• Central Practice Direction: General Federal Law proceedings

    This Central Practice Direction applies nationally to all general federal law proceedings commenced in the Court from 1 September 2025. It does not apply to migration or family law proceedings.

  • FCFCOA Practice Direction – Revocation of Practice Directions and Information Notices

    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 This Practice Direction formally revokes a number of outdated or superseded Practice Directions and Information Notices issued by the Family Court of Australia or Federal Circuit Court of Australia prior to the commencement of the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.

  • General Federal Law Practice Direction – Admiralty and maritime proceedings

    The purpose of this Practice Direction is to set out the practice and procedure of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Court) for the case management of all proceedings brought under the Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth) (admiralty and maritime proceedings) in the Court.

  • Expert witnesses in family law

    This fact sheet provides information about the different types of experts that provide evidence in family law matters before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court). 

  • Legal costs in general federal law matters

    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.

  • Transfer of proceedings

    All family law matters must be commenced in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2). More complex matters that are filed in Division 2 can be transferred to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) or in some cases the Federal Court of Australia (whichever has jurisdiction). Similarly, there are provisions to transfer less complex matters from other courts to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2).

  • Children and international travel after family separation

    This fact sheet provides information for people who want to: apply for an Australian passport for a child, but one of the signatories can not or will not sign the application form; prevent a child they have parental responsibility for from leaving Australia.

  • FCFCOA Practice Direction – Transitional Arrangements

    The Chief Justice/Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has made new rules of court for all proceedings in the Court with effect from 1 September 2021. The new rules apply to all proceedings in the Court commenced before 1 September 2021 but not finally determined before that date in accordance with the transitional arrangements described at Part 2 of this PD. The Court retains the discretion to dispense with compliance with any provision of the new rules at all times, including where application of the new rules would operate unfairly or cause injustice.

  • Family law

    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.
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