- making clear that the effect of family violence is a relevant consideration in determining the division of property and finances following breakdown of a relationship
- expressly capturing ‘economic or financial abuse’ within the definition of family violence, and identifying dowry abuse as an example of conduct that might constitute economic or financial abuse
- specifying the approach the family law courts will take when making decisions about the division of property
- providing a new framework for determining ownership of the family pet in property settlements
- providing the family law courts the discretion to use the less adversarial approach in property and financial matters, to enhance their ability to direct proceedings and manage evidence particularly where there may be family violence
- elevating the duties of financial disclosure from the family law rules into the Family Law Act, to support parties to better understand their obligations and improve compliance.
It also makes a range of other changes to enhance the operation of Australia’s family law system, including to safeguard sensitive information in family law proceedings.
When do the changes start?
Most of the changes will commence on 10 June 2025, including changes to the framework for resolving the property and financial aspects of relationship breakdown. The property changes will apply to new and existing proceedings, except where a final hearing has commenced.
The following changes commenced on 11 December 2024:
- Schedule 3, Part 3 - Commonwealth Information Orders
- Schedule 3, Part 4 – Operation of section 69GA
- Schedule 4, Part 2 – Court rule making power for Family Court of a State
- Schedule 4, Parts 3 and 4 – changes to the family law superannuation splitting framework.
Practice and procedure updates
5 June 2025 - Practice and procedure update: Family law Rules
3 June 2025 - Practice and procedure update: Family law Practice Directions
26 May 2025 - Practice and procedure update: Family law form updates
Related links
Attorney General’s Department – www.ag.gov.au
You can find information about family law and these amendments on the Attorney-General’s Department website:
https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/families/family-law-system
National FLPN Webinar 1 of 3: 'Overview of changes to the Family Law Act: from June 2025 (YouTube)
National FLPN Webinar 2 of 3: 'Overview of changes to the Family Law Act' (YouTube)
National FLPN Webinar 3 of 3: 'Overview of changes to the Family Law Act' (YouTube)
AG's Media release - Landmark family law reforms commence
Federal Register of Legislation – www.legislation.gov.au
The new legislation is available on the Federal Register of Legislation:
Australian Parliament House – www.aph.gov.au
The accompanying explanatory materials for these amendments are available from the Australian Parliament House website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7234
Last updated: 22 May 2024
The Family Law Amendment Act 2023 and Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2023 were passed by the Australian Parliament on 19 October 2023.
The changes include new laws about how the Courts will make parenting orders in the best interests of a child.
Most of the changes to the Family Law Act commenced on 6 May 2024. For more information about timing see ‘When do the changes start?’ below.
