Select a filter
This Central Practice Direction outlines the core principles applicable to family law proceedings and establishes a consistent national case management system in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia from 1 September 2021.
This Central Practice Direction applies to all general federal law proceedings commenced in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia from 1 September 2021. It does not apply to migration or family law proceedings.
This Central Practice Direction applies to all migration proceedings commenced in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) from 1 September 2021. It does not otherwise apply to general federal law proceedings.
This Practice Direction sets out the procedure for all family law appeals and applications for leave to appeal from a judgment of a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia exercising the original jurisdiction of the Court; a single judge of a Supreme Court of a State or Territory exercising the original jurisdiction of the Court; or a family law Magistrate of Western Australia.
This Practice Direction applies to the following arbitrations under the Family Law Act 1975: a court-ordered arbitration ordered pursuant to section 13E of the Family Law Act; and a relevant property or financial arbitration as defined in section 10L(2)(b) of the Family Law Act.
This Practice Direction sets out the procedure for family law proceedings to which sections 35 or 35A of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 apply.
This Practice Direction sets out the procedure for all family law proceedings with respect to child support and/or child maintenance (including overseas child maintenance).
This Practice Direction applies to proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia to which any of the following legislation applies: Corporations Act 2001; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001; or Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.
This Practice Direction applies to family law applications made in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court) which are filed in circumstances where no parent is available to care for a child or children and orders are sought for parental responsibility to enable appropriate arrangements to be made for the child or children
The purpose of the List is to ensure compliance with the relevant Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (Family Law Rules) and any case management orders and directions made by a Registrar in family law or child support proceedings, in accordance with the overarching purpose of family law practice and procedure. The Defaulters’ List will initially be piloted in the Sydney Registry of the Courts with a view to expansion if successful.
This Practice Direction applies to all family law proceedings seeking a divorce order; the extension or reduction of the period at the expiration of which the divorce order will take effect pursuant to section 55 of the Family Law Act 1975; and an application for rescission of a divorce order pursuant to sections 57 and 58 of the Family Law Act.
This Practice Direction applies to family law proceedings filed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Court) and revokes and replaces Special Measures Information Notice – COVID-19 Electronic Subpoena Inspection (SMIN-COVID).
This Practice Direction sets out the Evatt List eligibility for proceedings filed in the Court and sets out the case management of matters in that list.
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.
This Practice Direction establishes the pilot of a Major Complex Financial Proceedings List, which applies to any Initiating Application (Family Law) seeking financial orders pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975, that is a Major Complex Financial Proceedings List case (MCFP List Case) in the Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane registry or if appropriate to be managed electronically, a MCFP List Case in any other registry of the Court. The pilot of the MCFP List commenced on 1 October 2021.
For more information, see Safety at Court.
If you are making an enquiry for someone else, the Court may be limited in the information or response we are able to provide.
Where possible, the person should make their enquiry themselves.
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.
