Practice and procedure update: Word document of proposed consent orders now required with Application for Consent Orders

From 31 October 2025 the following documents will be required when filing an Application for Consent Orders on the Commonwealth Courts Portal:

1. The Proposed orders signed by all parties (on each page) in PDF format
2. The Proposed orders in an unsigned Word document (.docx) version
3. The Application for consent orders form and any other documents required having regard to the orders sought.

This change is being implemented to ensure that all published orders are of the highest visual quality and to decrease the time required for publication, enabling parties and practitioners quicker access to published orders.

This change will mean that you cannot submit an Application for Consent Orders on the Commonwealth Courts Portal without also providing a word document version, as well as the signed PDF version of the Proposed orders.

You will be required to confirm by way of check box that the text contained within the Word document is identical to the text in the signed PDF submitted with your application.

If you cannot provide a Word document version please contact the Court by email or live chat so we can provide advice on the options available to you.

Update: 24 November 2025

The Application for Consent Orders form has also been updated to introduce the following:

1. Procedural information relating to the provision of an identical version of the orders in word document format.
2. Additional procedural notations as follows:
   
   1. Notation added at Item 25 that if the parties are seeking parenting orders by consent, each party must answer A, B and C contained within Item 25 and that the applicant must also file a Notice of Child Abuse, Family Violence or Risk with the application.
   2. Notation added that Item 68 must be answered if financial or property orders are sought;
   3. Notation added to the Statement of Truth that the Application for Consent Orders must be lodged within 90 days of the date of the first signed Statement of Truth;
   4. Notation added to the Statement of Truth that all applicable boxes must be marked or the application may be rejected.
3. Amendment to Item 63 requiring confirmation that the value provided for any superannuation interest is current (dated not more than 3 months prior to the date of the Application for Consent Orders);
4. Amendment to the Statement of Truth to remove the requirement for the Application for Consent Orders and Proposed Orders to be signed on the same date.

Please note that following 4.30pm (AEDT) on 5 December 2025 the previous version of the Application for Consent Orders will not be accepted for filing. In the event that there are special circumstances that result in an inability to use the updated form you are required to provide additional information by way of a joint cover letter of urgency.