• National Court Dog Program: Supporting Court Users with Trained Facility Dogs

    The Court Dog Program is a trauma-informed initiative designed to support vulnerable litigants and children participating in court proceedings. Professionally trained facility dogs, also known as Court Dogs, work alongside their handlers to provide emotional support and comfort in courtrooms, mediations, waiting areas, and Court Children’s Service (CCS) interviews.

  • Practice and procedure update: Family law form updates

    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.

  • Family law changes from 6 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.

  • Family Law Practice Direction: Financial proceedings

    This Practice Direction sets out the procedure for all family law proceedings seeking orders with respect to property, maintenance, superannuation and financial agreements under Parts VIII, VIIIA, VIIIAB, and VIIIB and injunctions pursuant to section 114 of the Family Law Act 1975. It does not apply to child support or child maintenance proceedings.

  • Court recording and transcription services

    The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia’s recording and transcription contract is with VIQ Solutions. All matters listed before a judge of the Court are recorded. From 3 October 2022, all Senior Judicial Registrar and Judicial Registrar family law court events are also recorded. Prior to this date, family law Registrar events were not recorded unless expressly requested by the Court.

  • Family Law Practice Direction: Priority Property Pool Cases

    This Practice Direction applies to family law applications meeting the criteria set out in this Practice Direction and filed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court)

  • Application for consent orders (do it yourself kit)

    This form is used when you have reached an agreement and want the Court to make legally binding court orders.

  • Indigenous: Overview

    The job of the Court is to help families work out problems they may have when families have separated. This is not a criminal court. It’s a civil court, set up to help families and to keep children safe. This court is sometimes called the Family Court.

  • I don’t understand a question in the risk screen, who can I ask about it?

    Lighthouse FAQ response

  • Practice and procedure update: Family Law Rules

    Today the Courts are providing an update in relation to amendments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (Family Law Rules). The Family Law Rules have been amended by the passage of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Amendment (2024 Measures No.1) Rules 2024 which has been approved by a majority of Judges. The amendments take effect from 6 May 2024. The full instrument is available to download above.
flag
flag

The Courts acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders, past, present and emerging.