Practice and procedure update: National Enforcement List
A National Enforcement List will commence in the Courts' family law jurisdiction on 21 September 2026.
The National Enforcement List will provide for a streamlined process for:
A National Enforcement List will commence in the Courts' family law jurisdiction on 21 September 2026.
The National Enforcement List will provide for a streamlined process for:
The Court is pleased to announce following a successful pilot in the Parramatta, Townsville and Rockhampton registries, that from 31 August 2026 all divorce hearings that require the parties to attend a hearing before a Deputy Registrar will take place using Webex via an audio and video enabled link. The link to attend the Webex hearing will appear on the Commonwealth Courts Portal and the daily court list the day prior to the scheduled hearing time.
The Chief Justice has today issued a new Practice Direction on the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Litigants and practitioners in migration proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) can now file applications and other related materials at Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 1-3 George Street, Parramatta, and Terrace Tower Group Building, Level 10, 80 William Street, Woolloomooloo.
The Courts are pleased to announce the launch of a pilot program for divorce hearings to be conducted by video for matters in the Parramatta, Townsville and Rockhampton registries.
The Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act 2025 (Cth) (CWPO Act) commences on 5 May 2026. From that date, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), exercising its General Federal Law jurisdiction, has jurisdiction to hear and determine applications for Commonwealth workplace protection orders.
The Courts have updated the following family law forms: Response to Initiating Application, Undertaking, Third Party Debt Notice, Enforcement Warrant, Affidavit: Translation of Marriage Certificate, Notice of Address for Service
Several Court forms have had updates made to them and reissued
The Courts are pleased to announce the commencement of the Interpreter Practice Direction, which takes effect from 1 December 2025.
From 31 October 2025 additional documents will be required when filing an Application for Consent Orders on the Commonwealth Courts Portal
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2025 (new GFL Rules) commence on 1 September 2025. In addition to the new GFL Rules there will also be changes to the general federal law and migration Practice Directions and court forms.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2025 (New GFL Rules) have been made by the Court, and will commence on 1 September 2025.
This update is to inform the public and profession of a change to the title of private practitioners who prepare 62G family reports, pursuant to an appointment under the Family Law Regulations.
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.
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.