Fees

The Court does not set the fees payable in the court. Fees are set by Federal Government Regulations - Family Law (Fees) Regulations 2022. The current fees are contained within the gazetted Annual federal courts and tribunals fee increases from 1 July 2023.

GST does not apply to court fees.

Filing Fees  
Application for divorce $1060
Application for divorce – reduced fee^ $350
Application for consent orders $195
Application as to validity of Marriage, Divorce, Annulment $1,505
Application for decree as to nullity $1,505
Application for decree as to nullity - reduced fee^ $500
Initiating Application (Parenting OR Financial, Final only) $410
Initiating Application (Parenting OR Financial, Final AND Interim) $550*
Initiating Application (Parenting AND Financial, Final only) $670
Initiating Application (Parenting AND Financial, Final AND Interim) $810*
Response to initiating application (Final) $410
Notice of appeal or an application for leave to appeal $1,605
Interim order application/Application in a proceeding (Parenting AND/OR Financial) $140
Issue subpoena $65
Application under the Trans Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 $140
Filing an application to register a New Zealand judgment $125

 

Court Event Fees  
Setting down for hearing fee (defended matter) (This fee is not refundable) $745 (Div2)
$1010 (Div1)
Daily hearing fee (for each hearing day, excluding the first hearing day) $745 (Div2)
$1010 (Div1)
Conciliation conference $465 (both)

* Initiating applications that seek interim AND final orders also attract the interim order fee. Example:

  • Initiating Application (Parenting AND Financial) $670 + Interim order application $140 = Total filing fee $810
  • Initiating Application (Parenting OR Financial, Final) $410 + Interim order application $140 = Total filing fee $550

If you hold certain Government concession cards or you can demonstrate financial hardship, you may be eligible for:

^ a reduced fee for an application for divorce (both parties must be eligible if filing a joint application) or decree of nullity.

See the Guidelines for reduced fee - divorce and decree of nullity application

For all other applications you may be eligible for an exemption of fees.

See the Guidelines for exemption of court fees

Filing fees can be paid online when eFiling using the Commonwealth Courts Portal www.comcourts.gov.au

Court event fees can also be paid online (once you have received a statement with your PID number) via eservices.comcourts.gov.au

Payment for filing and court event fees can be made in registries via:

  • eftpos
  • debit card
  • credit card

or by mail using:

  • Visa and Mastercard credit/debit card

NOTE: If you DO NOT have a credit/debit card you can buy a pre-paid debit card from various retail outlets for a nominal fee.

Credit card payment form

You may need this form when making a payment.

This form must be included with any mailed application or request. Please do not fax this form unless you have been directly requested to do so by the Court. 

The Credit card payment form is available on the forms page.

These fees apply from 1 July 2023 and are set by Federal Government regulations Family Law (Fees) Regulations 2022.

Note: The fees listed below are effective from 1 July 2023.

Cheques or Money orders for the payment of fees should be made payable to the Federal Court of Australia.

A number of fees apply to Federal Circuit and Family Court proceedings pursuant to Schedule 1 Part 2 of the Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court Regulations 2022.

To view the Regulation see www.legislation.gov.au. The current fees are contained within the gazetted Annual federal courts and tribunals fee increases from 1 July 2023.

Document or service

Fee

Corporations

Others

Filing an application (migration only)

(a) full fee—$3,785, or

(b) if a Registrar or an authorised
officer has determined that the person
may pay a reduced fee under
section 2.06A—$1,890

Response*
Seeking different orders sought by applicant

$1,890

$775

Interlocutory – interim*

$1,135

$460

Setting down for hearing fee*

$2,260

$935

Daily Hearing Fee* (for each hearing day, or part of a hearing day excluding the first hearing day)

$2,260

$935

Mediation by a court officer* (For each attendance)

$625

Filing an Application for a Review of a Registrar's Decision*

$1,135

$460

For the hearing of an application (including a cross-claim) under subsection 256(2) of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act – for each day or part of day*

$2,260

$935

Filing a bill of costs*

$305

Issuing a subpoena*

$180

$90

On request, production of file and making of a copy or copies of a document or documents in the file:  

Production of the file

$60

For each page included in a copy made in accordance with the request

$1

* Note: this fee is not payable for human rights applications, some fair work applications, and small claims proceedings in fair work and consumer credit claims.

Party Category and Fee Calculation

Section 2.02 of the Regulation read in conjunction with the definitions in sections 1.03 and 1.04 sets out the basis of how fees are to be calculated. Fees for filing documents, setting down, for hearing, for mediation and for some services are calculated according to the type of body or person liable to pay them. A publicly listed company pays the highest rate of fees. A corporation and a public authority pay the next highest rate. All others, including any individuals, small businesses or unincorporated not-for-profit association, pay the lowest rate.

So the Courts can assess the correct fee which applies, each party will need to complete a Party Category Information Form.

Note: in some cases, such as if you hold certain government concession cards or you can demonstrate financial hardship, you may be exempt from the payment of court fees or entitled to a reduced fee.

Note: The fees listed below are effective from 1 July 2023.

Cheques or Money orders for the payment of fees should be made payable to the Federal Court of Australia.

A number of fees apply to Federal Circuit and Family Court proceedings pursuant to Schedule 1 Part 2 of the Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court Regulations 2022.

To view the Regulation see www.legislation.gov.au. The current fees are contained within the gazetted Annual federal courts and tribunals fee increases from 1 July 2023.

Document or service

Fee

Corporations

Others

Filing an application (201)           
^ Note: this is not the fee payable for migration applications, see below

$1,890

$785

Filing an application (migration only)

(a) full fee—$3,785, or

(b) if a Registrar or an authorised
officer has determined that the person
may pay a reduced fee under
section 2.06A—$1,890

Response*
Seeking different orders sought by applicant

$1,890

$775

Interlocutory – interim*

$1,135

$460

Setting down for hearing fee*

$2,260

$935

Daily Hearing Fee* (for each hearing day, or part of a hearing day excluding the first hearing day)

$2,110

$875

Mediation by a court officer* (For each attendance)

$625

Filing an Application for a Review of a Registrar's Decision*

$1,135

$460

For the hearing of an application (including a cross-claim) under subsection 256(2) of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act – for each day or part of day*

$2,260

$935

Filing a bill of costs*

$305

Issuing a subpoena*

$180

$90

On request, production of file and making of a copy or copies of a document or documents in the file:  

Production of the file

$60

For each page included in a copy made in accordance with the request

$1

Seizure and sale of goods

$720

Filing an application to register a New Zealand judgment under the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010

$145

* Note: this fee is not payable for human rights applications, some fair work applications, and small claims proceedings in fair work and consumer credit claims.

Small claims

Document or service

Fee

If the claim is
less than $10,000

If the claim is between
$10,000 and $20,000

Filing of an application under Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 if the applicant indicates they want the small claims procedure to apply

$285

$455

Industrial Law

For proceedings other than the following the general application fee applies:

Fair work

Document or service

Fee

Filing of an application under section 539 of the Fair Work Act 2009 in either of the following circumstances:

  1. the applicant has been dismissed from employment in alleged contravention of Part 3-1 of that Act;
  2. the applicant alleges a breach of section 351 of that Act
$83.30

Filing of an application under section 539 of the Fair Work Act 2009 if the applicant has been dismissed from employment in alleged contravention of section 772 of that Act

$83.30

Filing of an application under section 539 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for orders in relation to an alleged contravention of Division 2 of Part 3‑5A of that Act $85.00

Small claims

Document or service

Fee

If the claim is
less than $10,000

If the claim is between
$10,000 and $50,000

If the claim is between $50,000 and $100,000 and the proceedings relate to one or more of the matters mentioned in paragraph 548(1B)(a) of that Act (other than a proceeding mentioned in item 212)

Filing of an application under section 548 of the Fair Work Act 2009 if the applicant indicates they want the small claims procedure to apply

$285

$455

$525 $285

Bankruptcy

Document or service

Fee

Publicly listed company

Corporations

Public authority

Others

Filing an application under the Bankruptcy Act 1966

$6,630

$4,425

$4,425

$1,845

Application for substituted service of a bankruptcy notice

$745

$490

$490

$195

For issuing a summons to a person, under section 50 or 81 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 to attend examination about a debtor's examinable affairs

$915

$595

$595

$305

Examination by a Registrar under section 50 or 81 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 – for each day or part of a day

$3,415

$2,260

$2,260

$935

Human rights

Document or service

Fee

Human rights (under Section 46PO or 46PP of the Human Rights Commission Act 1986)
Filing an application

$55

Migration

Document or service

Fee

Filing an application (migration only)

(a) full fee—$3,785, or

(b) if a Registrar or an authorised officer has determined
that the person may pay a reduced fee under section 2.06A—$1,890

Party Category and Fee Calculation

Section 2.02 of the Regulation read in conjunction with the definitions in sections 1.03 and 1.04 sets out the basis of how fees are to be calculated. Fees for filing documents, setting down, for hearing, for mediation and for some services are calculated according to the type of body or person liable to pay them. A publicly listed company pays the highest rate of fees. A corporation and a public authority pay the next highest rate. All others, including any individuals, small businesses or unincorporated not-for-profit association, pay the lowest rate.

So the Courts can assess the correct fee which applies, each party will need to complete a Party Category Information Form.

Note: in some cases, such as if you hold certain government concession cards or you can demonstrate financial hardship, you may be exempt from the payment of court fees or entitled to a reduced fee.