You may have heard in the news recently about changes happening in the family law courts.
From 1 September 2021 the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia merged into a new amalgamated court now known as the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (“FCFCOA”). The premise behind the merger is a promise “to deliver justice more effectively, efficiently and inexpensively” (Chief Justice Will Alstergren to the profession).
“The FCFC provides a single point of entry to the family courts, with a consistent set of rules, processes and procedures, which will make the system simpler and less confusing” – Attorney-General Michaelia Cash
What this means in practical terms for parties accessing the family law jurisdiction is a renewed focus on the safety of children, front-end focus and resources on alternative dispute processes such as mediation prior to commencement of proceedings and, once in the court system, a pathway to resolving matters within a 12-month period.
Parties are required to take certain steps to attempt to resolve their property and parenting matters prior to commencing proceedings and will need to satisfy the court that they have taken all steps to resolve matters. Once proceedings are filed, parties will have their matters before the court within 6 to 8 weeks and from there parties will enter mediation or dispute resolution.
For more information on the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court changes or for family law advice tailored to your circumstances, please contact our office on 4051 7575 or book an initial consultation online.
