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The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 (the Amendment Act) commences on 10 June 2025. As a result, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (the Rules) have been amended.

As a result of the Family Law Amendment Act 2024 (Cth) changes commencing on 10 June 2025, and consequential changes to the Family Law Rules, there will be minor amendments to several family law Practice Directions. The new Practice Directions will be published on 10 June 2025.

As a result of the Family Law Amendment Act 2024 (Cth) commencing on 10 June 2025, there will be changes to some family law court forms. Some changes are substantive, for example if new questions have been added to forms. A number of forms have minor changes only, where sections of the Act have changed and references need to be updated.

On 10 May 2025, the Courts will automatically end legal practitioners’ access to family law files on the Commonwealth Courts Portal (CCP) 60 days after all applications on the file are finalised.

From 22 April 2025, changes will be introduced to how urgent Initiating Applications and Family Law (Airport) Watchlist applications are managed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and (Division 2). These changes aim to improve the efficient review and prioritisation of urgent applications.

The following Regulations commenced on 1 April 2025: The Family Law Regulations 2024 replace the 1984 Regulations; The Family Law (Superannuation) Regulations 2025 replace the 2001 Regulations; The Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025 replace the 2008 Regulations. As a result, there will be changes to the following family law court forms which are to be used from 1 April 2025. Please note that the changes are largely updating section references where the Regulations have been renumbered.

A new family law Practice Direction has been issued by the Chief Justice that applies to electronic subpoena inspection in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2).

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

This update provides important information about Applications for Review filed after close of filing on Friday 15 November 2024. Please be advised that an Application for Review filed on or after 15 November 2024 may not be able to be heard prior to the commencement of the Court shutdown period, being close of business, Tuesday 24 December 2024.

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