Resources

This brochure is for people who have been served with: A subpoena, and who are required to comply with the subpoena (named person), or; A copy of a subpoena as a party or interested person, and who may want to object to the inspecting or copying of a document/s to be produced in compliance with the subpoena. It provides information about the use of, and compliance with, subpoenas in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court).

This brochure answers frequently asked questions about enforcement hearings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court).

This information sheet sets out general information on the options available to a debtor who is served with a Creditor's Petition to make them a bankrupt. This includes general information on how to oppose a petition where valid legal grounds exist and asking for more time to pay the debt or get legal or financial advice.

Checklist for creditor's petition in bankruptcy proceedings

In general federal law proceedings, the Court normally awards costs to a successful party. They are intended to reimburse a party (usually the successful one) for their legal costs. The costs awarded are normally only part of the costs incurred. These are referred to as party-party costs. Costs may be awarded before a final hearing; for example if a party has not complied with a timetable and the other party brings the matter back to court for further directions.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court) deals with a wide range of matters, sharing jurisdiction with the Federal Court of Australia and, in some cases, state courts. The Court’s rules and procedures are simpler and less formal, and aim to reduce the cost and number of court appearances for clients.

This document is intended to provide guidance to the Independent Children's Lawyer (ICL) in fulfilling their role. The Guidelines have also been issued for the purposes of providing practitioners, parties, children and other people in contact with the family law courts, with information about the courts' general expectations of ICLs.

This Special Measures Information Notice sets out arrangements for the continued operation of subpoena inspections in the Dandenong, Dubbo, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Sydney and Wollongong registries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This information notice outlines the information sharing protocols between the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Department of Fairness, Families and Housing, Victoria, which provide an important mechanism for gathering evidence in parenting proceedings.

This information notice establishes the manner in which files in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia may be constituted.

This Practice Direction applies to all family law, migration and general federal law applications, including appeals, filed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. It applies to all proceedings commenced on or after 1 September 2021. It will also apply to all proceedings commenced prior to 1 September 2021, unless unfair or impractical to do so.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has developed new rules of court for all proceedings in the Court with effect from 1 September 2021. Various new Practice Directions and Information Notices have been issued to accompany the new rules. This Practice Direction formally revokes a number of outdated or superseded Practice Directions and Information Notices issued by the Family Court of Australia or Federal Circuit Court of Australia prior to the commencement of the operation of the Court on 1 September 2021.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court) is the nation’s largest court dealing with both family law and general federal law matters. The Court’s rules and procedures are generally less formal, making the Court accessible to the community. The Court’s procedures provide for cases to be completed in a timely and cost efficient manner.

This fact sheet provides information for people who allege a parenting order has been contravened (breached). It explains some of the options available. When a parenting order is made, each person affected by the order must comply with (follow) the order.