Family Court Act 1997
Family Court Rules 2021
Family Court Act 1997
Family Court Rules 2021
Western Australia
Family Court Rules 2021
Contents
Part 1 — Preliminary
Division 1 — Introduction
1.Citation1
2.Commencement1
3.Application1
4.Terms used1
Division 2 — Purpose
5.Main purpose14
6.Promoting main purpose15
7.Achieving main purpose16
8.Responsibility of parties and lawyers in achieving main purpose16
Division 3 — Court’s power in all cases
9.Power of court to make orders17
10.Procedural orders in cases of doubt or difficulty18
11.Court may set aside or vary order18
12.Court may dispense with rules18
13.Judicial officer hearing application18
Division 4 — Time
14.Calculating time19
15.Shortening or extending time19
16.Time for compliance20
Division 5 — Court administration
17.Court sittings20
18.Registry hours20
19.Records, registers and indexes20
20.Documents in electronic format21
Division 6 — Other matters
21.Relationship between this Part and specific rules22
22.Pre‑action procedure22
23.Prohibition on recording23
24.Publishing lists of cases23
25.Seal of Court24
Part 2 — Starting a case
Division 1 — Applications
26.Kinds of applications25
27.Documents to be filed with application27
Division 2 — Brochures
28.Service of brochures32
Division 3 — Notification in certain cases
Subdivision 1 — Cases involving allegation of abuse or family violence in relation to child
29.Application of Subdivision33
30.Notice of child abuse, family violence or risk of family violence33
31.Notice of family violence in existing cases33
32.Family violence order34
Subdivision 2 —Property settlement or spousal or de facto maintenance cases
33.Notification of proceeds of crime or forfeiture application35
34.Proceeds of crime35
35.Notification to spouse (Act s. 205ZB(3))36
Part 3 — Divorce
Division 1 — Application for divorce
36.Fixing of hearing date37
37.Amendment of application for divorce37
38.Discontinuance of application for divorce37
Division 2 — Response
39.Response38
40.Objection to jurisdiction38
41.Late filing of response39
42.Affidavit in reply39
Division 3 — Hearing of application
43.Attendance at hearing39
Division 4 — Hearing in absence of parties
44.Seeking hearing in absence of parties39
45.Hearing of joint application in absence of parties40
46.Request not to hear case in absence of parties40
Division 5 — Events affecting divorce order
47.Application for rescission of divorce order40
48.Death of party40
Division 6 — Other matters relating to application for divorce
49.Corroboration of service41
50.Corroboration requirements in cases involving parties living under same roof41
Part 4 — Final orders
Division 1 — Applications for final orders
51.Contents of application for final order42
52.Filing affidavits42
53.First court date42
Division 2 — Specific applications
Subdivision 1 — General
54.General provisions still apply43
55.Applications by Attorney General for transfer of case43
Subdivision 2 — Cross‑vesting
56.Cross‑vesting matters43
57.Transfer of case44
Subdivision 3 — Medical procedure
58.Application for medical procedure44
59.Evidence supporting application45
60.Service of application46
61.Fixing date of hearing46
62.Procedure on first court date46
Subdivision 4 — Spousal or de facto maintenance
63.Applications for spousal or de facto maintenance46
64.Evidence to be provided47
Subdivision 5 — Child support and child maintenance
65.Application of Subdivision48
66.Commencing proceedings48
67.Documents to be filed with application48
68.Child support agreements50
69.Time limits for applications under Child Support (Assessment) Act51
70.Service of application51
71.Service by Child Support Registrar51
72.Procedure on first court date52
73.Evidence to be provided with application52
Subdivision 6 — Nullity and validity of marriage and divorce
74.Application of Subdivision53
75.Fixing hearing date53
76.Affidavit to be filed with application53
Part 5 — Applications for interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental orders
Division 1 — General
77.Restrictions in relation to applications55
78.Filing of applications seeking parenting orders during Christmas school holiday period56
79.Procedure before filing application56
80.Fixing hearing date57
81.Attendance by electronic communication58
82.Attendance of party or witness in prison59
Division 2 — Hearings for interim and procedural applications
83.Matters to be considered for interim orders60
84.Affidavits60
85.Hearing time for interim or procedural application61
86.Party’s failure to attend hearing61
Division 3 — Applications without notice
87.Application without notice61
88.Necessary procedural orders62
Division 4 — Hearing on papers in absence of parties
89.Request for hearing in absence of parties62
90.Objection to hearing in absence of parties63
91.Court decision not to proceed in absence of parties63
92.Procedure for hearing in absence of parties63
Division 5 — Postponement of interim hearing
93.Administrative postponement of interim hearing64
Division 6 — Application for certain orders
94.Application for suppression or non‑publication order65
Part 6 — Parties
Division 1 — General
95.Term used: party66
96.Necessary parties66
Division 2 — Adding or removing party
97.Adding party67
98.Removing party67
99.Intervention by person seeking to become party67
100.Intervention by person entitled to intervene68
101.Notice of constitutional matter68
Division 3 — Case guardian
102.Term used: manager of the affairs of a party69
103.Conducting case by case guardian69
104.Who may be case guardian69
105.Appointment, replacement or removal of case guardian69
106.Attorney General may nominate case guardian70
107.Notice of appointment of case guardian70
108.Costs of case guardian70
109.Duties of case guardian71
Division 4 — Progress of case after death
110.Death of party71
Division 5 — Progress of case after bankruptcy or personal insolvency agreement
111.Terms used72
112.Notice of bankruptcy or personal insolvency agreement73
113.Notice under rule 112(1)(b)73
114.Notice under rule 112(1)(c)73
115.Notice of bankruptcy proceedings74
116.Notice of application under Bankruptcy Act section 139A74
117.Official name of trustee75
Part 7 — Service
Division 1 — General
118.Application of Part77
119.Service77
120.Discretion regarding service77
121.Service of documents77
122.Service of filed documents79
Division 2 — Special service
123.Special service80
124.Special service by hand80
125.Special service by post or electronic means81
126.Special service through lawyer81
127.Special service on persons with disability81
128.Special service on prisoners82
129.Special service on corporations82
Division 3 — Ordinary service
130.Ordinary service82
Division 4 — Proof of service
131.Proof of service83
132.Proof of special service84
133.Evidence of identity84
Division 5 — Other matters about service
134.Service by electronic means84
135.When service is taken to have been carried out85
136.Service with conditions or dispensing with service85
Division 6 — Service in non‑convention country
137.Service in non‑convention country86
138.Proof of service in non‑convention country87
Part 8 — Right to be heard, address for service and submission of notices
Division 1 — Right to be heard and representation
139.Right to be heard and representation88
140.Independent children’s lawyer88
141.Lawyer: conflicting interests89
142.Lawyer: ceasing to act89
Division 2 — Address for service
143.Address for service89
144.Change of address for service90
Division 3 — Submitting notices
145.Submitting notices90
Part 9 — Response and reply
Division 1 — Response to initiating application
146.Response to initiating application92
147.Response objecting to jurisdiction92
Division 2 — Reply to response to initiating application
148.Applicant to reply to response to initiating application93
149.Additional party to reply to response to initiating application93
Division 3 — Response to application in a case
150.Response to application in a case94
151.Affidavit must be filed with response to application in a case94
152.Affidavit may be filed in reply to response to application in a case94
Division 4 — Filing and service
153.Time for filing and service of response or reply94
Part 10 — Ending case without trial
Division 1 — Offers to settle
Subdivision 1 — General
154.How to make offer96
155.Open and without prejudice offer96
156.How to withdraw offer97
157.How to accept offer97
158.Counter‑offer97
Subdivision 2 — Offers to settle in property cases
159.Compulsory offer to settle97
160.Withdrawal of offer98
Division 2 — Discontinuing case
161.Term used: case98
162.Discontinuing case98
Division 3 — Summary orders and separate decisions
163.Application for summary orders99
164.Application for separate decision99
165.What court may order under this Division100
Division 4 — Consent orders
166.How to apply for consent order100
167.Consent parenting orders and allegations of abuse or family violence101
168.Notice to superannuation trustee102
169.Dealing with consent order103
170.Lapsing of respondent’s consent103
Part 11 — Case management
Division 1 — Court’s powers of case management
171.General powers104
172.Failure to comply with legislative provision or order106
173.Relief from orders107
174.Certificate of vexatious proceedings order108
175.Application for leave to institute proceedings after vexatious proceedings order made108
176.Dismissal for want of prosecution109
Division 2 — Limiting issues
Subdivision 1 — Admissions
177.Request to admit110
178.Notice disputing fact or document111
179.Withdrawing admission111
Subdivision 2 — Amendment
180.Amendment by party or court order111
181.Time limit for amendment112
182.Amending document113
183.Response to amended document113
184.Disallowance of amendment113
Division 3 — Venue
Subdivision 1 — Open court and chambers
185.Cases in chambers113
Subdivision 2 — Transferring case
186.Transfer to another court or registry114
187.Factors that may be considered for transfer114
Subdivision 3 — Transfer of court file
188.Transfer between courts115
Part 12 — Court events
Division 1 — Application of Part
189.Application of Part116
Division 2 — Specific court events
190.Property case: exchange of documents before first court date116
191.Exchange of documents before conciliation conference118
192.Conduct of conciliation conference118
Division 3 — Attendance at court events
193.Party’s attendance119
194.Attendance by electronic communication119
195.Failure to attend court events119
Division 4 — Adjournment and postponement of procedural hearings
196.Administrative postponement of procedural hearing120
Part 13 — Disclosure
Division 1 — Disclosure between parties
Subdivision 1 — General duty of disclosure
197.General duty of disclosure121
Subdivision 2 — Duty of disclosure in financial cases
198.Purpose of this Subdivision121
199.Full and frank disclosure121
200.Financial statement123
201.Amendment of financial statement124
Division 2 — Duty to disclose documents
Subdivision 1 — Disclosure of documents for all cases
202.Duty to disclose documents124
203.Use of documents124
204.Inspection of documents125
205.Production of original documents125
206.Disclosure by inspection of documents125
207.Costs of inspection125
208.Documents that need not be produced126
209.Objection to production126
210.Consequence of non‑disclosure126
211.Undertaking by party127
212.Time for filing undertaking128
Subdivision 2 — Disclosure of documents for certain applications
213.Application of Subdivision128
214.Party may seek order about disclosure129
Subdivision 3 — Disclosure of documents: initiating applications
215.Application of Subdivision129
216.Disclosure by service of list of documents130
217.Disclosure by inspection of documents131
218.Application for disclosure order131
219.Costs of compliance133
220.Electronic disclosure133
Division 3 — Answers to specific questions
221.Application of Division133
222.Service of specific questions134
223.Answering specific questions134
224.Orders in relation to specific questions135
Division 4 — Information from non‑parties
225.Purpose of Division135
226.Employment information136
Part 14 — Property orders
227.Orders about property137
228.Service of application138
229.Inspection138
230.Application for Anton Piller order138
231.Application for Mareva order139
232.Notice to superannuation trustee140
233.Notice about intervention141
Part 15 — Evidence
Division 1 — Children
234.Restriction on children’s evidence142
235.Family reports142
Division 2 — Affidavits
236.No general right to file affidavit143
237.Reliance on affidavits143
238.Form of affidavit143
239.Making affidavit144
240.Affidavit of illiterate, blind or other person incapable of signing affidavit144
241.Documents attached145
242.Striking out objectionable material146
243.Notice to attend for cross‑examination146
244.Deponent’s attendance and expenses147
Division 3 — Subpoenas
Subdivision 1 — General
245.Terms used147
246.Issuing subpoena147
247.Subpoena not to issue in certain circumstances149
248.Amendment of subpoena149
249.Service149
250.Conduct money and witness fees151
251.When compliance is not required151
252.Discharge of subpoena obligation152
253.Objection to subpoena152
Subdivision 2 — Production of documents and access by parties
254.Application153
255.Compliance with subpoena153
256.Right to inspect and copy documents154
257.Objections relating to production of documents155
258.Court permission to inspect documents156
259.Production of document from another court157
260.Return of documents produced157
Subdivision 3 — Non‑compliance with subpoena
261.Non‑compliance with subpoena158
Division 4 — Assessors
262.Application of Division158
263.Appointing assessor158
264.Assessor’s report159
265.Remuneration of assessor159
Division 5 — Expert evidence
Subdivision 1 — General
266.Term used: expert’s report160
267.Application of Division160
268.Purpose of this Division161
Subdivision 2 — Single expert witness
269.Appointment of single expert witness by parties162
270.Order for single expert witness162
271.Orders that court may make163
272.Single expert witness’s fees and expenses164
273.Single expert witness’s report164
274.Appointing another expert witness164
275.Cross‑examination of single expert witness165
Subdivision 3 — Permission for expert’s evidence
276.Permission for expert’s reports and evidence165
277.Application for permission for expert witness165
Subdivision 4 — Instructions and disclosure of expert’s report
278.Application of Subdivision167
279.Instructions to expert witness167
280.Mandatory disclosure of expert’s report168
281.Provision of information about fees168
282.Application for provision of information168
283.Failure to disclose report169
Subdivision 5 — Expert witness’s duties and rights
284.Expert witness’s duty to court169
285.Expert witness’s right to seek orders171
286.Expert witness’s evidence in chief171
287.Form of expert’s report171
288.Content of expert’s report172
289.Consequences of non‑compliance174
Subdivision 6 — Clarification of single expert witness reports
290.Purpose of this Subdivision174
291.Conference174
292.Questions to single expert witnesses175
293.Single expert witness answers176
294.Single expert witness costs176
295.Application for directions177
Subdivision 7 — Evidence from 2 or more expert witnesses
296.Application of Subdivision177
297.Conference of expert witnesses177
298.Conduct of trial with expert witnesses179
Division 6 — Other matters about evidence
299.Court may call evidence179
300.Order for examination of witness180
301.Letters of request180
302.Transcript receivable in evidence181
303.Notice to produce181
Part 16 — Principles for conducting child‑related proceedings
304.Terms used182
305.Application of Part182
306.Consent for case to be treated as child‑related proceedings182
307.Application for case commenced by application before 1 July 2006 to be treated as child‑related proceeding182
Part 17 — Orders and undertakings
Division 1 — Orders
308.When order is made183
309.When order must be entered183
310.Entry of orders184
311.Varying or setting aside orders184
312.Varying or setting aside reasons for judgment185
313.Rate of interest185
314.Order for payment of money185
315.Order for payment of fine186
Division 2 — Undertakings
316.Undertakings186
Part 18 — Powers of registrars
Division 1 — General
317.Term used: registrar188
318.Exercise of functions188
319.Registrars not required to give reasons188
320.Protection and immunity188
Division 2 — Delegation of judicial power to registrars
321.Delegation of powers to registrars189
322.Applications to review exercises of powers and performance of functions by registrars191
323.Power of Court on review192
Part 19 — Party and party costs
Division 1 — General
324.Application of Part193
325.Interest on outstanding costs193
Division 2 — Obligations of lawyer about costs
326.Duty to inform about costs193
327.Notification of costs194
Division 3 — Security for costs
328.Application for security for costs195
329.Order for security for costs196
330.Finalising security196
Division 4 — Costs orders
331.Order for costs197
332.Costs order for cases in other courts197
333.Costs orders against lawyers198
334.Notice of costs order198
Division 5 — Calculation of costs
335.Method of calculating costs199
336.Maximum amount of party and party costs recoverable200
Division 6 — Claiming and disputing costs
Subdivision 1 — Itemised costs account
337.Request for itemised costs account200
338.Service of lawyer’s itemised costs account200
339.Lawyer’s itemised costs account201
340.Disputing itemised costs account201
341.Assessment of disputed costs202
342.Amendment of itemised costs account and notice disputing itemised costs account202
Subdivision 2 — Assessment process
343.Fixing date for first court event202
344.Notification of hearing203
345.Settlement conference203
346.Preliminary assessment203
347.Objection to preliminary assessment amount204
348.If no objection to preliminary assessment204
349.Assessment hearing204
350.Powers of registrar205
351.Assessment principles206
352.Allowance for matters not specified207
353.Neglect or delay before registrar208
354.Costs assessment order: costs account not disputed208
355.Setting aside costs assessment order209
Division 7 — Specific costs matters
356.Costs in Magistrates Court209
357.Charge for each page210
358.Proportion of costs210
359.Costs for reading210
360.Postage within Australia210
361.Waiting and travelling time210
362.Agent’s fees211
363.Costs of cases not started together211
364.Certificate as to counsel212
365.Lawyer as counsel: party and party costs212
366.Lawyer as counsel: assessment of fees212
Division 8 — Review of assessment
367.Timing for filing application for review213
368.Timing for filing application for review214
369.Hearing of application214
Part 20 — Enforcement of financial orders and obligations
Division 1 — General
370.Enforceable obligations215
371.When agreement may be enforced216
372.When child support liability may be enforced216
373.Who may enforce obligation217
374.Enforcing obligation to pay money218
375.Affidavit to be filed for enforcement order218
376.General enforcement powers of court219
377.Enforcement order220
378.Discharging, suspending or varying enforcement order220
Division 2 — Information for aiding enforcement
Subdivision 1 — Processes for aiding enforcement
379.Processes for obtaining financial information221
Subdivision 2 — Enforcement hearings
380.Enforcement hearing221
381.Obligations of payer222
382.Subpoena of witness222
383.Failure concerning financial statement or enforcement hearing222
Division 3 — Enforcement warrants
Subdivision 1 — General
384.Term used: affected person223
385.Request for enforcement warrant223
386.Duration of enforcement warrant225
387.Enforcement officer’s responsibilities225
388.Directions for enforcement226
389.Effect of enforcement warrant227
390.Advertising before sale227
391.Sale of property at reasonable price228
392.Conditions of sale of property229
393.Result of sale of property under enforcement warrant229
394.Payee’s responsibilities230
395.Orders for real property231
Subdivision 2 — Claims by person affected by enforcement warrant
396.Notice of claim232
397.Payee to admit or dispute claim233
398.Admitting claim233
399.Denial or no response to claim233
400.Hearing of application234
Division 4 — Third party debt notice
401.Application of Division234
402.Money deposited in financial institution234
403.Request for third party debt notice235
404.Service of third party debt notice235
405.General effect of third party debt notice236
406.Employer’s obligations236
407.Duration of third party debt notice237
408.Response to third party debt notice237
409.Discharge of third party debt notice238
410.Claim by affected person238
411.Cessation of employment238
412.Compliance with third party debt notice239
Division 5 — Sequestration of property
413.Application for sequestration of property240
414.Order for sequestration240
415.Order relating to sequestration241
416.Procedural orders for sequestration241
Division 6 — Receivership
417.Application for appointment of receiver242
418.Appointment and powers of receiver243
419.Security243
420.Accounts243
421.Objection to accounts244
422.Removal of receiver244
423.Compliance with orders and rules244
Division 7 — Enforcement of obligations other than an obligation to pay money
424.Application for enforcement orders245
425.Warrant for possession of real property245
426.Warrant for delivery245
427.Warrant for seizure and detention of property246
Division 8 — Other provisions about enforcement
428.Service of order246
429.Certificate for payments under maintenance order246
430.Enforcement by or against non‑party247
431.Powers of enforcement officer247
Part 21 — Enforcement of parenting orders, contravention of orders and contempt
Division 1 — Applications for enforcement of orders, contravention of orders and contempt of court
432.Application248
433.How to apply for order248
434.Application made or continued by Marshal250
435.Contempt in court room250
436.Fixing hearing date250
437.Response to application250
438.Failure of respondent to attend250
439.Procedure at hearing251
Division 2 — Compliance with parenting orders
440.Duties of program provider251
441.Relisting for hearing251
Division 3 — Location and recovery orders
442.Application of Division252
443.Fixing hearing date252
444.Service of recovery order252
445.Application for directions for execution of recovery order252
Division 4 — Warrants for arrest
446.Application for warrant253
447.Execution of warrant254
448.Duration of warrant254
449.Procedure after arrest254
450.Application for release or setting aside256
Part 22 — Appeals
Division 1 — Preliminary
451.Application of Part257
Division 2 — Starting appeal and procedural hearing
452.Starting appeal257
453.Time for appeal257
454.Parties to appeal257
455.Service258
456.Cross‑appeal258
457.Time for cross‑appeal258
458.Amendment of notice of appeal258
459.Notice of contention258
460.Stay259
461.Application for leave to appeal259
462.Procedural hearing259
463.Attendance at procedural hearing260
464.Procedural orders for conduct of appeal260
465.Documents for appeal hearing if appeal books not required261
Division 3 — Powers of the appeal judge and conduct of appeal
466.Non‑attendance by party261
467.Attendance by electronic communication262
468.Attendance of party in prison263
469.Subpoenas263
Division 4 — Applications in relation to appeals
470.Application in relation to appeal264
471.Hearing date for application264
Division 5 — Concluding appeal, application for leave to appeal or application in relation to appeal
472.Consent orders on appeal264
473.Discontinuance of appeal or application264
474.Dismissal of appeal and application for non‑compliance or delay265
Division 6 — Costs orders
475.Order for costs266
Part 23 — Registration of documents
Division 1 — Registration of agreements, orders and child support debts
476.Registration of agreements267
477.Registration of State child orders under Act or Family Law Act267
478.Registration of de facto maintenance orders under Family Law Act268
479.Registration of debt due to Commonwealth under child support legislation268
Division 2 — Parenting plans
480.Requirements for registration of agreement revoking registered parenting plan268
481.Court may require service or additional information269
482.Application may be dealt with in chambers269
Part 24 — Documents, filing, registry
Division 1 — Requirements for documents
483.General requirements270
484.Corporation as party271
485.Change of name of party271
486.Approved forms272
Division 2 — Filing documents
487.How document may be filed272
488.Filing document by facsimile or email274
489.Originals of sworn documents filed by electronic means275
490.Rejection of documents275
491.Documents filed other than by means of ECMS276
492.Filing notice of payment into court276
Division 3 — Registry records
493.Removal of document from registry276
494.Searching court record and copying documents277
495.Exhibits278
Part 25 — Applications under Corporations Act and Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act
496.Term used: Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act279
497.Application279
498.Application of Corporations Rules279
499.Modification of Corporations Rules279
500.Application under Corporations Act or Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act279
501.Transfer of cases under Corporations Act or Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act280
502.Fixing hearing date280
Part 26 — Cases to which Trans‑Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 (Commonwealth) applies
503.Application of Federal Court Rules 2011 (Commonwealth) Division 34.4281
504.Modification of Federal Court Rules 2011 (Commonwealth) Division 34.4281
Part 27 — Cases to which Bankruptcy Act applies
Division 1 — Preliminary
505.Application of Part282
Division 2 — General
506.Bankruptcy application and bankruptcy application in a case282
507.Leave to be heard283
508.Appearance at application or examination283
509.Opposition to bankruptcy application or bankruptcy application in a case284
Division 3 — Examinations
510.Term used: relevant person284
511.Application for summons (Bankruptcy Act s. 81)284
512.Hearing of application285
513.Requirements of summons285
514.Service of summons285
515.Failure to attend examination286
516.Application for discharge of summons286
Part 28 — Arbitration
Division 1 — Disclosure relating to arbitration
517.General duty of disclosure287
518.Duty of disclosure — documents289
519.Use of documents289
520.Party may require production of documents290
521.Document that need not be produced290
522.Objection to production290
523.Disclosure by giving a list of documents291
524.Disclosure by inspection of documents293
525.Applications for orders relating to disclosure294
526.Costs of compliance296
527.Electronic disclosure296
Division 2 — Subpoenas
Subdivision 1 — General
528.Application of Division297
529.Terms used297
530.Issuing a subpoena297
531.Subpoena must not be issued in certain circumstances299
532.Amendment of subpoena299
533.Service299
534.Conduct money and witness fees301
535.When compliance is not required301
536.Duration of subpoena302
537.Objection to subpoena302
Subdivision 2 — Production of documents and access by parties
538.Application of Subdivision303
539.Compliance with subpoena303
540.Right to inspect and copy documents304
541.Objections relating to production of documents305
542.Court permission to inspect documents306
543.Production of document in possession of a court306
544.Return or destruction of document produced307
Subdivision 3 — Non‑compliance with subpoena
545.Non‑compliance with subpoena307
Division 3 — Other rules relating to arbitration
546.Referral of question of law by arbitrator308
547.Referral of other matters to court by arbitrator308
548.Informing court about awards made in arbitration308
549.Registration of awards made in arbitration309
550.Response to applications in relation to arbitration309
551.Arbitrator to notify court when certain arbitrations end309
Part 29 — Repeal and transitional provisions
552.Terms used310
553.Family Court Rules 1998 repealed310
554.Completion of cases commenced310
555.Continuing effect of things done310
Part 30 — Consequential amendment
556.Family Court (Surrogacy) Rules 2009 amended311
5.Application of Family Court Rules 2021311
Schedule 1 — Pre‑action procedures
Division 1 — Financial cases (property settlement and maintenance)
1.General312
2.Compliance314
3.Pre‑action procedures315
4.Disclosure and exchange of correspondence316
5.Expert witnesses319
6.Lawyers’ obligations320
Division 2 — Parenting cases
7.General321
8.Compliance323
9.Pre‑action procedures324
10.Disclosure and exchange of correspondence325
11.Expert witnesses325
12.Lawyers’ obligations326
Schedule 2 — Costs
Division 1 — Work done on or after 1 January 2019
Subdivision 1 — Preliminary
1.Application328
Subdivision 2 — Costs allowable for lawyer’s work done and services performed
Subdivision 3 — Costs allowable for counsel’s work done and services performed
Subdivision 4 — Basic composite amount for undefended divorce
Subdivision 5 — Basic composite amount for request for enforcement warrant or third party debt notice
Division 2 — Work done up to 30 December 2018
2.Continued application of the Family Law Rules 2004 (Commonwealth)331
Schedule 3 — Conduct money and witness fees
Division 1 — Conduct money
Division 2 — Witness fees
Notes
Compilation table334
Defined terms
Family Court Act 1997
Family Court Rules 2021
These rules come into operation as follows —
(a)Part 1 Division 1 — on the day on which these rules are published in the Gazette;
(b)the rest of the rules — on the later of —
(i)the day after that day; and
(ii)23 August 2021.
These rules apply to the federal and non‑federal jurisdictions of the Family Court of Western Australia and the Magistrates Court throughout Western Australia in relation to matters contained in these rules.
In these rules —
Act means the Family Court Act 1997;
address for service means the street address, postal address or email address given by a party where documents may be left for the party or to where documents may be sent for the party;
affidavit means a document that complies with rules 238, 239 and 483;
appeal —
(a)means an appeal to the Court from a court of summary jurisdiction; and
(b)includes a cross‑appeal;
appellant includes a cross‑appellant;
applicant includes a cross‑applicant who is seeking other orders in response to an application;
application includes —
(a)an initiating application; and
(b)an application in a case; and
(c)an application for divorce; and
(d)an application for consent orders; and
(e)an application for contempt; and
(f)an application alleging a contravention of an order of the Court or of a provision of the Act or of the Family Law Act; and
(g)a notice of appeal; and
(h)a cross‑application set out in a response to an application (response to an initiating application) or response to an application in a case;
approved form, in relation to a provision of these rules, means a form approved under rule 486 for the purposes of the provision;
assessment hearing means a hearing conducted by a registrar at which the amount to be paid on an itemised costs account is assessed;
attend means to present at a court event (including by electronic communication);
bankrupt has the meaning given by the Bankruptcy Act section 5(1);
Bankruptcy Act means the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Commonwealth);
bankruptcy case means a case in which a court has jurisdiction in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Act section 35, 35A or 35B;
Bankruptcy Regulations means the Bankruptcy Regulations 2021 (Commonwealth);
case means a proceeding under the Act, the Family Law Act, the regulations, these rules or any other law that vests jurisdiction in a court;
case guardian —
(a)means a person appointed by the court under rule 105 to manage and conduct a case for a child or a person with a disability; and
(b)includes a next friend, guardian ad litem, tutor or litigation guardian;
child‑related proceedings includes child‑related proceedings as defined in the Family Law Act section 69ZM;
Child Support Act means, as the case requires, either or both of —
(a)the Child Support (Assessment) Act; and
(b)the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act;
Child Support Agency means the agency of the Commonwealth Department of Social Services that administers a Child Support Act;
child support agreement has the meaning given by the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 81;
child support application or appeal means an application or appeal in which the only orders sought are under a Child Support Act;
child support assessment includes —
(a)an administrative assessment for child support under the Child Support (Assessment) Act Part 5; and
(b)an amended assessment to give effect to an order;
child support liability means an amount owing under a Child Support Act (including a child support assessment or registered child support agreement) that may be registered for collection by the Child Support Agency;
Child Support Registrar means the Child Support Registrar under the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act section 10;
conduct money means money paid by a party to a witness, before the witness appears at a court event for the party, for —
(a)travel between the witness’s place of residence or employment and the court; and
(b)if necessary, reasonable accommodation expenses for the witness; and
(c)in the case of a subpoena for production, the reasonable costs of complying with the subpoena;
contact has the same meaning as in the Family Law Act Part VII;
corporation includes —
(a)a company; and
(b)a body corporate; and
(c)an unincorporated body that may sue or be sued or hold property in the name of its secretary or of an officer of the body appointed for that purpose;
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth);
Corporations Rules means the Federal Court (Corporations) Rules 2000 (Commonwealth);
costs —
(a)means an amount paid or to be paid for work done by a lawyer; and
(b)includes expenses;
costs agreement means a written agreement between a party and the party’s lawyer, about the costs to be charged by the lawyer for work done for a case for the party, in accordance with —
(a)for an agreement entered into before 1 July 2008, Family Law Rules 2004 (Commonwealth) Schedule 6 clause 6.15, as applied by Schedule 2 Division 2 clause 2; or
(b)for an agreement entered into after 30 June 2008, the law of a State or Territory;
costs assessment order means an order made by a registrar fixing the total amount payable for costs under rule 348(1), 349(3) or 354(2);
costs notice means a brochure, approved by the executive manager of the Court appointed under section 25(1)(c) of the Act, about costs under Part 19 or Schedule 2;
counsel includes a barrister and a solicitor acting as a barrister;
court means —
(a)the Court; and
(b)the Magistrates Court in the exercise of —
(i)the federal jurisdiction with which it is invested by the Family Law Act; and
(ii)the non‑federal jurisdiction with which it is invested by the Act;
court event includes —
(a)a hearing or part of a hearing; and
(b)a trial or part of a trial; and
(c)a conference; and
(d)an attendance with a family consultant performing the functions of a family consultant; and
(e)an attendance with a single expert witness performing the functions of a single expert witness;
cross‑vesting law means a law relating to cross‑vesting jurisdiction of —
(a)the Commonwealth, other than the Corporations Act Part 9.6A; or
(b)a State or Territory;
declaration as to validity, in relation to a marriage, divorce or annulment, means an order that the marriage, divorce or nullity order is valid or invalid;
discontinue, in relation to a case, means to withdraw all or part of the case;
draft consent order means a document that complies with rule 166(3);
each person to be served has the meaning given in rule 122(4);
earnings include —
(a)wages, salary, fees, bonus, commission or overtime pay; and
(b)other money payable in addition to or instead of wages or salary; and
(c)a pension, annuity or vested superannuation money; and
(d)money payable instead of leave; and
(e)royalties; and
(f)retirement benefits due or accruing; and
(g)any salary sacrifice arrangement; and
(h)performance‑based incentives and non‑monetary benefits;
ECMS means the electronic case management system for the management of proceedings in Western Australian courts and tribunals;
electronic has the meaning given in the Courts and Tribunals (Electronic Processes Facilitation) Act 2013 section 5;
electronic communication means —
(a)a video link; or
(b)an audio link; or
(c)another appropriate electronic means of communication;
eligible carer has the meaning given by the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 7B;
enforcement officer includes —
(a)a Marshal, a delegate of the Marshal or any other officer of the court; or
(b)a person appointed by the court for the purpose of enforcing an order;
enforcement order —
(a)means an order requiring a person to comply with an obligation; and
(b)includes the following —
(i)an enforcement warrant;
(ii)a third party debt notice;
(iii)an order for the seizure and sale of real or personal property;
(iv)an order varying an enforcement order;
expense means an amount paid to a third party (other than a lawyer) for work done in a case or services provided for a party;
expert means an independent person who has relevant specialised knowledge based on the person’s training, study or experience;
expert witness means an expert who has been instructed to give or prepare independent evidence for the purpose of a case;
family report means a report concerning the best interests of a child, prepared under section 73 of the Act or the Family Law Act section 55A(2) or 62G;
filing registry means the registry of the court in which a case has commenced or to which a case is transferred;
final order means the order of the court that finally decides a case commenced by an initiating application;
financial agreement means an agreement that is a financial agreement under section 205ZN, 205ZO or 205ZP of the Act, or the Family Law Act section 90B, 90C or 90D, other than an ante‑nuptial (pre‑marriage) or post‑nuptial (after marriage) settlement to which the Family Law Act section 85A applies;
financial case means a case (other than an appeal) involving an application —
(a)relating to the maintenance of 1 of the parties to a marriage, or to a de facto relationship after the breakdown of the relationship, including an application for permission to start a spouse maintenance case; or
(b)relating to the property of the parties to a marriage, or to a de facto relationship after the breakdown of the relationship, or of either of them, including —
(i)an application for permission to start a property case; and
(ii)an application to set aside an order altering property interests; and
(iii)an application in relation to a financial agreement or termination agreement; and
(iv)an application in relation to a transaction to defeat a claim;
or
(c)relating to the vested bankruptcy property in relation to a bankrupt party to a marriage, or to a de facto relationship after the breakdown of the relationship; or
(d)relating to the maintenance of children; or
(e)under the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 116, 123 or 129; or
(f)relating to child‑bearing expenses; or
(g)for the purposes of Part 20 Division 1 — that includes an application for the enforcement of a financial obligation;
financial orders includes orders in relation to —
(a)maintenance; or
(b)a child support application under the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 116, 123 or 129; or
(c)contribution to child‑bearing expenses; or
(d)property;
fresh application means any of the following applications (including compliance with pre‑action procedures associated with them) made after 30 June 2008 —
(a)an application for final orders;
(b)an application that includes an application for final orders;
(c)an application in a case filed in connection with a fresh application;
(d)an application for divorce;
(e)an application for consent orders;
(f)a contempt, contravention or enforcement application, unless an allegation of the contempt, contravention or breach relates to an interim or interlocutory order made in a pending or ongoing application for final orders filed before 1 July 2008;
(g)an application relating to contempt in the face of the court arising from an event occurring after 30 June 2008;
(h)an appeal, and a re‑hearing following an appeal;
(i)an application for review of final orders made by a registrar;
hearing means the process, other than a trial, of determining —
(a)an application in a case; or
(b)an application for divorce; or
(c)an application mentioned in rule 74; or
(d)part of a case; or
(e)an enforcement application;
itemised costs account means a document prepared in accordance with rule 339;
judicial officer includes a judge, a registrar, and a magistrate (including a family law magistrate);
lawyer means a person who is enrolled as a legal practitioner of —
(a)a federal court; or
(b)the Supreme Court of a State or Territory;
legislative provision includes —
(a)a provision in an applicable Act; and
(b)these rules; and
(c)the regulations; and
(d)any other applicable regulations made under the Act or the Family Law Act; and
(e)any conventions mentioned in a regulation made under the Act or the Family Law Act;
maintenance application means an initiating application in which the only orders sought are for maintenance (including a variation of a previous maintenance order) or a contribution towards child‑bearing expenses;
medical procedure application means an initiating application seeking an order authorising a major medical procedure for a child that is not for the purpose of treating a bodily malfunction or disease;
member benefit statement means a statement issued by or on behalf of the trustee of a superannuation fund setting out a person’s entitlement to benefits from the fund as at a date specified in the statement;
non‑convention country means a country with which Australia does not have a convention as to service of documents;
oath includes affirmation;
order, relating to a passport, includes —
(a)an order permitting a child to leave Australia; and
(b)an order relating to the issue, control or surrender of a passport;
parenting case means a case in which the application seeks a parenting order or a child‑related injunction under the Act or the Family Law Act, other than an application for child maintenance;
party has the meaning given in rule 95;
payee means a person who is entitled to take action against a payer to enforce an obligation to pay money, created by an assessment, order or agreement, with which the payer has not complied;
payer means a person who has an obligation to pay money to, or do an act to financially assist, a payee under an assessment, order or agreement;
permission means the leave or consent of the court;
person includes a corporation, authority or party;
person with a disability, in relation to a case, means a person who, because of a physical or mental disability —
(a)does not understand the nature or possible consequences of the case; or
(b)is not capable of adequately conducting, or giving adequate instruction for the conduct of, the case;
pre‑action procedure means the set of principles and procedures (the text of which is set out in Schedule 1) with which the parties must comply before starting a case;
prescribed child welfare authority means the CEO as defined in the Children and Community Services Act 2004 section 3;
prescribed property, for a person, means —
(a)clothes, bed, bedding, kitchen furniture (except an automatic dishwasher or microwave) and washing machine; and
(b)ordinary tools of trade, plant and equipment, professional instruments and reference books, the combined value of which is not more than $5 000;
property includes —
(a)real and personal property; and
(b)superannuation;
property case means a case in which orders (other than consent orders) are sought relating to —
(a)the property of the parties to a marriage, or to a de facto relationship after the breakdown of the relationship, or of either of them; or
(b)the vested bankruptcy property in relation to a bankrupt party to a marriage, or to a de facto relationship after the breakdown of the relationship;
protected earnings rate means the actual threshold income amount that would apply to a payer under the Bankruptcy Act Part VI Division 4B if the payer were a bankrupt;
registered, in relation to a document, means accepted for filing;
regulations means, as the case requires —
(a)the Family Court Regulations 1998; and
(b)the Family Law Regulations 1984 (Commonwealth); and
(c)any other applicable regulations made under the Act or the Family Law Act;
seal means a stamp or other impression (including, in the case of an electronic document, an electronic or virtual stamp) that the court puts on a document to indicate that the document has been issued by the court;
sealed copy means a document that bears a court seal;
security for costs means the security that a respondent may ask the court to order the applicant to pay for costs that may be awarded to the respondent;
serve means to give or deliver a document to a person in the manner required by these rules;
service by electronic means includes service by facsimile, email or any other form of electronic transmission;
sign means write a person’s name, including a mark by a person who is unable to write their name;
single expert witness means an expert witness who is appointed by agreement between the parties or by the court to give evidence or prepare a report on an issue;
special federal matter has the meaning given by the Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross‑vesting) Act 1987 (Commonwealth) section 3(1);
step means a procedural act taken in the conduct or management of a case;
superannuation information form means a form approved under rule 486 for obtaining information from the trustee of a superannuation fund in family law cases;
sworn, for an affidavit or evidence, means an oath by a witness that the witness is telling the truth;
third party debt notice means a notice given to a third party who holds money for, or owes money to, a payer demanding that the money be paid to a payee to satisfy an obligation that the payer owes the payee;
third party debtor means a person from whom a payee claims a debt that is owed to the payer;
transcript means a written or electronic transcription of a hearing or a trial prepared by a contractor providing transcription services to the court for the case;
trial means the process of determining a case started by an initiating application specified in item 1 of the Table to rule 26;
undertaking as to damages has the meaning given in rule 316(4);
unreasonable, in relation to costs for work done in a case, means costs for work that would not normally be done in a case of a particular type;
work done for a case includes work done in relation to the case (including in relation to the pre‑action procedure) and work done in anticipation of starting the case;
working day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday;
written notice means a document (for example, a letter) that complies with rule 483(1) or (2).
The main purpose of these rules is to ensure that each case is resolved in a just and timely manner at a cost to the parties and the court that is reasonable in the circumstances of the case.
The court must apply these rules to promote the main purpose, and actively manage each case by —
(a)encouraging and helping parties to consider and use a dispute resolution method rather than having the case resolved by trial; and
(b)having regard to unresolved risks or other concerns about the welfare of a child involved; and
(c)identifying the issues in dispute early in the case and separating and disposing of any issues that do not need full investigation and trial; and
(d)at an early stage, identifying and matching types of cases to the most appropriate case management procedure; and
(e)setting realistic timetables, and monitoring and controlling the progress of each case; and
(f)ensuring that parties and their lawyers comply with these rules, any practice directions and procedural orders; and
(g)considering whether the likely benefits of taking a step justify the cost of that step; and
(h)dealing with as many aspects of the case as possible on the same occasion; and
(i)minimising the need for parties and their lawyers to attend court by, if appropriate, relying on documents; and
(j)having regard to any barriers to a party’s understanding of anything relevant to the case.
To achieve the main purpose, the court must apply these rules in a way that —
(a)deals with each case fairly, justly and in a timely manner; and
(b)encourages parties to negotiate a settlement, if appropriate; and
(c)is proportionate to the issues in a case and their complexity, and the likely costs of the case; and
(d)promotes the saving of costs; and
(e)gives an appropriate share of the court’s resources to a case, taking into account the needs of other cases; and
(f)promotes family relationships after resolution of the dispute, where possible.
8.Responsibility of parties and lawyers in achieving main purpose
(1)Each party has a responsibility to promote and achieve the main purpose, including —
(a)ensuring that any orders sought are reasonable in the circumstances of the case and that the court has the power to make those orders; and
(b)complying with the duty of disclosure; and
(c)ensuring readiness for court events; and
(d)providing realistic estimates of the length of hearings or trials; and
(e)complying with time limits; and
(f)giving notice, as soon as practicable, of an intention to apply for an adjournment or cancellation of a court event; and
(g)assisting the just, timely and cost‑effective disposal of cases; and
(h)identifying the issues genuinely in dispute in a case; and
(i)being satisfied that there is a reasonable basis for alleging, denying or not admitting a fact; and
(j)limiting evidence, including cross‑examination, to that which is relevant and necessary; and
(k)being aware of, and abiding by, the requirements of any practice direction or guideline published by the court; and
(l)complying with these rules and any orders.
(2)A lawyer for a party has a responsibility to comply, as far as possible, with subrule (1).
(3)A lawyer attending a court event for a party must —
(a)be familiar with the case; and
(b)be authorised to deal with any issue likely to arise.
Division 3 — Court’s power in all cases
9.Power of court to make orders
(1)Unless a legislative provision states otherwise, a court may make an order, on application or on the initiative of the court, in relation to any matter specified in these rules.
(2)When making an order, a court may —
(a)impose terms and conditions; and
(b)make a consequential order; and
(c)specify the consequence of failure to comply with the order; and
(d)take into account whether a party has complied with a pre‑action procedure.
10.Procedural orders in cases of doubt or difficulty
A court may make any orders that the court considers necessary if satisfied that —
(a)a legislative provision does not provide a practice or procedure; or
(b)a difficulty arises, or doubt exists, in relation to a matter of practice or procedure.
11.Court may set aside or vary order
A court may set aside or vary an order made in the exercise of a power under these rules.
12.Court may dispense with rules
(1)These rules apply unless a court, on application or the court’s own initiative, orders otherwise.
(2)A court may dispense with compliance with any of these rules at any time, before or after the occasion for compliance arises.
(3)In considering whether to make an order under this rule, a court may consider —
(a)the main purpose of these rules; and
(b)the administration of justice; and
(c)whether the application has been promptly made; and
(d)whether non‑compliance was intentional; and
(e)the effect that granting relief would have on each party and parties to other cases in the court.
13.Judicial officer hearing application
Unless a legislative provision states otherwise, an application or appeal under these rules may be listed before another judicial officer who has jurisdiction to hear the application or appeal if —
(a)these rules provide that the application or appeal is to be heard by a particular judicial officer or class of judicial officer; and
(b)that person is unavailable.
(1)Time in a case runs during a period when the filing registry is closed.
(2)If the period allowed by these rules or by an order for an action to be validly taken is 5 days or less and that period includes a day when the filing registry is closed, the day on which the registry is closed is not counted.
(3)For the calculation of time of 1 day or more from a particular day, or from the occurrence of a particular event, the particular day, or the day on which the event occurs, is not counted.
(4)If the last day for taking an action requiring attendance at a filing registry is on a day when the filing registry is closed, the action may be taken on the next day on which the filing registry is open.
15.Shortening or extending time
(1)A party may apply to the court to shorten or extend a time that is fixed under these rules or by a procedural order.
(2)A party may make an application under subrule (1) for an order extending a time to be made even though the time fixed by the rule or order has passed.
(3)A party who makes an application under subrule (1) for an extension of time may be ordered to pay any other party’s costs in relation to the application.
If a rule or order requires a person to take an action but does not specify a time by which the action is to be taken, the person must take the action as soon as practicable.
Division 5 — Court administration
(1)The Court and a court constituted by a family law magistrate must sit at the places and the times that the Chief Judge directs.
(2)The Court and a court constituted by a family law magistrate must not sit on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday unless the judicial officer constituting the court otherwise directs.
(1)The Court’s registry must be open every day, except a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.
(2)The Court’s registry must be open from 9 am to 4 pm, unless the Chief Judge otherwise directs.
19.Records, registers and indexes
(1)The Principal Registrar must —
(a)cause to be kept such records, registers and indexes as the Chief Judge directs; and
(b)ensure that every decree of a court is recorded by the proper officer of the court in a record kept for that purpose.
(2)Records, registers and indexes may be made and kept in physical format or in electronic format.
20.Documents in electronic format
(1)In this rule —
document includes —
(a)a notice, declaration, affidavit, request, form or other record of information; and
(b)an application, subpoena, warrant, order or other instrument in proceedings of the Court;
process, in relation to a document —
(a)includes give, make, file, lodge, issue, make available, register and record; but
(b)does not include serve.
(2)A requirement in these rules that a document be processed in writing, or in a written format, is satisfied if the document is processed by means of the ECMS in an electronic format that conforms to —
(a)the requirements of these rules; and
(b)the requirements and standards of the ECMS.
(3)A document that is to be signed is taken to be signed, and is authenticated for the purposes of the Courts and Tribunals (Electronic Processes Facilitation) Act 2013 section 10, if —
(a)it is processed under these rules by means of the ECMS in an electronic format that conforms to —
(i)the requirements of these rules; and
(ii)the requirements and standards of the ECMS;
and
(b)the document generates an image that shows the name of the person who is to sign it.
(4)If a document that has been filed or issued by means of the ECMS or that has been recorded in the ECMS under rule 491 is required to be produced or to be served on any person —
(a)a copy of the document may be printed from the ECMS and produced or served; and
(b)for the purposes of the Act and these rules the document is then taken to have been produced or served, as the case may be.
(5)Subrule (4) does not apply to a requirement to produce a sworn document for inspection under rule 489.
21.Relationship between this Part and specific rules
(1)This Part sets out the general rules that a court may apply in all cases.
(2)If a rule in another Part of these rules conflicts with a rule in this Part, the rule in this Part prevails.
(1)Before starting a case each prospective party to the case must comply with the pre‑action procedures set out in Schedule 1.
(2)Compliance with subrule (1) is not necessary if —
(a)only parenting orders are sought in the case; or
(b)the case involves allegations of family violence, or the risk of family violence, or fraud; or
(c)the application is urgent; or
(d)the application would be unduly prejudiced; or
(e)there has been a previous application in the same cause of action in the 12 months immediately before the start of the case; or
(f)the case is an application for divorce; or
(g)the case is a child support application or appeal; or
(h)the case involves the Court’s jurisdiction in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Act section 35 or 35B.
(1)A person must not photograph or record by electronic or mechanical means —
(a)a hearing or part of a hearing; or
(b)a trial or part of a trial; or
(c)a conference under the Act, the Family Law Act, these rules or an order of a court; or
(d)an attendance with a family consultant; or
(e)an attendance with a single expert under these rules; or
(f)a conference of experts ordered by a court; or
(g)a person who is in court premises.
Penalty for this subrule: a fine of $5 500.
(2)Subrule (1) does not apply to a photograph or recording made at the request of —
(a)a court; or
(b)in relation to an attendance with a family consultant, the family consultant; or
(c)in relation to an attendance with an expert witness, the expert; or
(d)in relation to a conference of experts, the experts.
(1)A list of cases to be heard in the court prepared by a Registry Manager may be —
(a)published in the law list in a newspaper or on the Court’s website or in another physical or electronic medium; and
(b)made available to members of the legal profession and their employees.
(2)The list may contain —
(a)subject to subrule (3), the family name of a party, but not a given name; and
(b)the file number of a case; and
(c)the name of the judicial officer for a hearing or trial; and
(d)the time and place where a named judicial officer will sit; and
(e)the general nature of an application.
(3)For a case in which the Court has jurisdiction in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Act section 35 or 35B, the list may contain the given name of a party.
(1)The seal of the Court must contain the words “The Seal of the Family Court of Western Australia”.
(2)The seal of the Court —
(a)may be impressed on a document in physical format with the use of a seal die or a rubber stamp or by a similar process; and
(b)may be attached to a document in electronic format by electronic means.
(3)A document in electronic format that is required to be sealed by the Court is taken to be sealed, and is authenticated for the purposes of the Courts and Tribunals (Electronic Processes Facilitation) Act 2013 section 10, if —
(a)the seal of the Court has been attached to the document in electronic format under subrule (2)(b); and
(b)the document generates an image which includes a facsimile of the seal of the Court.
Subject to any other provision of these rules, a person starting a case of a kind specified in column 1 of an item in the Table must file an application form as specified in column 2 of that item.
Table
|
Item |
Column 1 Kind of application |
Column 2 Application form to be filed |
|
1. |
Application seeking final orders (other than a consent order or a divorce), for example — •property settlement •parenting •maintenance •child support •medical procedures •nullity •declaration as to validity of marriage, divorce or annulment |
Initiating application |
|
2. |
Interim order sought at the same time as an application for final orders is made |
Initiating application |
|
3. |
Interim order sought after an application for final orders is made |
Application in a case |
|
4. |
Procedural, ancillary or other incidental order relating to an order or application sought at the same time as an application for final orders is made |
Initiating application |
|
5. |
Procedural, ancillary or other incidental order relating to an order or application sought after an application for final orders is made |
Application in a case |
|
6. |
Enforcement of a financial obligation or parenting order |
Application in a case |
|
7. |
Review of an order of a registrar |
Application in a case |
|
8. |
Divorce |
Application for divorce |
|
9. |
Consent order when there is no current case |
Application for consent orders |
|
10. |
Contravention of an order or other obligation affecting children |
Application — contravention |
|
11. |
Contravention of an order or other obligation not affecting children |
Application — contravention |
|
12. |
Failure to comply with a bond |
Application — contravention |
|
13. |
Contempt of court |
Application —contempt |
27.Documents to be filed with application
(1)For an application specified in column 1 of an item in the Table, a person must file the document listed in column 2 of that item, unless the document has already been filed.
Table
|
Item |
Column 1 Application |
Column 2 Documents to be filed with application |
|
1. |
Initiating application in which a parenting order is sought, or response to an initiating application in which a parenting order is sought as a new cause of action |
(a)A case information affidavit pursuant to the Case Management Guidelines; and (b)either — (i)a certificate given to the applicant by a family dispute resolution practitioner; or (ii)an exemption form under the Case Management Guidelines |
|
2. |
Response to initiating application in which a parenting order is sought, or reply to a response to initiating application in which a parenting order is sought as a new cause of action |
A case information affidavit pursuant to the Case Management Guidelines |
|
3. |
Initiating application in which a financial order is sought relating to a de facto relationship, or response to initiating application in which a financial order is sought relating to a de facto relationship as a new cause of action |
(a)The documents required by an item in this Table that applies to the application (for example, items 3 to 8); and (b)an affidavit setting out the facts relied upon to establish jurisdiction of the court |
|
4. |
Initiating application or response to initiating application in which financial orders are sought, for example, property settlement, maintenance, child support |
(a)A completed financial statement; and (b)an affidavit in support |
|
5. |
Initiating application or response to initiating application in which property settlement orders are sought, and reply responding to response to initiating application in which property orders are sought as a new cause of action |
(a)The documents specified in this column in item 3; and (b)a completed superannuation information form (attached to the financial statement) for a superannuation interest of the party filing the initiating application, response or reply to an initiating application, or if the fund to which the form relates is an accumulation fund, the 2 most recent member benefit statements received by the person relating to the fund |
|
6. |
Initiating application or response to an initiating application relying on a cross‑vesting law, or seeking an order under Part 4 Division 2 — •for a medical procedure; or •for step‑parent maintenance, if there is consent; or •for nullity of marriage; or •for a declaration as to validity of a marriage or divorce or annulment |
An affidavit in support |
|
7. |
Initiating application or response to an initiating application in which a child support application or appeal is made |
The documents specified in rule 67 for the application |
|
8. |
Application in a case or response to application in a case (other than application seeking review of a decision of a registrar) |
An affidavit in support |
|
9. |
Application for consent orders |
(a)If a financial order is sought for a de facto relationship — an affidavit setting out the facts relied upon to establish jurisdiction of the court; or (b)if the orders sought relate to a superannuation interest — proof of the value of the interest |
|
10. |
Application — contravention of an order or other obligation not affecting children |
An affidavit setting out all of the facts relied upon |
|
11. |
Application — contravention of an order or other obligation affecting children |
(a)An affidavit setting out all of the facts relied upon; and (b)either — (i)a certificate given to the applicant by the family dispute resolution practitioner under section 66H(7) of the Act or the Family Law Act section 60I(8); or (ii)an exemption form under the Case Management Guidelines |
|
12. |
Application — contempt |
An affidavit setting out all of the facts relied upon |
(2)If a document specified in the Table to subrule (1) is not in English, the person filing the document must file —
(a)a translation of the document, in English; and
(b)an affidavit, by the person who made the translation, verifying the translation and setting out the person’s qualifications to make the translation.
(3)An applicant in proceedings mentioned in the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 100(1) or the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act section 105(1) is not required to file in the court a certificate given to the applicant by a family dispute resolution practitioner under the Family Law Act section 60I(8).
A person who files an initiating application or an application for divorce must, when serving the application on the respondent, also serve a brochure approved by the executive manager of the Court appointed under section 25(1)(c) of the Act, giving information about —
(a)non‑court based family services; and
(b)the Court’s processes and services; and
(c)reconciliation.
Division 3 — Notification in certain cases
Subdivision 1 — Cases involving allegation of abuse or family violence in relation to child
This Subdivision applies to a case if an application is made to a court for a parenting order.
30.Notice of child abuse, family violence or risk of family violence
A notice of child abuse, family violence, or risk of family violence must be in the approved form.
31.Notice of family violence in existing cases
(1)This rule applies if, in a case to which this Subdivision applies —
(a)proceedings were instituted under the Act before 5 October 2013 or under the Family Law Act before 7 June 2012 (in either case the specified date); and
(b)a party to the relevant proceedings alleges that —
(i)there has been family violence by one of the parties to the proceedings; or
(ii)there is a risk of family violence by one of the parties to the proceedings;
and
(c)the party making the allegation did not file a notice of child abuse, family violence or risk of family violence before the specified date.
(2)The party making the allegation must —
(a)file a notice of child abuse, family violence or risk of family violence in the court hearing the proceedings; and
(b)serve a true copy of the notice on the party referred to in subrule (1)(b)(i) or (ii).
(3)If the alleged family violence (or risk of family violence) is abuse of a child (or risk of abuse of a child), the Registry Manager must, as soon as practicable, notify the prescribed child welfare authority.
(1)A party must file a copy of any family violence order affecting the child or a member of the child’s family —
(a)when a case starts; or
(b)as soon as practicable after the order is made.
(2)If a copy of the family violence order is not available, the party must file a written notice containing —
(a)an undertaking to file the order within a time specified in the notice; and
(b)the date of the order; and
(c)the court that made the order; and
(d)the details of the order.
(3)Subrule (2) does not apply to a party starting a case by filing an application for consent orders.
(4)If, during the case, a family violence order affecting the child or a member of the child’s family is varied, any party affected by the variation must, as soon as practicable after the order is varied, file a copy of the variation.
Subdivision 2 —Property settlement or spousal or de facto maintenance cases
33.Notification of proceeds of crime or forfeiture application
If a party to a property settlement or spousal maintenance case, or a de facto property settlement or maintenance proceedings, is required to give the Registry Manager written notice of a proceeds of crime order or forfeiture application, the party must —
(a)file the notice as soon as possible after the party is notified by the proceeds of crime authority; and
(b)if the person is required to give a document to the Registry Manager, attach the document to the notice.
(1)If the proceeds of crime authority applies to stay a property settlement or spousal maintenance case, or a de facto property settlement or maintenance proceedings, the authority must, at the same time, file a sealed copy of the proceeds of crime order or forfeiture application covering the property of the parties or either of them, if not already filed.
(2)An application to lift a stay of a property settlement or spousal maintenance case, or a de facto property settlement or maintenance proceedings, must have filed with it —
(a)proof that the proceeds of crime order has ceased to be in force or that the forfeiture application has been finally determined; and
(b)if made by a party, the written consent of the proceeds of crime authority.
35.Notification to spouse (Act s. 205ZB(3))
(1)This rule applies to a de facto partner who —
(a)has a spouse; and
(b)is a party to an application under the Act Part 5A Division 2.
(2)The de facto partner must, as soon as practicable after the filing of the application and, if applicable, any response to the application, give their spouse written notification of —
(a)the application; and
(b)any response filed to the application.
Division 1 — Application for divorce
(1)On the filing of an application for divorce, the Registry Manager must fix a date for the hearing of the application.
(2)The date fixed must be —
(a)for a joint application, at least 28 days after the application is filed; or
(b)for any other application —
(i)if the respondent is in Australia, at least 42 days after the application is filed; or
(ii)if the respondent is outside Australia, at least 56 days after the application is filed.
37.Amendment of application for divorce
An applicant may amend an application for divorce —
(a)no later than 14 days before the hearing; or
(b)within any shorter time permitted by the court or consented to by the respondent.
38.Discontinuance of application for divorce
An applicant may discontinue an application for divorce by filing and serving a notice of discontinuance at least 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing.
(1)A respondent to an application for divorce who seeks to oppose the divorce or contest the jurisdiction of the court must file a response to an application for divorce —
(a)if the respondent is served in Australia, within 28 days after the day when the application for divorce is served on the respondent; or
(b)if the respondent is served outside Australia, within 42 days after the day when the application for divorce is served on the respondent.
(2)If a respondent files a response to an application for divorce —
(a)the hearing must proceed in open court; and
(b)each party must attend the hearing or be represented at the hearing by a lawyer.
(3)If the response opposes the application for divorce on the basis that a ground has not been established then, at the hearing, the court may make directions for the further conduct of the application before a judge or a family law magistrate.
(1)If, in a response to an application for divorce, a respondent objects to the jurisdiction of the court, the respondent will not be taken to have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court by also seeking an order that the application be dismissed on another ground.
(2)The objection to the jurisdiction must be determined before any other orders sought in the response to an application for divorce.
If a respondent files a response to an application for divorce after the time allowed under rule 39(1) —
(a)the applicant may consent to the late filing; or
(b)if the applicant does not consent, the court may continue the case as if the response had not been filed.
A respondent to an application for divorce who disputes any of the facts set out in the application, but does not oppose the divorce, may, at least 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing of the application, file and serve an affidavit setting out the facts in dispute.
Division 3 — Hearing of application
(1)A party may apply under rule 81 to attend the hearing of an application for divorce by electronic communication.
(2)Subject to Division 4 —
(a)if the applicant fails to attend the hearing in person or by a lawyer, the application may be dismissed; and
(b)if the respondent fails to attend the hearing in person or by a lawyer, the applicant may proceed with the hearing as if the application were undefended.
Division 4 — Hearing in absence of parties
44.Seeking hearing in absence of parties
A court may determine an application for divorce (except a case started by joint application) in the absence of the parties if —
(a)no response has been filed; and
(b)at the date fixed for the hearing, there are no children of the marriage within the meaning of the Family Law Act section 98A(3); and
(c)the applicant has requested that the case be heard in the absence of the parties; and
(d)the respondent has not requested the court not to hear the case in the absence of the parties.
45.Hearing of joint application in absence of parties
If, in a joint application for divorce, the applicants request that the case be heard in their absence, the court may so determine the case.
46.Request not to hear case in absence of parties
A respondent to an application for divorce who objects to the case being heard in the absence of the parties must, at least 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing, file and serve a written notice to that effect.
Division 5 — Events affecting divorce order
47.Application for rescission of divorce order
A party may, before a divorce order nisi becomes absolute, apply for the order to be rescinded by filing an application in a case.
If a party to an application for divorce dies after the divorce order nisi is made but before the order becomes absolute, the surviving party must inform the Registry Manager of the death of the other party by filing —
(a)the death certificate of the deceased party; or
(b)an affidavit stating the details of the deceased party’s date and place of death.
Division 6 — Other matters relating to application for divorce
Further evidence by way of corroboration of service of an application for divorce will be required if there is not already corroboration by —
(a)the respondent appearing at the same hearing; or
(b)a notice of address for service in an approved form having been filed by, or on behalf of, the respondent; or
(c)the respondent being represented at the hearing by a lawyer who has filed a notice of address for service on behalf of the respondent (or who gives a suitable undertaking to file a notice of address for service); or
(d)an affidavit having been filed by or on behalf of the respondent setting out to the satisfaction of the court that the respondent has been served.
50.Corroboration requirements in cases involving parties living under same roof
(1)This rule applies if, in an application for divorce, it is claimed that parties have lived separately and apart under the same roof during any part of the period of 12 months immediately before the date of filing of the application.
(2)The claim referred to in subrule (1) must be corroborated by the filing of an affidavit by each applicant and by an independent witness.
Division 1 — Applications for final orders
51.Contents of application for final order
(1)In an initiating application, the applicant must —
(a)give full particulars of the orders sought; and
(b)include all causes of action that can be disposed of conveniently in the same case.
(2)A party seeking any of the following must not include any other cause of action in the application —
(a)an order that a marriage be annulled;
(b)a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment;
(c)an order authorising a medical procedure under Division 2 Subdivision 3.
(3)Despite subrule (2), in the same application a party may seek both —
(a)an order that a marriage be annulled; and
(b)a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment.
A party must not file an affidavit with an initiating application unless permitted or required to do so by these rules.
On the filing of an initiating application, the Registry Manager must fix a date —
(a)in a parenting or financial case, for a procedural hearing that is as near as practicable to 42 days after the application was filed; or
(b)if an earlier date is fixed for the hearing of that or another application as far as it concerns an interim, procedural or other ancillary order in the case, for a procedural hearing on the same day.
Division 2 — Specific applications
54.General provisions still apply
If a rule in this Division specifies particular requirements for an application, those requirements are in addition to the general requirements for an initiating application.
55.Applications by Attorney General for transfer of case
If the Attorney General of the Commonwealth, or of a State or Territory, applies for the transfer of a case under Subdivision 2 or Part 25, the Attorney General does not, by that application, automatically become a party to the case.
(1)If a party filing an initiating application or a response to an initiating application relies on a cross‑vesting law, the party must specify, in the application or response, the particular State or Territory law on which the party relies.
(2)A party relying on a cross‑vesting law after a case has started must file an application in a case seeking procedural orders in relation to the matter.
(3)A party to whom subrule (1) or (2) applies must also file an affidavit stating —
(a)that the claim is based on the State or Territory law and the reasons why the court should deal with the claim; and
(b)the rules of evidence and procedure (except those of the court) on which the party relies; and
(c)if the case involves a special federal matter, the grounds for claiming the matter involves a special federal matter.
A party to a case to which rule 56 applies may apply to have the case transferred to another court by filing an application in a case.
Subdivision 3 — Medical procedure
58.Application for medical procedure
(1)Any of the following persons may make a medical procedure application in relation to a child —
(a)a parent of the child;
(b)a person who has a parenting order in relation to the child;
(c)the child;
(d)the independent children’s lawyer;
(e)any other person concerned with the care, welfare and development of the child.
(2)If a person mentioned in subrule (1)(a) or (b) is not an applicant, the person must be named as a respondent to the application.
59.Evidence supporting application
(1)If a medical procedure application is filed, evidence must be given to satisfy the Court that the proposed medical procedure is in the best interests of the child.
(2)The evidence must include evidence from a medical, psychological or other relevant expert witness that establishes the following —
(a)the exact nature and purpose of the proposed medical procedure;
(b)the particular condition of the child for which the procedure is required;
(c)the likely long‑term physical, social and psychological effects on the child —
(i)if the procedure is carried out; and
(ii)if the procedure is not carried out;
(d)the nature and degree of any risk to the child from the procedure;
(e)if alternative and less invasive treatment is available, the reason the procedure is recommended instead of the alternative treatment;
(f)that the procedure is necessary for the welfare of the child;
(g)if the child is capable of making an informed decision about the procedure, whether the child agrees to the procedure;
(h)if the child is incapable of making an informed decision about the procedure, that the child —
(i)is currently incapable of making an informed decision; and
(ii)is unlikely to develop sufficiently to be able to make an informed decision within the time in which the procedure should be carried out, or within the foreseeable future;
(i)whether the child’s parents or carer agree to the procedure.
(3)The evidence may be given —
(a)by affidavit; or
(b)with the Court’s permission, orally.
The persons on whom a medical procedure application and any document filed with it must be served include the prescribed child welfare authority.
(1)On the filing of a medical procedure application, the Registry Manager must fix a date for a hearing before a judge.
(2)The date fixed must be —
(a)as soon as practicable after the date of filing; and
(b)if practicable, within 14 days after the date of filing.
62.Procedure on first court date
On the first court date for a medical procedure application, the court must —
(a)make procedural orders for the conduct of the case and adjourn the case to a fixed date for a hearing; or
(b)hear and determine the application.
Subdivision 4 — Spousal or de facto maintenance
63.Applications for spousal or de facto maintenance
(1)Applications for final orders seeking only spousal maintenance (including de facto spousal maintenance) must be listed in a General List before a magistrate for directions only, within 42 days after the date of filing, if practicable.
(2)At the directions hearing the magistrate may make an order —
(a)for the filing of further affidavit material; and
(b)for the issuing of subpoenas; and
(c)in regard to disclosure; and
(d)fixing a time for a future hearing.
(3)If practicable the magistrate who conducted the directions hearing will hear and determine the application.
(1)At the first court date and at the hearing date of an application for a final order seeking only spousal maintenance (including de facto spousal maintenance), each party must bring to the court the following documents —
(a)a copy of the party’s taxation returns for the 3 most recent financial years;
(b)the party’s taxation assessments for the 3 most recent financial years;
(c)the party’s bank records for the period of 3 years ending on the date on which the application was filed;
(d)if the party receives wages or salary payments, the party’s payslips for the past 12 months;
(e)if the party owns or controls a business, either as sole trader, partnership or a company, the business activity statements and the financial statements (including profit and loss statements and balance sheets) for the 3 most recent financial years of the business;
(f)any other document relevant to determining the income, needs and financial resources of the party.
(2)Before the hearing date, a party must produce the documents mentioned in subrule (1) for inspection, if the other party to the proceedings makes a written request for their production.
(3)If a request is made under subrule (2), the documents must be produced within 7 working days of the request being received.
Subdivision 5 — Child support and child maintenance
This Subdivision applies to —
(a)an application under the Child Support (Assessment) Act, other than an application for leave to appeal from an order of a court exercising jurisdiction under that Act; and
(b)an application under the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act section 111C; and
(c)an application for child maintenance (regardless of the age of the child); and
(d)an application under the Family Law Regulations 1984 (Commonwealth) Parts III and IV.
An application under this Subdivision must be made in accordance with an initiating application.
67.Documents to be filed with application
(1)A person must file, with an application specified in column 1 of an item in the Table, the documents specified in column 2 of the Table.
Table
|
Item |
Column 1 Application |
Column 2 Documents to be filed with application |
|
1. |
All applications for child support |
An affidavit setting out the facts relied on in support of the application, attaching — (a)a schedule setting out the section of the Child Support Act under which the application is made; and (b)a copy of any decision, notice of decision or assessment made by the Child Support Registrar relevant to the application and statement of reasons for that decision; and (c)a copy of any document lodged by a party with the Child Support Registrar, or received by a party from the Child Support Registrar, relevant to the decision or assessment |
|
2. |
Application under the Child Support (Assessment) Act sections 111, 116, 123, 129, 136, 139 and 143 and the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act section 111C |
An affidavit setting out the facts relied on in support of the application, attaching — (a)the documents mentioned in this column in item 1; and (b)a completed financial statement; and (c)a copy of any relevant order or agreement |
|
3. |
All applications for child maintenance |
(a)A completed financial statement; and (b)an affidavit in support |
(2)For the purposes of item 1 column 2 paragraph (c) of the Table to subrule (1), if the applicant does not have a copy of a document lodged by the other party with the Child Support Agency, the applicant may file the summary of the document prepared by the Child Support Agency.
A person who makes an application in relation to a child support agreement must register a copy of the agreement with the court by filing 1 of the following —
(a)an affidavit attaching the original agreement;
(b)an affidavit attaching a copy of the agreement and stating that the copy is a true copy of the original agreement;
(c)an affidavit stating that the original agreement has been lost and the steps taken to locate the agreement, and attaching a copy of a document received from the Child Support Registrar setting out the terms of the agreement as registered by the Child Support Agency.
69.Time limits for applications under Child Support (Assessment) Act
A person must file an application for a declaration under the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 106A(2) or 107(1) within 56 days after being served with a notice given under section 33 or 34 of that Act.
(1)An application under this Subdivision must be served on the following persons —
(a)each respondent;
(b)a parent or eligible carer of the child in relation to whom the application is made;
(c)the Child Support Registrar.
(2)Except for an application for an order staying a decision or an urgent order for child maintenance, an application must be served at least 28 days before the hearing date.
(3)Any documents on which the applicant intends to rely must be served on the persons mentioned in subrule (1) at least 21 days before the hearing date.
71.Service by Child Support Registrar
For the purposes of rule 69, if the Child Support Registrar serves a document on a person under the Child Support (Assessment) Act, the document is taken to have been served on the person on the day specified in rule 135.
72.Procedure on first court date
On the first court date of a child maintenance application or a child support application, the court may make orders for the future conduct of the case, including the exchange of affidavits between the parties and the listing of the case for hearing.
73.Evidence to be provided with application
(1)This rule applies to —
(a)a child support application under the Child Support (Assessment) Act section 111, 116, 123, 129, 136, 139 or 143; and
(b)a child support application under the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act section 111C; and
(c)a child maintenance application.
(2)On the first court date and the hearing date of the application, each party must bring to the court the following documents —
(a)a copy of the party’s taxation returns for the 3 most recent financial years;
(b)the party’s taxation assessments for the 3 most recent financial years;
(c)the party’s bank records for the period of 3 years ending on the date on which the application was filed;
(d)if the party receives wages or salary payments, the party’s payslips for the past 12 months;
(e)if the party owns or controls a business, either as sole trader, partnership or a company, the business activity statements and the financial statements (including profit and loss statements and balance sheets) for the 3 most recent financial years of the business;
(f)any other document relevant to determining the income, needs and financial resources of the party.
(3)Before the hearing date, a party must produce the documents specified in subrule (2) for inspection, if the other party to the proceedings makes a written request for their production.
(4)If a request is made under subrule (3), the documents must be produced within 7 working days of the request being received.
Subdivision 6 — Nullity and validity of marriage and divorce
This Subdivision applies to —
(a)an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity; and
(b)an application for a declaration as to the validity of a marriage; and
(c)an application for a declaration as to the validity of a divorce or annulment of marriage.
(1)On the filing of an application under this Subdivision, the Registry Manager must fix a date for the hearing of the application.
(2)The date fixed must be —
(a)if the respondent is in Australia, at least 42 days after the application is filed; or
(b)if the respondent is outside Australia, at least 56 days after the application is filed.
76.Affidavit to be filed with application
An applicant must file with the application an affidavit stating —
(a)the facts relied on; and
(b)for an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity or a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, details of the type of marriage ceremony performed; and
(c)for an application for a declaration as to the validity of a divorce or annulment of marriage —
(i)the date of the divorce or order of nullity; and
(ii)the name of the court that granted the divorce or order of nullity; and
(iii)the grounds on which the divorce or order of nullity was ordered.
Part 5 — Applications for interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental orders
77.Restrictions in relation to applications
(1)A party may apply for an interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental order in relation to a cause of action only if —
(a)the party has made an application for final orders in that cause of action; and
(b)final orders have not been made on that application.
(2)A party may apply for an interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental order only if the order sought relates to a current case.
(3)Subrule (2) does not apply if the party is seeking —
(a)permission to start a case or extend a time limit to start a case; or
(b)to start a case for a child or a person with a disability under rule 105; or
(c)an order for costs.
(4)This rule does not apply to restrict the filing of an application in a case by —
(a)an independent children’s lawyer; or
(b)the Director of Public Prosecutions, when making an application to stay or lift a stay of a property settlement or spousal or de facto maintenance case; or
(c)a bankruptcy trustee; or
(d)a trustee of a personal insolvency agreement.
(5)This rule does not apply to restrict the filing of an application for an order in relation to an arbitration by a party to the arbitration or an arbitrator conducting the arbitration.
(6)If a party applies for an interim, procedural, ancillary or other order at the start of a case, the application must be in an initiating application.
(7)If a party applies for an interim, procedural, ancillary or other order after a case has commenced, the application must be in the form of an application in a case.
78.Filing of applications seeking parenting orders during Christmas school holiday period
(1)This rule applies to an application for a parenting order relating in whole or part to the school holiday period beginning in December in a year (the application year) and extending to January in the following year.
(2)The application must be filed before 4 pm on the 2nd Friday in November of the application year.
79.Procedure before filing application
(1)Before filing an application seeking interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental orders, a party must make a reasonable and genuine attempt to settle the issue to which the application relates.
(2)An applicant does not have to comply with subrule (1) if —
(a)compliance will cause undue delay or expense; or
(b)the applicant would be unduly prejudiced; or
(c)the application is urgent; or
(d)there are circumstances in which an application is necessary (for example, if there is an allegation of child abuse, family violence or fraud).
(3)After a property case has started, no application or response in a case will be accepted for filing unless the circumstances referred to in subrule (4) apply.
(4)For the purposes of subrule (3), the circumstances are —
(a)parties have conferred on a without prejudice basis for the purpose of identifying, resolving and narrowing the issues in dispute; and
(b)the application or response is filed with a certificate of conferral stating whether the parties have conferred to try to resolve the matters giving rise to the application or response and identifying the matters that remain in issue between the parties.
(5)The court may waive the requirements specified in subrule (4) if the matter is urgent or for other good reason.
(6)The reasons must be set out in a letter accompanying the application or response in a case.
(1)On the filing of an application in a case, or an initiating application in which application is made for interim, procedural, ancillary or other orders, the Registry Manager must fix a date for a hearing or a procedural hearing on a date that is as near as practicable to 28 days after the application was filed.
(2)An application in which the only orders sought are procedural orders must be listed for a hearing on the first court date.
(3)If an application in a case is filed after another related application, the application in a case may be listed for the same first court date as the related application if a registrar considers it to be reasonable in the circumstances.
(4)The Registry Manager may fix an earlier date for the hearing of an application in a case, or an initiating application in which application is made for interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental orders, if a registrar is satisfied that —
(a)the reason for the urgency is significant and credible; and
(b)there is a harm that will be avoided, remedied or mitigated by hearing the application earlier.
(5)If a date for a hearing is fixed, the application must, as far as practicable, be heard by the court on that day.
81.Attendance by electronic communication
(1)A party may request permission to do any of the following things by electronic communication at a hearing —
(a)attend;
(b)make a submission;
(c)give evidence;
(d)adduce evidence from a witness.
(2)Before making a request, the party must ask any other party whether the other party agrees, or objects, to the use of electronic communication for the purpose proposed by the party.
(3)A request must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be made at least 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing; and
(c)set out details of the notice in relation to the request that has been given to any other party; and
(d)state whether any other party agrees or objects to the request; and
(e)state the expense to be incurred by using the electronic communication.
(4)A request may be considered in chambers, on the documents.
(5)The court may take the following matters into account when considering a request —
(a)the distance between the party’s residence and the place where the court is to sit;
(b)any difficulty the party has in attending because of illness or disability;
(c)the expense associated with attending;
(d)the expense to be incurred, or the savings to be made, by using the electronic communication;
(e)any concerns about security, including family violence and intimidation;
(f)whether any other party objects to the request.
(6)If the court grants the request, it may —
(a)order a party to pay the expense of using the electronic communication; or
(b)apportion the expense between the parties.
(7)If a request is granted, the party who made the request must immediately give written notice to the other parties.
82.Attendance of party or witness in prison
(1)A party who is in prison must attend at a hearing by electronic communication.
(2)A party who intends to adduce evidence from a witness in prison must —
(a)arrange for the witness to attend and give evidence at the hearing by electronic communication; and
(b)advise the court and the other parties about that arrangement at least 2 days before the date fixed for the hearing.
(3)A party may request permission from the court for a party or witness who is in prison to attend the hearing in person.
(4)A request under subrule (3) must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be made at least 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing; and
(c)set out the reasons why permission should be granted; and
(d)inform the court whether the other party objects to the request.
(5)Rule 81(4) and (7) apply to a request under this rule.
Division 2 — Hearings for interim and procedural applications
83.Matters to be considered for interim orders
When considering whether to make an interim order, the court may take the following into account —
(a)in a parenting case, the best interests of the child;
(b)whether there are reasonable grounds for making the order;
(c)whether, for reasons of hardship, family violence, prejudice to the parties or the children, the order is necessary;
(d)the main purpose of these rules;
(e)whether the parties would benefit from participating in 1 of the dispute resolution methods.
The following affidavits may be relied on as evidence in chief at the hearing of an interim or procedural application —
(a)subject to rule 152, 1 affidavit by each party;
(b)1 affidavit by each witness, provided the evidence is relevant and cannot be given by a party.
85.Hearing time for interim or procedural application
(1)The hearing of an interim or procedural application must be no longer than 2 hours.
(2)Cross‑examination will be allowed at a hearing only in exceptional circumstances.
86.Party’s failure to attend hearing
(1)If a party does not attend when a hearing starts, the other party may seek the orders sought in that party’s application, including (if necessary) adducing evidence to establish an entitlement to the orders sought against the party not attending.
(2)If no party attends the hearing, the court may dismiss the application and response (if any).
Division 3 — Applications without notice
An applicant seeking that an interim order or procedural order be made without notice to the respondent must —
(a)satisfy the court about why —
(i)shortening the time for service of the application and the fixing of an early date for hearing after service would not be more appropriate; and
(ii)an order should be made without notice to the other party;
and
(b)in an affidavit or, with the court’s permission, orally — make full and frank disclosure of all the facts relevant to the application, including —
(i)whether there is a history or allegation of child abuse or family violence between the parties; and
(ii)whether there has been a previous case between the parties and, if so, the nature of the case; and
(iii)the particulars of any orders currently in force between the parties; and
(iv)whether there has been a breach of a previous order by either party to the case; and
(v)whether the respondent or the respondent’s lawyer has been told of the intention to make the application; and
(vi)whether there is likely to be any hardship, danger or prejudice to the respondent, a child or a third party if the order is made; and
(vii)the capacity of the applicant to give an undertaking as to damages; and
(viii)the nature of the damage or harm that may result if the order is not made; and
(ix)why the order must be urgently made; and
(x)the last known address, or address for service, of the other party.
88.Necessary procedural orders
If a court makes an order on application without notice, the order must be expressed to operate —
(a)until a time specified in the order; or
(b)if the hearing of the application is adjourned, until the date of the hearing.
Division 4 — Hearing on papers in absence of parties
89.Request for hearing in absence of parties
A party applying for an interim order, enforcement order or procedural order may, in the application, ask the court to determine the application in the absence of the parties.
90.Objection to hearing in absence of parties
If a respondent objects to an application being determined by the court in the absence of the parties —
(a)the respondent must notify the court and the other party, in writing, of the objection at least 7 days before the date fixed for the hearing; and
(b)the parties must attend on the first court date for the application.
91.Court decision not to proceed in absence of parties
Despite the parties consenting to a hearing being held in their absence, the court may postpone or adjourn the application and direct the Registry Manager —
(a)to fix a new date for hearing the application; and
(b)to notify the parties that they are required to attend court for the hearing.
92.Procedure for hearing in absence of parties
(1)If the application is to be determined in the absence of the parties, each party must file, at least 2 days before the date fixed for hearing the application —
(a)a list of documents to be read by the court; and
(b)a supporting submission.
(2)A supporting submission must —
(a)state the reasons why the orders sought by that party should be made; and
(b)refer to any material in a document filed with the application by the page number of the document, and should not repeat the text of that material; and
(c)not be more than 5 pages; and
(d)have all paragraphs consecutively numbered; and
(e)be signed by the party or the lawyer who prepared the submission; and
(f)include the signatory’s name, telephone number and email address (if any) at which the signatory can be contacted.
Division 5 — Postponement of interim hearing
93.Administrative postponement of interim hearing
(1)If the parties agree that the hearing of an interim application should not proceed on the date fixed for the hearing, the parties may request the Registry Manager to postpone it.
(2)A request must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)specify why it is appropriate to postpone the hearing; and
(c)specify the date to which the hearing is sought to be postponed; and
(d)be signed by each party or the party’s lawyer; and
(e)be received by the Registry Manager no later than 12 noon on the day before the date fixed for the hearing.
(3)If a request is made, the Registry Manager must tell the parties —
(a)that the event has been postponed; and
(b)the date to which it has been postponed.
Division 6 — Application for certain orders
94.Application for suppression or non‑publication order
An applicant for an order to suppress publication of a judgment must file an affidavit that sets out evidence relating to the following —
(a)the public interest in suppressing or not suppressing publication;
(b)why further anonymisation of the judgment would not be sufficient;
(c)whether publication of the entire judgment should be suppressed or only part of the judgment;
(d)whether publication should be suppressed in 1 medium or in all media;
(e)whether a summary of the judgment should be made publicly available if publication of the judgment is suppressed;
(f)one or more of the grounds on which the application is made.
In this Part —
party includes the following —
(a)an applicant in a case;
(b)an appellant in an appeal;
(c)a respondent to an application or appeal;
(d)an intervener in a case.
(1)A person whose rights may be directly affected by an issue in a case, and whose participation as a party is necessary for the court to determine all issues in dispute in the case, must be included as a party to the case.
(2)If an application is made for a parenting order, the following must be parties to the case —
(a)the parents of the child;
(b)any other person in whose favour a parenting order is currently in force in relation to the child;
(c)any other person with whom the child lives and who is responsible for the care, welfare and development of the child;
(d)if a State child order is currently in place in relation to the child, the prescribed child welfare authority.
(3)If a person specified in subrule (2) is not an applicant in a case involving the child, that person must be joined as a respondent to the application.
Division 2 — Adding or removing party
(1)A party may add another party after a case has started by amending the application or response to add the name of the party.
(2)A party who relies on subrule (1) must —
(a)file an affidavit setting out the facts relied on to support the addition of the new party, including a statement of the new party’s relationship (if any) to the other parties; and
(b)serve on the new party —
(i)a copy of the application, amended application, response or amended response; and
(ii)the affidavit specified in paragraph (a); and
(iii)any other relevant document filed in the case.
A party may apply to be removed as a party to a case.
99.Intervention by person seeking to become party
If a person who is not a party to a case (except a person to whom rule 100 applies) seeks to intervene in the case to become a party, the person must file —
(a)an application in a case; and
(b)an affidavit —
(i)setting out the facts relied on to support the application, including a statement of the person’s relationship (if any) to the parties; and
(ii)attaching a schedule setting out any orders that the person seeks if the court grants permission to intervene.
100.Intervention by person entitled to intervene
(1)This rule applies if the Attorney General of the Commonwealth or the Attorney General of the State, or any other person who is entitled under the Act or the Family Law Act to do so without the court’s permission, intervenes in a case.
(2)The person intervening must file —
(a)a notice of intervention by a person entitled to intervene; and
(b)an affidavit —
(i)stating the facts relied on in support of the intervention; and
(ii)attaching a schedule setting out the orders sought.
(3)On the filing of a notice of intervention by a person entitled to intervene, the Registry Manager must fix a date for a procedural hearing.
(4)The person intervening must give each other party written notice of the procedural hearing.
101.Notice of constitutional matter
(1)A party must give written notice to the Attorneys General of the Commonwealth and of each State and Territory and to each other party if the party is, or becomes, aware that the case involves a matter that —
(a)arises under the Constitution of the Commonwealth or involves its interpretation, within the meaning of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Commonwealth) section 78B; and
(b)is a genuine issue in the case.
(2)The notice must state —
(a)the nature of the matter; and
(b)the issues in the case; and
(c)the constitutional issue to be raised; and
(d)the facts relied on to show that the Judiciary Act 1903 (Commonwealth) section 78B applies.
102.Term used: manager of the affairs of a party
In this Division —
manager of the affairs of a party includes a person who has been appointed, in respect of the party, a trustee or guardian under a Commonwealth, State or Territory law.
103.Conducting case by case guardian
(1)A child or a person with a disability may start, continue, respond to, or seek to intervene in a case only by a case guardian.
(2)Subrule (1) does not apply if the court is satisfied that a child understands the nature and possible consequences of the case and is capable of conducting the case.
A person may be a case guardian if the person —
(a)is an adult; and
(b)has no interest in the case that is adverse to the interest of the person needing the case guardian; and
(c)can fairly and competently conduct the case for the person needing the case guardian; and
(d)has consented to act as the case guardian.
105.Appointment, replacement or removal of case guardian
(1)A person may apply to the court for the appointment, replacement or removal of a person as the case guardian of a party.
(2)A person who is a manager of the affairs of a party is taken to be appointed as the case guardian of the party if the person has filed —
(a)a notice of address for service; and
(b)an affidavit which —
(i)provides evidence that the person has been appointed manager of the affairs of the party; and
(ii)states that the person consents to being appointed as the case guardian of the party.
106.Attorney General may nominate case guardian
(1)If, in the opinion of the court, a suitable person is not available for appointment as a case guardian of a person with a disability, the court may request that the Attorney General of the State nominate, in writing, a person to be a case guardian.
(2)A person nominated by the Attorney General to be a case guardian of a person with a disability is taken to be appointed as such if the person files —
(a)a consent to act in relation to the person with a disability; and
(b)a copy of the written nomination of the person as a case guardian; and
(c)a notice of address for service.
107.Notice of appointment of case guardian
A person appointed as a case guardian of a party must give written notice of the appointment to each other party and any independent children’s lawyer in the case.
The court may order the costs of a case guardian to be paid —
(a)by a party; or
(b)from the income or property of the person for whom the case guardian is appointed.
(1)A person appointed as the case guardian of a party —
(a)is bound by these rules; and
(b)must do anything required by these rules to be done by the party; and
(c)may, for the benefit of the party, do anything permitted by these rules to be done by the party; and
(d)if seeking a consent order (except an order relating to practice or procedure), must file an affidavit setting out the facts relied on to satisfy the court that the order is in the party’s best interests.
(2)The duty of disclosure applies to a case guardian for a child and a person with a disability.
Division 4 — Progress of case after death
(1)This rule applies to a property case or an application for the enforcement of a financial obligation.
(2)If a party dies, the other party or the legal personal representative of the deceased person must ask the court for procedural orders in relation to the future conduct of the case.
(3)The court may order that the legal personal representative of the deceased person be substituted for the deceased person as a party.
Division 5 — Progress of case after bankruptcy or personal insolvency agreement
In this Division —
bankruptcy proceedings means proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act, in the Federal Court or the Federal Circuit Court, in relation to —
(a)the bankruptcy of a relevant party; or
(b)a relevant party’s capacity as a debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement;
relevant case means any of the following —
(a)a pending case for —
(i)child maintenance (regardless of the age of the child); or
(ii)modification of a child maintenance order (regardless of the age of the child); or
(iii)spousal maintenance; or
(iv)declaration as to property interests; or
(v)alteration of property interests; or
(vi)setting aside an order for alteration of property interests; or
(vii)modification of a spousal maintenance order;
(b)a pending case under the Child Support (Assessment) Act Part 7 Division 4 or 5;
(c)a pending case for enforcement of an order made under a provision specified in paragraph (a) or (b);
relevant party means a person who is —
(a)a party to a marriage or de facto relationship; and
(b)a party to a relevant case in relation to that marriage or de facto relationship.
112.Notice of bankruptcy or personal insolvency agreement
(1)If a relevant party is also a bankrupt or a debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement, that party must notify —
(a)all other parties to the relevant case, in writing, about the bankruptcy or personal insolvency agreement; and
(b)the bankruptcy trustee or the trustee of the personal insolvency agreement, as the case may be, about the relevant case in accordance with rule 113; and
(c)the court in which the relevant case is pending, in accordance with rule 114.
(2)A party may apply for procedural orders for the future conduct of the case.
113.Notice under rule 112(1)(b)
For the purposes of rule 112(1)(b), notice to a bankruptcy trustee or a trustee of a personal insolvency agreement must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be given within 7 days, or as soon as practicable, after the date on which the party becomes both —
(i)a relevant party; and
(ii)a bankrupt or debtor;
and
(c)attach a copy of the application starting the relevant case, the response (if any), and any other relevant documents; and
(d)state the date and place of the next court event in the relevant case.
114.Notice under rule 112(1)(c)
For the purposes of rule 112(1)(c), notice to the court must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be given within 7 days, or as soon as practicable, after the date on which the party becomes both —
(i)a relevant party; and
(ii)a bankrupt or debtor;
and
(c)attach a copy of the notices given in accordance with rule 112(1)(a) and (b).
115.Notice of bankruptcy proceedings
(1)If a relevant party is a party to bankruptcy proceedings the party must give notice of the bankruptcy proceedings, in accordance with subrule (2), to —
(a)the court in which the relevant case is pending; and
(b)each other party to the case.
(2)The notice must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be given within 7 days, or as soon as practicable, after the date on which the party becomes a party to bankruptcy proceedings; and
(c)state the date and place of the next court event in the bankruptcy proceedings.
116.Notice of application under Bankruptcy Act section 139A
(1)If the bankruptcy trustee of a bankrupt party to a marriage or de facto relationship has applied under the Bankruptcy Act section 139A for an order under Part VI Division 4A, and the trustee knows that a relevant case in relation to the bankrupt party is pending in a court exercising jurisdiction under the Act or the Family Law Act, the trustee must notify —
(a)the court exercising jurisdiction under the Act or the Family Law Act in the relevant case, in accordance with subrule (2); and
(b)if the bankruptcy trustee’s application relates to an entity other than the other party to the marriage or de facto relationship, the other party to the marriage or de facto relationship, in accordance with subrule (3).
(2)For the purposes of subrule (1)(a), notice to the court must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be given within 7 days, or as soon as practicable, after the bankruptcy trustee makes the application under the Bankruptcy Act section 139A; and
(c)state the date and place of the next court event in the proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act section 139A.
(3)For the purposes of subrule (1)(b), notice to the other party to the marriage or de facto relationship must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be given within 7 days, or as soon as practicable, after the bankruptcy trustee makes the application under the Bankruptcy Act section 139A; and
(c)attach a copy of the application, other initiating process and any other relevant documents in the application under the Bankruptcy Act section 139A; and
(d)state the date and place of the next court event in the proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act section 139A.
(1)In this rule —
prescribed official name of the trustee has the meaning given by —
(a)for a bankruptcy trustee, the Bankruptcy Act section 161(2); and
(b)for a trustee of a personal insolvency agreement, the Bankruptcy Act section 219(2).
(2)If a bankruptcy trustee or a trustee of a personal insolvency agreement is added as a party to a relevant case, the trustee must be added using the prescribed official name of the trustee.
This Part does not apply to service of a document in a foreign country that is a party to a convention to which Australia is also a party regarding legal proceedings in civil and commercial matters.
Service of a document may be carried out by special service or ordinary service unless otherwise required by a legislative provision.
120.Discretion regarding service
(1)A court may find that a document has been served or that it has been served on a particular date, even though these rules or an order have not been complied with in relation to service.
(2)The court may order a party, or a person applying to intervene in a case under rule 100, to serve a document or give written notice of a matter or case to a person specified in the order.
A person must serve a document specified in column 1 of an item in the Table in the manner specified in column 2 of that item.
Table
|
Item |
Column 1 Document |
Column 2 Manner of service |
|
1. |
Initiating application |
Special service |
|
2. |
Application in a case fixing an enforcement hearing |
Special service |
|
3. |
Application for divorce |
Special service |
|
4. |
Subpoena or a copy of a subpoena required to be served under rule 249 or 533 |
The manner of service required by that rule |
|
5. |
Application — contravention |
Special service by hand |
|
6. |
Application — contempt |
Special service by hand |
|
7. |
Document specified in item 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the Table to rule 27 that must be filed with a form mentioned in this Table |
The form of service specified in this Table for that form |
|
8. |
Brochure required by these rules to be served with a form specified in this Table |
The form of service specified out in this Table for that form |
|
9. |
Order made on application without notice |
Special service |
|
10. |
Document that is not required to be served by special service, for example — •an application in a case (other than an application in a case mentioned in item 2) and any document filed with it •a document filed after a case is started •a notice required to be given under these rules |
Ordinary service |
122.Service of filed documents
(1)A document that is filed must be served on each person to be served —
(a)if a provision elsewhere in these rules specifies a time for service — within the specified time; or
(b)in any other case — as soon as possible after the date of filing and within 12 months after that date.
(2)Despite subrule (1) and rule 121, the following documents do not have to be served on any other party —
(a)a joint application;
(b)an application without notice;
(c)an affidavit of service;
(d)a document signed by all parties;
(e)an affidavit seeking the issue, without notice, of an enforcement warrant under rule 385 or a third party debt notice under rule 403.
(3)If a document or notice is served on or given to a party under these rules, a copy of the document or notice must also be served on or given to any independent children’s lawyer.
(4)For the purposes of subrule (1) —
each person to be served, for a case, includes —
(a)all parties to the case; and
(b)any independent children’s lawyer; and
(c)any other person specifically required by a legislative provision or order to be served in the case.
A document that must be served by special service must be personally received by the person served.
(1)A document to be served by hand must be given to the person to be served (the receiver).
(2)If the receiver refuses to take the document, service occurs if the person serving the document —
(a)places it down in the presence of the receiver; and
(b)tells the receiver what it is.
(3)A party must not serve another party by hand but may be present when service by hand occurs.
125.Special service by post or electronic means
(1)A document may be served on a person in Australia by sending a copy of it to the person’s last known address by post.
(2)A document may be served on a person in Australia by sending it to the person by electronic means.
(3)A person serving a document by post or electronic means must include with the document —
(a)an acknowledgment of service for the person served to sign; and
(b)for service by post within Australia, a stamped self‑addressed envelope.
126.Special service through lawyer
A document is taken to be served by special service on a person if —
(a)a lawyer representing the person agrees, in writing, to accept service of the document for the person; and
(b)the document is served on the lawyer in accordance with rule 124 or 125.
127.Special service on persons with disability
(1)A document that is required to be served by special service on a person with a disability must be served —
(a)on the person’s case guardian; or
(b)on the person’s guardian appointed under a State or Territory law; or
(c)if there is no one under paragraph (a) or (b) — on an adult who has the care of the person.
(2)For the purposes of subrule (1)(c), the person in charge of a hospital, nursing home or other care facility is taken to have the care of a person who is a patient in the hospital, nursing home or facility.
128.Special service on prisoners
(1)A document that is required to be served by special service on a prisoner must be served by special service on the person in charge of the prison.
(2)At the time of service of an application, subpoena or notice of appeal on a prisoner, the prisoner must be informed, in writing, about the requirement to attend by electronic communication under rule 82 or 194 (whichever applies).
129.Special service on corporations
A document that is required to be served by special service on a corporation must be served in accordance with the Corporations Act section 109X.
(1)If special service of a document is not required, the document may be served on a person —
(a)by any method of special service; or
(b)if the person has given an address for service —
(i)by delivering it to the address in a sealed envelope addressed to the person; or
(ii)by sending it to the address by post in a sealed envelope addressed to the person; or
(iii)by sending it to the facsimile or email address stated in the address for service by electronic means addressed to the person;
or
(c)if the person has not given an address for service —
(i)by handing it to the person; or
(ii)by delivering it to the person’s last known address or place of business in a sealed envelope addressed to the person; or
(iii)by sending it by post in a sealed envelope addressed to the person at the person’s last known address or place of business;
or
(d)if a lawyer representing the person agrees, in writing, to accept service of the document, by sending it to the lawyer; or
(e)if the person’s address for service includes the number of a lawyer’s document exchange box, by delivering it in a sealed envelope, addressed to the lawyer at that box address, to —
(i)that box; or
(ii)a box provided at another branch of the document exchange for delivery of documents to the box address.
(1)Service of an application is proved —
(a)by filing an affidavit of service; or
(b)by the respondent filing a notice of address for service or a response; or
(c)if service was carried out by giving the document to a lawyer, by filing an acknowledgment of service that has been signed by the lawyer.
(2)Service of any other document is proved by filing an affidavit of service.
(1)This rule applies if a document is required to be served by special service and the applicant seeks to prove service by way of affidavit.
(2)If service was by post or electronic means, service is proved by —
(a)attaching to an affidavit of service, an acknowledgment of service signed by the respondent; and
(b)evidence identifying the signature on the acknowledgment of service as the respondent’s signature.
(1)A statement by a person of the person’s identity, office or position is evidence of the identity, or the holding of the office or position.
(2)Another person may give evidence about the identity, office or position of a person served.
Division 5 — Other matters about service
134.Service by electronic means
A document served by electronic means must include a cover page stating —
(a)the sender’s name and address; and
(b)the name of the person to be served; and
(c)the date and time of transmission; and
(d)the total number of pages, including the cover page, transmitted; and
(e)that the transmission is for service of court documents; and
(f)the name and telephone number of a person to contact if there is a problem with transmission; and
(g)a return email address.
135.When service is taken to have been carried out
A document is taken to have been served —
(a)on the date when service is acknowledged; or
(b)if served by post to an address in Australia, on the 3rd day after it was posted; or
(c)if served by delivery to a document exchange, on the next working day after the day when it was delivered; or
(d)on a date fixed by the court.
136.Service with conditions or dispensing with service
(1)A party who is unable to serve a document may apply, without notice, for an order —
(a)to serve the document in another way; or
(b)to dispense with service of the document, with or without conditions.
(2)The factors the court may have regard to when considering an application under subrule (1) include —
(a)the proposed method of bringing the document to the attention of the person to be served; and
(b)whether all reasonable steps have been taken to serve the document or bring it to the notice of the person to be served; and
(c)whether the person to be served could reasonably become aware of the existence and nature of the document by advertisement or another form of communication that is reasonably available; and
(d)the likely cost of service; and
(e)the nature of the case.
(3)A document is taken to be served if the court orders that service of a document is to be —
(a)dispensed with unconditionally; or
(b)dispensed with on a condition that is complied with.
Division 6 — Service in non‑convention country
137.Service in non‑convention country
(1)A person may serve a document on a person in a non‑convention country —
(a)in accordance with the law of the non‑convention country; or
(b)if the non‑convention country permits service of judicial documents through the diplomatic channel, through the diplomatic channel.
(2)A person seeking to serve a document in a non‑convention country through the diplomatic channel must —
(a)request the Registry Manager, in writing, to arrange service of the document under this Division; and
(b)lodge 2 copies of each document to be served, translated, if necessary, into an official language of that country.
(3)If the Registry Manager receives a request under subrule (2), the Registry Manager must —
(a)seal the documents to be served; and
(b)send to the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade —
(i)the sealed documents; and
(ii)a written request that the documents be sent to the government of the non‑convention country for service.
138.Proof of service in non‑convention country
(1)This rule applies if —
(a)a document is sent to the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for service on a person in a non‑convention country; and
(b)an official certificate or declaration by the government or court of the country, stating that the document has been personally served or served in another way under the law of the country, is sent to the court.
(2)The certificate or declaration is proof of service of the document and, when filed, is a record of the service and has effect as if it were an affidavit of service.
Part 8 — Right to be heard, address for service and submission of notices
Division 1 — Right to be heard and representation
139.Right to be heard and representation
(1)A person (other than a corporation or authority) who is entitled to be heard in a case may conduct the case on the person’s own behalf or be represented by a lawyer.
(2)A corporation or authority that is entitled to be heard in a case may be represented by a lawyer, or an officer of the corporation or authority.
140.Independent children’s lawyer
(1)A party may apply for the appointment or removal of an independent children’s lawyer by filing an application in a case.
(2)If the court makes an order for the appointment of an independent children’s lawyer —
(a)it may request that the representation be arranged by the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia; and
(b)it may order that the costs of the independent children’s lawyer be met by a party.
(3)A person appointed as an independent children’s lawyer —
(a)must file a notice of address for service; and
(b)must comply with these rules and do anything required to be done by a party; and
(c)may do anything permitted by these rules to be done by a party.
(4)If an independent children’s lawyer is appointed, the parties must conduct the case as if the independent children’s lawyer were a party.
(5)The appointment of an independent children’s lawyer ceases —
(a)when the parenting case is determined or withdrawn; or
(b)if there is an appeal, when the appeal is determined or withdrawn; or
(c)upon the court discharging the independent children’s lawyer.
141.Lawyer: conflicting interests
A lawyer acting for a party in a case must not act in the case for any other party who has a conflicting interest.
(1)A lawyer may cease to act for a party —
(a)by serving on the party a notice of ceasing to act and, no sooner than 7 days after serving the notice, filing a copy of the notice; or
(b)with the court’s permission.
(2)If, when a lawyer ceases to act for a party, the party’s address for service is the business address of the lawyer, the party’s last known street, postal or email address becomes the party’s address for service, unless and until the party gives a different address for service.
Division 2 — Address for service
(1)A party must give an address for service if —
(a)the party files or responds to an application; or
(b)the party seeks to be heard by the court.
(2)A party must give only 1 address for service for each application filed.
(3)A party may give an address for service —
(a)in the first document filed by the party; or
(b)by filing a notice of address for service.
(4)An address for service —
(a)must be an address in Australia where documents may be left or received by post; and
(b)must include a telephone number at which the party may be contacted; and
(c)may include a facsimile number and an email address for service by electronic means.
144.Change of address for service
If a party’s address for service changes during a case, the party must file a notice of address for service within 7 days after the change.
Division 3 — Submitting notices
(1)A party who has been served with an application referred to in subrule (2) and who does not want to contest the relief sought in the application may file a submitting notice in the approved form.
(2)The applications are the following —
(a)an initiating application seeking final orders;
(b)a response to an initiating application;
(c)a reply to a response to an initiating application;
(d)a notice of appeal.
(3)The submitting notice must —
(a)state that the party submits to any order that the court may make; and
(b)state whether the party wants to be heard on the question of costs; and
(c)include an address for service.
(4)A submitting notice for a party served with an application referred to in subrule (2)(a), (b) or (c) must be filed —
(a)before the first court date fixed under rule 53; or
(b)if the party was added to the case after that date — before the date for the procedural hearing set under rule 180(3).
(5)A submitting notice for a party served with a notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days after the party was served with the notice of appeal.
(6)A party who has filed a submitting notice may apply to the court for leave to withdraw the notice.
(7)An application under subrule (6) must be accompanied by an affidavit stating —
(a)why the party wants to withdraw the submitting notice; and
(b)the party’s intentions in relation to the further conduct of the proceeding.
Division 1 — Response to initiating application
146.Response to initiating application
(1)A respondent to an initiating application who seeks to oppose the orders sought in the application or seeks different orders must file a response to an initiating application.
(2)A response to an initiating application must —
(a)state the facts in the application with which the respondent disagrees; and
(b)state what the respondent believes the facts to be; and
(c)give full particulars of the orders the respondent wants the court to make.
(3)In addition to the matters in subrule (2), a response to an initiating application may —
(a)consent to an order sought by the applicant; or
(b)ask that the application be dismissed; or
(c)ask for orders in another cause of action.
(4)A response to an initiating application must not include a request for any of the following orders —
(a)a divorce order;
(b)an order that a marriage be annulled;
(c)a declaration as to validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment;
(d)an order under Part 4 Division 2 Subdivision 3 authorising a medical procedure.
147.Response objecting to jurisdiction
(1)A respondent seeking to object to the jurisdiction of the court —
(a)must file a response to an initiating application; and
(b)is not taken to have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court by seeking other orders in the response to an initiating application.
(2)The objection to the jurisdiction must be determined before any other orders sought in the response to an initiating application.
Division 2 — Reply to response to initiating application
148.Applicant to reply to response to initiating application
An applicant must file a reply if —
(a)in the response to an initiating application, the respondent seeks orders in a cause of action other than a cause of action specified in the application; and
(b)the applicant seeks —
(i)to oppose the orders sought in the response to an initiating application; or
(ii)different orders in the cause of action specified in the response to an initiating application.
149.Additional party to reply to response to initiating application
(1)This rule applies if, in a response to an initiating application, a respondent seeks orders against a person other than the applicant (an additional party).
(2)An additional party who seeks to oppose the orders sought in the response to an initiating application, or who seeks different orders, must file a reply.
Division 3 — Response to application in a case
150.Response to application in a case
A respondent to an application in a case who seeks to oppose the application or seeks different orders must file a response to an application in a case.
151.Affidavit must be filed with response to application in a case
(1)A respondent who files a response to an application in a case must, at the same time, file an affidavit stating the facts relied on in support of the response to an application in a case.
(2)Subrule (1) does not apply to a response to an application in a case filed in response to an application to review an order of a registrar.
152.Affidavit may be filed in reply to response to application in a case
An applicant may file an affidavit setting out the facts relied on by the applicant if —
(a)a respondent files a response to an application in a case seeking orders in a cause of action other than a cause of action specified in the application in a case; and
(b)the applicant opposes the orders sought in the response to an application in a case.
Division 4 — Filing and service
153.Time for filing and service of response or reply
(1)A party may respond to an application by filing and serving a response (and any affidavit filed with it) at least 7 days before the date fixed for the procedural hearing or hearing to which the response relates.
(2)If a party wishes to file a reply, the party must file and serve the reply as soon as possible after the response is received.
(3)All affidavits in a case started by an application in a case or a response to an application in a case must be filed at least 2 days before the date fixed for the hearing.
Part 10 — Ending case without trial
(1)A party may make an offer to another party to settle all or part of a case by serving on the other party an offer to settle at any time before the court makes an order disposing of the case.
(2)A party may make an offer to settle all or part of an appeal by serving on the other party an offer to settle at any time before the court makes an order disposing of the appeal.
(3)An offer to settle —
(a)must be in writing; and
(b)must not be filed.
155.Open and without prejudice offer
(1)An offer to settle is made without prejudice (a without prejudice offer) unless the offer states that it is an open offer.
(2)A party must not mention the fact that a without prejudice offer has been made, or the terms of the offer —
(a)in any document filed; or
(b)at a hearing or trial.
(3)If a party makes an open offer, any party may disclose the facts and terms of the offer to other parties and the court.
(4)Subrule (2) does not apply to —
(a)an application relating to an offer; or
(b)an application for costs.
(1)A party may withdraw an offer to settle by serving a written notice on the other party that the offer is withdrawn.
(2)A party may withdraw an offer to settle at any time before —
(a)the offer is accepted; or
(b)the court makes an order disposing of the application or appeal to which the offer relates.
(3)A 2nd or later offer by a party has the effect of withdrawing an earlier offer.
(1)A party may accept an offer to settle by notice, in writing, to the party making the offer.
(2)A party may accept an offer to settle at any time before —
(a)the offer is withdrawn; or
(b)the court makes an order disposing of the application or appeal.
(3)If an offer to settle is accepted, the parties must lodge a draft consent order.
A party may accept an offer to settle even though the party has made a counter‑offer to settle.
Subdivision 2 — Offers to settle in property cases
159.Compulsory offer to settle
(1)This rule applies to a property case.
(2)Each party must make a genuine offer to settle to all other parties within —
(a)28 days after the conciliation conference; or
(b)if no conciliation conference has been held, 28 days after the procedural hearing at which attendance at a conciliation conference has been dispensed with; or
(c)any further time as ordered by the court.
(3)The offer to settle must state that it is made under this Division.
A party who withdraws an offer to settle made under this Division must, at the same time, make another genuine offer to settle.
Division 2 — Discontinuing case
In this Division —
case includes —
(a)part of a case; and
(b)an order sought in an application; and
(c)an application for a consent order when there is no current case.
(1)A party may discontinue a case by filing a notice of discontinuance.
(2)A party must apply to the court for permission to discontinue a case if —
(a)the case relates to property of the parties, or a party, and 1 of the parties dies before the case is determined; or
(b)in an application for divorce, there are less than 7 days before the date of the hearing.
(3)Discontinuance of a case by a party does not discontinue any other party’s case.
(4)If a party discontinues a case, another party may apply for costs within 28 days after the notice of discontinuance is filed.
(5)A party may apply for the case to be stayed until costs are paid if —
(a)another party is required to pay the costs of the party because of the discontinuance of the case; and
(b)the party required to pay the costs starts another case on the same, or substantially the same, grounds before paying the costs.
Division 3 — Summary orders and separate decisions
163.Application for summary orders
A party may apply for summary orders after a response has been filed if the party claims, in relation to the application or response, that —
(a)the court has no jurisdiction; or
(b)the other party has no legal capacity to apply for the orders sought; or
(c)it is frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process; or
(d)there is no reasonable likelihood of success.
164.Application for separate decision
A party may apply for a decision on any issue, if the decision may —
(a)dispose of all or part of the case; or
(b)make a trial unnecessary; or
(c)make a trial substantially shorter; or
(d)save substantial costs.
165.What court may order under this Division
On an application under this Division, the court may —
(a)dismiss any part of the case; or
(b)decide an issue; or
(c)make a final order on any issue; or
(d)order a hearing about an issue or fact; or
(e)with the consent of the parties, order arbitration about the case or part of the case.
166.How to apply for consent order
(1)A party may apply for a consent order —
(a)in a current case —
(i)orally, during a hearing or a trial; or
(ii)by lodging a draft consent order; or
(iii)by tendering a draft consent order to a judicial officer during a court event;
or
(b)if there is no current case, by filing an application for consent orders.
(2)A party who files an application for a consent order if there is no current case must —
(a)lodge a draft consent order; or
(b)tender a draft consent order to a judicial officer during a court event.
(3)A draft consent order must —
(a)set out clearly the orders that the parties ask the court to make; and
(b)state that it is made by consent; and
(c)be signed by each of the parties.
(4)Subrule (1)(b) does not apply if a party applies for a consent order —
(a)for step‑parent maintenance; or
(b)relying on a cross‑vesting law; or
(c)approving a medical procedure; or
(d)for a parenting order when section 92 of the Act or the Family Law Act section 65G applies; or
(e)for an order under a Child Support Act.
(5)A party applying for a consent order in a case specified in subrule (4) must file an initiating application as soon as the consent is received.
167.Consent parenting orders and allegations of abuse or family violence
(1)This rule applies if an application is made to the court in a current case for a parenting order by consent.
(2)If an application is made orally during a hearing or trial, each party, or if represented by a lawyer, the party’s lawyer —
(a)must advise the court whether the party considers that the child concerned has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to or exposed to abuse, neglect or family violence; and
(b)must advise the court whether the party considers that the party, or another party to the proceedings, has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to family violence; and
(c)if allegations of abuse or family violence have been made, must explain to the court how the order attempts to deal with the allegations.
(3)For any other application each party, or if represented by a lawyer, the party’s lawyer —
(a)must certify in an annexure to the draft consent order whether the party considers that the child concerned has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to or exposed to abuse, neglect or family violence; and
(b)must certify in the annexure whether the party considers that the party, or another party to the proceedings, has been, or is at risk of being, subjected to family violence; and
(c)if allegations of abuse or family violence have been made, must explain in the annexure how the order attempts to deal with the allegations.
168.Notice to superannuation trustee
(1)This rule applies in a property case if a party intends to apply for a consent order which is expressed to bind the trustee of an eligible superannuation plan.
(2)The party must, not less than 28 days before lodging the draft consent order or filing the application for consent orders, notify the trustee of the eligible superannuation plan in writing of the following —
(a)the terms of the order that will be sought to bind the trustee;
(b)the next court event (if any);
(c)that the parties intend to apply for the order sought if no objection to the order is received from the trustee within the time specified in subrule (3);
(d)that if the trustee objects to the order sought, the trustee must give the parties written notice of the objection within the time specified in subrule (3).
(3)If the trustee does not object to the order sought within 28 days after receiving notice under subrule (2), the party may file the application or lodge the draft consent order.
(4)Despite subrule (3), if, after service of notice under subrule (2) on the trustee, the trustee consents, in writing, to the order being made, the parties may file the application for a consent order or lodge the draft consent order.
169.Dealing with consent order
If a party applies for a consent order, the court may —
(a)make an order in accordance with the orders sought; or
(b)require a party to file additional information; or
(c)list the application for a procedural hearing; or
(d)dismiss the application.
170.Lapsing of respondent’s consent
A respondent’s consent to an application that an order be made in the same terms as the draft consent order attached to an application for consent orders lapses if —
(a)90 days have passed since the date of the affidavit in the application for consent orders; and
(b)the application for consent orders has not been filed.
Division 1 — Court’s powers of case management
The court may, in relation to a matter specified in column 1 of an item to the Table, exercise any of the powers specified in column 2 of that item to achieve the main purpose of these rules.
Table
|
Item |
Column 1 Subject |
Column 2 Power |
|
1. |
Attendance |
(a)Order a party to attend — (i)a procedural hearing; (ii)a family consultant; (iii)family counselling or family dispute resolution; (iv)a conference or other court event; (v)a post‑separation parenting program; (b)require a party, a party’s lawyer or an independent children’s lawyer to attend court |
|
2. |
Case development |
(a)Consolidate cases; (b)order that part of a case be dealt with separately; (c)decide the sequence in which issues are to be tried; (d)specify the facts that are in dispute, state the issues and make procedural orders about how and when the case will be heard or tried; (e)with the consent of the parties, order that a case or part of a case be submitted to arbitration; (f)order a party to provide particulars, or further and better particulars, of the orders sought by that party and the basis on which the orders are sought. |
|
3. |
Conduct of case |
(a)Hold a court event and receive submissions and evidence by electronic communication; (b)postpone, bring forward or cancel a court event; (c)adjourn a court event; (d)stay a case or part of a case; (e)make orders in the absence of a party; (f)deal with an application without an oral hearing; (g)deal with an application with written or oral evidence or, if the issue is a question of law, without evidence; (h)allow an application to be made orally; (i)determine an application without requiring notice to be given; (j)order that a case lose listing priority; (k)make a self‑executing order; (l)make an order granting permission for a party to perform an action if a provision of the rules requires a party to obtain that permission; (m)for a fee that is required by law to be paid — order that the fee must be paid by a specified date |
172.Failure to comply with legislative provision or order
(1)If a step is taken after the time specified for taking the step by these rules, the regulations or a procedural order, the step is of no effect.
(2)If a party does not comply with these rules, the regulations or a procedural order, the court may —
(a)dismiss all or part of the case; or
(b)set aside a step taken or an order made; or
(c)determine the case as if it were undefended; or
(d)make any of the orders specified in the Table to rule 171; or
(e)order costs; or
(f)prohibit the party from taking a further step in the case until the occurrence of a specified event; or
(g)make any other order the court considers necessary, having regard to the main purpose of these rules.
(1)A party may apply for relief from —
(a)the effect of rule 172(1); or
(b)an order under rule 172(2).
(2)In determining an application under subrule (1), the court may consider —
(a)whether there is a good reason for the non‑compliance; and
(b)the extent to which the party has complied with orders, legislative provisions and the pre‑action procedures; and
(c)whether the non‑compliance was caused by the party or the party’s lawyer; and
(d)the impact of the non‑compliance on the management of the case; and
(e)the effect of non‑compliance on each other party; and
(f)costs; and
(g)whether the applicant should be stayed from taking any further steps in the case until the costs are paid; and
(h)if the application is for relief from the effect of rule 172(1), whether all parties consent to the step being taken after the specified time.
174.Certificate of vexatious proceedings order
(1)A request under the Family Law Act section 102QC(1) for a certificate relating to a vexatious proceedings order must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)include the following information —
(i)the name and address of the person making the request;
(ii)the person’s interest in making the request.
(2)The request must be lodged in the Registry in which the vexatious proceedings order was made.
(3)For the purposes of the Family Law Act section 102QC(2)(b), the certificate must specify the following information —
(a)the name of the person subject to the vexatious proceedings order;
(b)if applicable, the name of the person who applied for the vexatious proceedings order;
(c)the orders made by the court under section 102QB(2) of that Act.
175.Application for leave to institute proceedings after vexatious proceedings order made
(1)This rule applies if a court has made an order under a legislative provision specified in subrule (2) and the person against whom the order was made applies for leave to institute or continue proceedings.
(2)The legislative provisions are —
(a)section 242 of the Act or the Family Law Act section 102QB(2); or
(b)the Family Law Act section 118(1)(c) or (2) as in force immediately before the commencement of the Access to Justice (Federal Jurisdiction) Amendment Act 2012 (Commonwealth) Schedule 3.
(3)An application under this rule must be —
(a)in the form of an application in a case; and
(b)made without notice to any other party.
(4)On the first court date for the application, the court may dismiss the application or —
(a)order the person to —
(i)serve the application and affidavit; and
(ii)file and serve any further affidavits in support of the application;
and
(b)list the application for hearing.
176.Dismissal for want of prosecution
(1)If a party has not taken a step in a case for 1 year, the court may —
(a)dismiss all or part of the case; or
(b)order an act to be done within a fixed time, in default of which the party’s application will be dismissed.
(2)The court must not make an order under subrule (1) unless, at least 14 days before making the order, the court has given the parties written notice of the date and time when it will consider whether to make the order.
(3)A party may apply for the case to be stayed until costs are paid if —
(a)an application is dismissed under subrule (1); and
(b)another party is ordered to pay the costs of the party; and
(c)before the costs are paid, the party ordered to pay them starts another application on the same or substantially the same grounds.
(1)A party may, by serving a notice to admit on another party, ask the other party to admit, for the purposes of the case only, that a fact is true or that a document is genuine.
(2)A notice to admit must include a note to the effect that, under rule 178(2), failure to serve a notice disputing a fact or document will result in the party being taken to have admitted that the fact is true or the document is genuine.
(3)If a notice to admit mentions a document, the party serving the notice must attach a copy of the document to the notice, unless —
(a)the other party has a copy of the document; or
(b)it is not practicable to attach the copy to the notice.
(4)If subrule (3)(b) applies, the party must —
(a)in the notice —
(i)identify the document; and
(ii)specify a convenient place and time at which the document may be inspected;
and
(b)produce the document for inspection at the specified place and time.
178.Notice disputing fact or document
(1)If a party who is served with a notice to admit seeks to dispute a fact or document specified in the notice, the party must serve on the party who served the notice, within 14 days after it was served, a notice disputing the fact or document.
(2)If a party does not serve a notice in accordance with subrule (1), the party is taken to admit, for the purposes of the case only, that the fact is true or the document is genuine.
(3)A party may be ordered to pay the costs of proof if —
(a)the party serves a notice disputing a fact or document; and
(b)the fact or the genuineness of the document is later proved in the case.
(1)In this rule —
admission includes an admission in a document in the case or taken to be made under rule 178(2).
(2)A party may withdraw an admission that a fact is true or a document is genuine only with the court’s permission or the consent of all parties.
(3)When allowing a party to withdraw an admission, the court may order the party to pay any other party’s costs thrown away.
180.Amendment by party or court order
(1)A party who has filed an application or response may amend the application or response —
(a)for a case started by an initiating application —
(i)at any time before the readiness hearing or the time at which the case is allocated a date for trial, whichever is the earlier; or
(ii)if the court gives permission, at a later time;
and
(b)for an application in a case —
(i)at or before the first court date; or
(ii)at any later time, with the consent of the other parties or by order of a court;
and
(c)for all other applications, at any time, with the consent of the other parties or by order of a court.
(2)A party must amend the form in accordance with this Subdivision if the party —
(a)has filed an initiating application or response to an initiating application; and
(b)seeks to add or substitute another cause of action or another person as a party to the case.
(3)If an amendment specified in subrule (2) is made after the first court date, the Registry Manager must set a date for a further procedural hearing.
(4)If a date is set for a further procedural hearing, the party amending the initiating application or response to an initiating application under subrule (2) must give each other party written notice of the hearing.
A party who has been given permission by the court to amend an application must do so within 7 days after the order is made.
(1)A party must amend a document by filing a copy of the document —
(a)with the amendment clearly marked; and
(b)if the document is amended by order, endorsed with the date when the order and amendment are made.
(2)If the court gives permission for a party to amend a document, the permission is taken to be given by court order.
183.Response to amended document
If an amended document that has been served on a party affects a document (the affected document) previously filed by the party, the party may amend the affected document —
(a)in accordance with rule 182; and
(b)not more than 14 days after the amended document was served on the party.
The court may disallow an amendment of a document.
Subdivision 1 — Open court and chambers
(1)Subject to subrule (2), a judicial officer may exercise their jurisdiction in chambers.
(2)A trial must be heard in open court.
(3)Proceedings in the court (other than a trial) may be heard in chambers.
(4)A judicial officer who determines a case in chambers must record the following —
(a)the file number;
(b)the names of the parties;
(c)the date of the determination;
(d)the orders made.
(5)If a judgment is given in proceedings —
(a)the judgment must be pronounced in open court; and
(b)if the reasons for judgment are reduced to writing — the written reasons must be published by delivering them to the registrar or an associate in open court.
Subdivision 2 — Transferring case
186.Transfer to another court or registry
A party may apply to have a case —
(a)heard at another place; or
(b)transferred to another registry or a court exercising jurisdiction under the Act or the Family Law Act.
187.Factors that may be considered for transfer
(1)In making a decision under rule 186 or in deciding whether to remove a case from another court under the Family Law Act section 46(3A), the court may consider —
(a)the public interest; and
(b)whether the case, if transferred or removed, is likely to be dealt with —
(i)at less cost to the parties; or
(ii)at more convenience to the parties; or
(iii)earlier;
and
(c)the availability of a judicial officer specialising in the type of case to which the application relates; and
(d)the availability of particular procedures appropriate to the case; and
(e)the financial value of the claim; and
(f)the complexity of the facts, legal issues, remedies and procedures involved; and
(g)the adequacy of the available facilities, having regard to —
(i)any disability of a party or witness; and
(ii)any safety concerns;
and
(h)the wishes of the parties.
(2)Subrule (1) does not apply to —
(a)a case raising, or relying on, a cross‑vesting law in which a party objecting to the case being heard in the court applies to have the case transferred to another court; or
(b)the transfer of a case under the Corporations Act; or
(c)a case that must be transferred in accordance with a legislative provision.
Subdivision 3 — Transfer of court file
If an order is made to transfer or remove a case from the court to another court, the Registry Manager, after receiving the file, must —
(a)fix a date for a procedural hearing; and
(b)give each party notice of the date fixed.
Division 1 — Application of Part
This Part applies to all initiating applications, except —
(a)a medical procedure application; and
(b)a maintenance application; and
(c)a child support application or appeal; and
(d)an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity or a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment.
Division 2 — Specific court events
190.Property case: exchange of documents before first court date
At least 2 days before the first court date in a property case, each party must, as far as practicable, exchange with each other party a copy of all of the following documents —
(a)a copy of the party’s 3 most recent taxation returns and assessments;
(b)if relevant, documents about any superannuation interest of the party, including —
(i)if not already filed, the completed superannuation information form for the superannuation interest, or if the fund to which the form relates is an accumulation fund, the 2 most recent member benefit statements received by the person relating to the fund; and
(ii)if the party is a member of a self‑managed superannuation fund, a copy of the trust deed and the 3 most recent financial statements for the fund;
(c)for a corporation in relation to which a party has a duty of disclosure under rule 199 —
(i)a copy of the financial statements for the 3 most recent financial years, including balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, depreciation schedules and taxation returns; and
(ii)a copy of the corporation’s most recent annual return that lists the directors and shareholders; and
(iii)if relevant, a copy of the corporation’s constitution;
(d)for a trust in relation to which a party has a duty of disclosure under rule 199 —
(i)a copy of the financial statements for the 3 most recent financial years, including balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, depreciation schedules and taxation returns; and
(ii)a copy of the trust deed;
(e)for a partnership in relation to which a party has a duty of disclosure under rule 199 —
(i)a copy of the financial statements for the 3 most recent financial years, including balance sheets, profit and loss accounts, depreciation schedules and taxation returns; and
(ii)a copy of the partnership agreement;
(f)for a person or entity specified in paragraph (a), (c), (d) or (e), any business activity statements for the 12 months ending immediately before the first court date;
(g)unless the value is agreed, a market appraisal or an opinion as to value in relation to any item of property in which a party has an interest.
191.Exchange of documents before conciliation conference
(1)This rule applies to a party to a property case in which the parties are required to attend a conciliation conference.
(2)Within 28 days prior to the conciliation conference, each party must, as far as practicable, exchange with each other party —
(a)if not already exchanged, a copy of all the documents specified in rule 190; and
(b)any other documents ordered to be exchanged.
(3)By no later than 14 days prior to the conciliation conference each party must file, and must serve on each other party, a completed conciliation conference particulars form.
(4)At the conclusion of the conciliation conference, each conciliation conference particulars form that has been filed must be either —
(a)returned to the party that filed it; or
(b)deleted or otherwise disposed of by the Registry Manager.
192.Conduct of conciliation conference
(1)A conciliation conference must be conducted by a judicial officer.
(2)Each party at a conciliation conference must make a genuine effort to reach agreement on the matters in issue between them.
Division 3 — Attendance at court events
(1)A party and the party’s lawyer (if any) must attend each procedural hearing or conciliation conference.
(2)Subrule (1) does not apply if the parties are seeking a consent order that will finally dispose of the case.
194.Attendance by electronic communication
Rules 81 and 82 apply in relation to the use of electronic communication to attend a court event (other than a trial) as if the court event were a hearing.
195.Failure to attend court events
(1)If an applicant does not attend a procedural hearing, the court may —
(a)dismiss the application; or
(b)make an order for the future conduct of the case.
(2)If a respondent does not attend a procedural hearing, the court may —
(a)if the respondent has not filed a response to an initiating application, make the order sought in the application; or
(b)list the case for dismissal or hearing on an undefended basis; or
(c)make an order for the future conduct of the case.
(3)If a party does not attend a conciliation conference, the court may —
(a)list the case for dismissal or hearing on an undefended basis; and
(b)make an order for the future conduct of the case.
Division 4 — Adjournment and postponement of procedural hearings
196.Administrative postponement of procedural hearing
(1)If the applicant and any party served agree that a procedural hearing should not proceed on the date fixed for it, the applicant and any party served may jointly request the Registry Manager to postpone the hearing.
(2)A request must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)specify why it is appropriate to postpone the hearing; and
(c)specify the date to which the event is sought to be postponed; and
(d)be signed by each party making the request or the party’s lawyer; and
(e)be received by the Registry Manager no later than 12 noon on the day before the date fixed for the hearing.
(3)If a request is made, the Registry Manager must tell the parties —
(a)that the hearing has been postponed; and
(b)the date to which it has been postponed.
(4)The Registry Manager must not postpone a procedural hearing more than twice under this rule.
(5)If practicable, a hearing must not be postponed to a date that is more than 8 weeks after the date fixed for the hearing.
Division 1 — Disclosure between parties
Subdivision 1 — General duty of disclosure
197.General duty of disclosure
(1)Subject to subrule (3), each party to a case has a duty to the court and to each other party to give full and frank disclosure of all information relevant to the case, in a timely manner.
(2)The duty of disclosure starts with the pre‑action procedure for a case and continues until the case is finalised.
(3)This rule does not apply to a respondent in an application alleging contravention or contempt.
Subdivision 2 — Duty of disclosure in financial cases
198.Purpose of this Subdivision
(1)This Subdivision sets out the duty of disclosure required by parties to a financial case.
(2)This Subdivision does not apply to a party to a property case who is not a party to the marriage or de facto relationship to which the application relates, except to the extent that the party’s financial circumstances are relevant to the issues in dispute.
(1)In this rule —
legal entity means a corporation (other than a public company), trust, partnership, joint venture business or other commercial activity.
(2)A party to a financial case (including a payee or other respondent to an enforcement application) must make full and frank disclosure of the party’s financial circumstances, including —
(a)the party’s earnings, including income that is paid or assigned to another party, person or legal entity; and
(b)any vested or contingent interest in property; and
(c)any vested or contingent interest in property owned by a legal entity that is fully or partially owned or controlled by a party; and
(d)any income earned by a legal entity fully or partially owned or controlled by a party, including income that is paid or assigned to any other party, person or legal entity; and
(e)the party’s other financial resources; and
(f)any trust —
(i)of which the party is the appointor or trustee; or
(ii)of which the party, or the party’s child, spouse or de facto partner, is an eligible beneficiary as to capital or income; or
(iii)of which a corporation is an eligible beneficiary as to capital or income if the party, or the party’s child, spouse or de facto partner, is a shareholder or director of the corporation; or
(iv)over which the party has any direct or indirect power or control; or
(v)of which the party has the direct or indirect power to remove or appoint a trustee; or
(vi)of which the party has the power (whether subject to the concurrence of another person or not) to amend the terms; or
(vii)of which the party has the power to disapprove a proposed amendment of the terms or the appointment or removal of a trustee; or
(viii)over which a corporation has a power specified in any of subparagraphs (iv) to (vii), if the party, or the party’s child, spouse or de facto partner, is a director or shareholder of the corporation;
and
(g)any disposal of property (whether by sale, transfer, assignment or gift) made by the party, a legal entity specified in paragraph (c), a corporation or a trust specified in paragraph (f) that may affect, defeat or deplete a claim —
(i)in the 12 months immediately before the separation of the parties; or
(ii)since the final separation of the parties;
and
(h)liabilities and contingent liabilities.
(3)Subrule (2)(g) does not apply to a disposal of property made with the consent or knowledge of the other party or in the ordinary course of business.
(1)A party starting, or filing a response or reply to, a financial case (except by an application for consent orders) must file a financial statement at the same time.
(2)If a party is aware that the completion of a financial statement will not fully discharge the duty to make full and frank disclosure, the party must also file an affidavit giving further particulars.
201.Amendment of financial statement
If a party’s financial circumstances have changed significantly from the information set out in the financial statement or the affidavit filed under rule 200, the party must, within 21 days after the change of circumstances, file —
(a)a new financial statement; or
(b)if the amendments can be set out clearly in 300 words or less, an affidavit containing details about the party’s changed financial circumstances.
Division 2 — Duty to disclose documents
Subdivision 1 — Disclosure of documents for all cases
202.Duty to disclose documents
The duty of disclosure applies to each document that —
(a)is or has been in the possession, or under the control, of the party disclosing the document; and
(b)is relevant to an issue in the case.
A person who inspects or copies a document, in relation to a case, under these rules or an order —
(a)must use the document for the purpose of the case only; and
(b)must not otherwise disclose the contents of the document, or give a copy of it, to any other person without the court’s permission.
(1)A party may, by written notice, require another party to provide a copy of, or produce for inspection, a document referred to —
(a)in a document filed or served by a party on another party or independent children’s lawyer; or
(b)in correspondence prepared and sent by or to another party or independent children’s lawyer.
(2)A party required to provide a copy of a document must provide the copy within 21 days after receiving the written notice.
205.Production of original documents
A party may, by written notice, require another party to produce for inspection an original document if the document is a document that must be produced under the duty of disclosure.
206.Disclosure by inspection of documents
(1)If a party is required to produce a document for inspection under rule 204 or 205, the party must —
(a)notify, in writing, the party requesting the document of a convenient place and time to inspect the document; and
(b)produce the document for inspection at that place and time; and
(c)allow copies of the document to be made at the expense of the party requesting it.
(2)The time fixed under subrule (1)(a) must be within 21 days after the party receives a written notice under rule 204 or 205 or as otherwise agreed.
A party who fails to inspect a document under a notice given under rule 204, 205 or 216(3)(a) may not later do so unless the party tenders an amount for the reasonable costs of providing another opportunity for inspection.
208.Documents that need not be produced
Subject to rule 280, a party must disclose, but need not produce to the party requesting it —
(a)a document for which there is a claim for privilege from disclosure; or
(b)a document a copy of which is already disclosed, if the copy contains no change, obliteration or other mark or feature that is likely to affect the outcome of the case.
(1)This rule applies if —
(a)a party claims —
(i)privilege from production of a document; or
(ii)that the party is unable to produce a document;
and
(b)another party, by written notice, challenges the claim.
(2)The party making the claim must, within 7 days after the other party challenges the claim, file an affidavit setting out details of the claim.
210.Consequence of non‑disclosure
If a party does not disclose a document as required under these rules —
(a)the party —
(i)must not offer the document, or present evidence of its contents, at a hearing or trial without the other party’s consent or the court’s permission; and
(ii)may be guilty of contempt for not disclosing the document; and
(iii)may be ordered to pay costs;
and
(b)the court may stay or dismiss all or part of the party’s case.
(1)A party (except an independent children’s lawyer) must file a written notice —
(a)stating that the party —
(i)has read Divisions 1 and 2; and
(ii)is aware of the party’s duty to the court and each other party (including any independent children’s lawyer) to give full and frank disclosure of all information relevant to the issues in the case, in a timely manner;
and
(b)undertaking to the court that, to the best of the party’s knowledge and ability, the party has complied with, and will continue to comply with, the duty of disclosure; and
(c)acknowledging that a breach of the undertaking may be contempt of court.
(2)A party commits an offence if the party makes a statement or signs an undertaking the party knows, or should reasonably have known, is false or misleading in a material particular.
Penalty for this subrule: a fine of $5 500.
(3)If the court makes an order against a party under section 234 of the Act or the Family Law Act section 112AP in respect of a false or misleading statement specified in subrule (2), the party must not be charged with an offence against subrule (2) in respect of that statement.
(4)A notice under subrule (1) must comply with rule 483(1) or (2) and state as follows —
This Notice is filed in accordance with the Family Court Rules 2021 rule 211.
I [insert name]:
(a)have read the Family Court Rules 2021 Part 13 Divisions 1 and 2; and
(b)am aware of my duty to the court and to each other party (including any independent children’s lawyer) to give full and frank disclosure of all information relevant to the issues in the case, in a timely manner; and
(c)undertake to the court that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I have complied with, and will continue to comply with, my duty of disclosure.
I understand the nature and terms of this undertaking and that if I breach the undertaking, I may be guilty of contempt of court.
212.Time for filing undertaking
A notice under rule 211 must be filed at least 28 days before the readiness hearing.
Subdivision 2 — Disclosure of documents for certain applications
213.Application of Subdivision
This Subdivision applies to —
(a)an application for divorce; and
(b)an application in a case; and
(c)an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity or a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment; and
(d)a maintenance application; and
(e)a child support application or appeal; and
(f)a contravention application; and
(g)a contempt application.
214.Party may seek order about disclosure
A party to an application to which this Subdivision applies may seek only the following orders about disclosure —
(a)that another party deliver a copy of a document;
(b)that another party produce a document for inspection by another party.
Subdivision 3 — Disclosure of documents: initiating applications
215.Application of Subdivision
(1)This Subdivision applies to all initiating applications, except —
(a)an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity or a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment; or
(b)a maintenance application; or
(c)a child support application or appeal; or
(d)an initiating application seeking an interim, procedural, ancillary or other incidental order.
(2)This Subdivision does not affect —
(a)the right of a party to inspect a document, if the party has a common interest in the document with the party who has possession or control of the document; or
(b)another right of access to a document other than under this Subdivision; or
(c)an agreement between the parties for disclosure by a procedure that is not described in this Subdivision.
216.Disclosure by service of list of documents
(1)A party (the requesting party) may, by written notice, ask another party (the disclosing party) to give the requesting party a list of documents to which the duty of disclosure applies.
(2)The disclosing party must, within 21 days after receiving the notice, serve on the requesting party a list of documents identifying —
(a)the documents to which the duty of disclosure applies; and
(b)the documents no longer in the disclosing party’s possession or control to which the duty would otherwise apply (with a brief statement about the circumstances in which the documents left the party’s possession or control); and
(c)the documents for which privilege from production is claimed.
(3)The requesting party may, by written notice, ask the disclosing party to —
(a)produce a document for inspection; or
(b)provide a copy of a document.
(4)The disclosing party must, within 14 days after receiving a notice under subrule (3)(b), give the requesting party, at the requesting party’s expense, the copies requested, other than copies of documents —
(a)in relation to which privilege from production is claimed; or
(b)that are no longer in the disclosing party’s possession or control.
(5)If a document that must be disclosed is located by, or comes into the possession or control of, a disclosing party after disclosure under subrule (2), the party must disclose the document within 7 days after it is located or comes into the party’s possession or control.
217.Disclosure by inspection of documents
(1)This rule applies if —
(a)a party has requested the production of a document for inspection under rule 216(3)(a); or
(b)it is not convenient for a disclosing party to provide copies of documents under rule 216(3)(b) because of the number and size of the documents.
(2)The disclosing party must, within 14 days after receiving the notice under rule 216(3) —
(a)notify the requesting party, in writing, of a convenient place and time at which the documents may be inspected; and
(b)produce the documents for inspection at that place and time; and
(c)allow copies of the documents to be made at the requesting party’s expense.
218.Application for disclosure order
(1)A party may apply to a court for an order that —
(a)another party comply with a request for a list of documents in accordance with rule 216; or
(b)another party disclose a specified document or class of documents by providing to the other party a copy of the document, or each document in the class, for inspection by the other party; or
(c)another party produce a document for inspection; or
(d)a party file an affidavit stating —
(i)that a specified document or class of documents does not exist or has never existed; or
(ii)the circumstances in which a specified document or class of documents ceased to exist or passed out of the possession or control of that party;
or
(e)the party be partly or fully relieved of the duty of disclosure.
(2)A party making an application under subrule (1) must satisfy the court that the order is necessary for disposing of the case or an issue or reducing costs.
(3)In making an order under subrule (1), the court may consider —
(a)whether the disclosure sought is relevant to an issue in dispute; and
(b)the relative importance of the issue to which the document or class of documents relates; and
(c)the likely time, cost and inconvenience involved in disclosing a document or class of documents taking into account the amount of the property, or complexity of the corporate, trust or partnership interests (if any), involved in the case; and
(d)the likely effect on the outcome of the case of disclosing, or not disclosing, the document or class of documents.
(4)If the disclosure of a document is necessary for the purpose of resolving a case at the conciliation conference, a party (the requesting party) may, at the first court event, seek an order that another party —
(a)provide a copy of the document to the requesting party; or
(b)produce the document to the requesting party for inspection and copying.
(5)The court may only make an order under subrule (4) in exceptional circumstances.
(6)If a party objects to the production of a document for inspection or copying, the court may inspect the document to decide the objection.
If the cost of complying with the duty of disclosure would be oppressive to a party, the court may order another party to —
(a)pay the costs; or
(b)contribute to the costs; or
(c)give security for costs.
The court may make an order directing disclosure of documents by electronic means.
Division 3 — Answers to specific questions
This Division applies to all applications seeking final orders, except the following —
(a)an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity or a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment;
(b)a maintenance application;
(c)a child support application or appeal.
222.Service of specific questions
(1)After a case has been the subject of a conciliation conference or entered into a defended list (whichever occurs first) a party (the requesting party) may serve on another party (the answering party) a request to answer specific questions.
(2)A party may only serve 1 set of specific questions on another party.
(3)The specific questions must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be limited to 20 questions (with each question taken to be 1 specific question); and
(c)not be vexatious or oppressive.
(4)If an answering party is required, by a written notice served under rule 216 or an order, to give the requesting party a list of documents, the answering party is not required to answer the questions until the time for disclosure under Division 2 or the order has expired.
(5)The requesting party must serve a copy of any request to answer specific questions on all other parties.
223.Answering specific questions
(1)A party on whom a request to answer specific questions is served must answer the questions in an affidavit that is filed and served on each person to be served within 21 days after the request was served.
(2)The party must, in the affidavit —
(a)answer, fully and frankly, each specific question; or
(b)object to answering a specific question.
(3)An objection under subrule (2)(b) must —
(a)specify the grounds of the objection; and
(b)briefly state the facts in support of the objection.
224.Orders in relation to specific questions
(1)A party may apply to a court for an order —
(a)that a party comply with rule 223 and answer, or further answer, a specific question served on the party under rule 222; or
(b)determining the extent to which a question must be answered; or
(c)requiring a party to state specific grounds of objection; or
(d)determining the validity of an objection; or
(e)that a party who has not answered, or who has given an insufficient answer, to a specific question be required to attend court to be examined.
(2)In considering whether to make an order under subrule (1), the court may take into account whether —
(a)the requesting party is unlikely, at the trial, to have another reasonably simple and inexpensive way of proving the matter sought to be obtained by the specific questions; and
(b)answering the questions will cause unacceptable delay or undue expense; and
(c)the specific questions are relevant to an issue in the case.
Division 4 — Information from non‑parties
This Division sets out the information a party may require from an employer of a party to a financial case.
(1)A court may order a party to advise the court, in writing, within a specified time, of —
(a)the name and address of the party’s employer or, if the party has more than 1 employer, each of those employers; and
(b)other information the court considers necessary to enable an employer to identify the party.
(2)Subrule (3) applies if —
(a)a party (the requesting party) requests the employer of another party (the employee) to give particulars about —
(i)the employer’s indebtedness to the employee; or
(ii)the employee’s present rate of earnings, or of all the earnings of the employee that became payable during a specified period; or
(iii)the employee’s conditions of employment;
and
(b)the employer refuses, or fails to respond to, the requesting party’s request.
(3)The requesting party may apply for an order that the employer advise the court, in writing, within a specified time, of the particulars specified in subrule (2)(a).
(1)A court may make an order for the inspection, detention, possession, valuation, insurance or preservation of property if —
(a)the order relates to the property of a party, or a question may arise about the property in a case; and
(b)the order is necessary to allow the proper determination of a case.
(2)The court may order a party —
(a)to sell or otherwise dispose of property that will deteriorate, decay or spoil; and
(b)to deal with the proceeds of the sale or disposal in a certain way.
(3)A party may ask the court to make an order in relation to property authorising a person to —
(a)enter, or to do another thing to gain entry or access to, the property; or
(b)make observations and take photographs of the property; or
(c)observe or read images or information contained in the property including, for example, playing a tape, film or disk, or accessing computer files; or
(d)copy the property or information contained in the property.
(4)If the court makes an order under this rule, it may also order a party to pay the costs of a person who is not a party to the case and who must comply with the order.
(5)The court may make an order under subrule (1) binding on, or otherwise affecting, a person who is not a party to the case.
(1)A party who has applied for an order under rule 227 must —
(a)make a reasonable attempt to find out who has, or claims to have, an interest in the property to which the application relates; and
(b)serve the application and any supporting affidavits on that person.
(2)The court may allow an application for an order under this Part to be made without notice.
A party may apply for an order that the court inspect a place, process or thing, or witness a demonstration, about which a question arises in a case.
230.Application for Anton Piller order
(1)A party may apply for an Anton Piller order —
(a)requiring a respondent to permit the applicant, alone or with another person, to enter the respondent’s premises and inspect or seize documents or other property; and
(b)requiring the respondent to disclose specific information relevant to the case; and
(c)restraining the respondent, for a specified period of no more than 7 days, from informing anyone else (other than the respondent’s lawyer) that the order has been made.
(2)The applicant may apply for an Anton Piller order without notice to the respondent.
(3)An application for an Anton Piller order must be supported by an affidavit that includes —
(a)a description of the document or property to be seized or inspected; and
(b)the address of the premises where the order is to be carried out; and
(c)the reason the applicant believes the respondent may remove, destroy or alter the document or property unless the order is made; and
(d)a statement about the damage the applicant is likely to suffer if the order is not made; and
(e)a statement about the value of the property to be seized; and
(f)if permission is granted, the name of the person (if any) who the applicant wishes to accompany the applicant to the respondent’s premises.
(4)If an Anton Piller order is made, the applicant must serve a copy of it on the respondent when the order is acted on.
231.Application for Mareva order
(1)A party may apply for a Mareva order restraining another person from removing property from Australia, or dealing with property in or outside Australia, if —
(a)the order will be incidental to an existing or prospective order made in favour of the applicant; or
(b)the applicant has an existing or prospective claim that is able to be decided in Australia.
(2)The applicant must file with the application an affidavit that includes —
(a)a description of the nature and value of the respondent’s property, so far as it is known to the applicant, in and outside Australia; and
(b)the reason why the applicant believes —
(i)property of the respondent may be removed from Australia; and
(ii)dealing with the property should be restrained by order;
and
(c)a statement about the damage the applicant is likely to suffer if the order is not made; and
(d)a statement about the identity of anyone, other than the respondent, who may be affected by the order and how the person may be affected; and
(e)if the application is made under subrule (1)(b), the following information about the claim —
(i)the basis of the claim;
(ii)the amount of the claim;
(iii)if the application is made without notice to the respondent, a possible response to the claim.
232.Notice to superannuation trustee
(1)This rule applies in a property case if —
(a)a party seeks an order to bind the trustee of an eligible superannuation plan; and
(b)the case has been listed for the first day of the trial.
(2)The party must, not less than 28 days before the first day of the trial, notify the trustee of the eligible superannuation plan in writing of the terms of the order that will be sought at the trial to bind the trustee, and the date of the trial.
(3)If the court makes an order binding the trustee of an eligible superannuation plan, the party that sought the order must serve a copy of the order on the trustee of the eligible superannuation plan in which the interest is held.
(1)A person who applies for orders for the alteration of property interests must serve a written notice on each person whose interests would be affected by the making of the orders.
(2)The notice must —
(a)state that the person to whom the notice is addressed may be entitled to become a party to the case under the section of the Act or the Family Law Act for which the notice is served; and
(b)include a copy of the application for the order sought; and
(c)state the date of the next relevant court event.
234.Restriction on children’s evidence
(1)A party applying under section 214A of the Act or the Family Law Act section 100B to adduce the evidence of a child must file an affidavit that —
(a)sets out the facts relied on in support of the application; and
(b)includes the name of a support person; and
(c)attaches a summary of the evidence to be adduced from the child.
(2)If the court makes an order in relation to an application mentioned in subrule (1), it may order that —
(a)the child’s evidence be given by way of affidavit, video conference, closed circuit television or other electronic communication; and
(b)a person named in the order as a support person be present with the child when the child gives evidence.
If a family report is prepared in a case, the court may —
(a)release copies of the report to each party, or the party’s lawyer, and to an independent children’s lawyer; and
(b)receive the report in evidence; and
(c)permit oral examination of the person making the report; and
(d)order that the report not be released to a person or that access to the report be restricted.
236.No general right to file affidavit
A party may file an affidavit without the leave of the court only if a provision of the rules or an order of the court allows the affidavit to be filed in that way.
An affidavit filed with an application may be relied on in evidence only for the purpose of the application for which it was filed.
An affidavit must —
(a)be divided into consecutively numbered paragraphs, with each paragraph being, as far as possible, confined to a distinct part of the subject matter; and
(b)state, at the beginning of the first page —
(i)the file number of the case for which the affidavit is sworn; and
(ii)the full name of the party on whose behalf the affidavit is filed; and
(iii)the full name of the deponent;
and
(c)have a statement at the end specifying —
(i)the name of the witness before whom the affidavit is sworn and signed; and
(ii)the date when, and the place where, the affidavit is sworn and signed;
and
(d)bear the name of the person who prepared the affidavit.
(1)An affidavit must be —
(a)confined to facts about the issues in dispute; and
(b)confined to admissible evidence; and
(c)sworn by the deponent, in the presence of a witness; and
(d)signed at the bottom of each page by the deponent and the witness; and
(e)filed after it is sworn.
(2)Any insertion in, or erasure or other alteration of, an affidavit must be initialled by the deponent and the witness.
(3)A reference to a date (except the name of a month), number or amount of money must be written in figures.
240.Affidavit of illiterate, blind or other person incapable of signing affidavit
(1)If a deponent is illiterate, blind, or physically incapable of signing an affidavit, the witness before whom the affidavit is made must certify, at the end of the affidavit, that —
(a)the affidavit was read to the deponent; and
(b)the deponent seemed to understand the affidavit; and
(c)for a deponent physically incapable of signing, the deponent indicated that the contents were true.
(2)If a deponent does not have an adequate command of English —
(a)a translation of the affidavit and oath must be read or given in writing to the deponent in a language that the deponent understands; and
(b)the translator must certify that the affidavit has been translated.
(1)A reference in this rule to a document being attached to an affidavit is taken to include a reference to a document being annexed to an affidavit or being filed as an exhibit to an affidavit.
(2)If documents are sought to be used in conjunction with an affidavit in support of an application for an interim or procedural order —
(a)no more than 5 documents are to be attached to an affidavit of a party; and
(b)no more than 2 documents are to be attached to an affidavit of a witness.
(3)If documents are sought to be used in conjunction with an affidavit to be relied upon at trial —
(a)no more than 15 documents are to be attached to an affidavit of a party; and
(b)no more than 5 documents are to be attached to an affidavit of a witness.
(4)If a party seeks to rely at a hearing or trial on documents that cannot be attached to an affidavit because of subrule (2) or (3) —
(a)each additional document must be identified in, but not attached to, the affidavit; and
(b)if the document is in the possession of the party on whose behalf the affidavit is filed, a copy must be served at the same time as the affidavit is served.
(5)An application to rely on documents that cannot be attached to an affidavit because of subrule (2) or (3) may be considered only at the hearing or trial, and only if the applicant complies with this rule.
(6)Each page of an affidavit and of each document attached to the affidavit must be numbered consecutively, beginning with the first page of the affidavit and concluding with the last page of the last document attached.
242.Striking out objectionable material
(1)The court may order material to be struck out of an affidavit if the material —
(a)is inadmissible, unnecessary, irrelevant, unreasonably long, scandalous or argumentative; or
(b)sets out the opinion of a person who is not qualified to give it.
(2)If the court orders material to be struck out of an affidavit, the party who filed the affidavit may be ordered to pay the costs thrown away of any other party because of the material struck out.
243.Notice to attend for cross‑examination
(1)This rule applies only to a trial.
(2)A party seeking to cross‑examine a deponent must, at least 28 days before the relevant date set for the commencement of the trial, give to the party who filed the affidavit a written notice stating the name of the deponent who is required to attend court for cross‑examination.
(3)If a deponent fails to attend court in response to a notice under subrule (2), the court may —
(a)refuse to allow the deponent’s affidavit to be relied on; or
(b)allow the affidavit to be relied on only on the terms ordered by the court; or
(c)order the deponent to attend for cross‑examination.
(4)The party who required the deponent’s attendance may be ordered to pay the deponent’s costs for attending and any costs incurred by the other party because of the notice if —
(a)the deponent attends court in response to a notice under subrule (2); and
(b)the deponent is not cross‑examined, or the cross‑examination is of little or no evidentiary value.
244.Deponent’s attendance and expenses
The court may make orders for the attendance, and the payment of expenses, of a deponent who attends court for cross‑examination under rule 243.
(1)In this Division —
interested person, in relation to a subpoena, means a person who has a sufficient interest in the subpoena;
issuing party means the party for whom a subpoena is issued;
named person means a person required by a subpoena to produce a document or give evidence.
(2)In this Division, a reference to a document includes a reference to an object.
(1)Subject to rule 469, the court may issue —
(a)a subpoena for production; or
(b)a subpoena to give evidence; or
(c)a subpoena for production and to give evidence.
(2)A subpoena mentioned in subrule (1) must be in the approved form.
(3)Subject to rule 469, the court will issue a subpoena mentioned in subrule (1) at the request of a party only if —
(a)the party has requested permission from the court; and
(b)the court has granted permission.
(4)For the purposes of subrule (3)(a), a request for the court’s permission —
(a)may be made orally or in writing; and
(b)may be made without giving notice to any other parties; and
(c)may be determined in chambers in the absence of the other parties.
(5)A party must not request the issue of a subpoena for production and to give evidence if production would be sufficient in the circumstances.
(6)A subpoena must identify the person to whom it is directed by name or description of office.
(7)A subpoena may be directed to 2 or more persons if —
(a)the subpoena is to give evidence only; or
(b)the subpoena requires each named person to produce the same document (rather than the same class of documents).
(8)A subpoena for production —
(a)must identify the document to be produced and the time and place for production; and
(b)may require the named person to produce the document before the date of the trial.
(9)A subpoena to give evidence must specify the time and place at which the person must attend court to give evidence.
(10)A subpoena for production and to give evidence must —
(a)identify the document to be produced; and
(b)specify the time and place at which the person must attend court to produce the document and give evidence.
247.Subpoena not to issue in certain circumstances
The court must not issue a subpoena —
(a)at the request of a self‑represented party, unless the party has first obtained the court’s permission to make the request; or
(b)for production of a document in the custody of the court or another court.
A subpoena that has been issued but not served may be amended by the issuing party filing the amended subpoena with the amendments clearly marked.
(1)The issuing party for a subpoena must serve the named person, in accordance with subrule (2), with —
(a)the subpoena; and
(b)a brochure, approved by the executive manager of the Court appointed under section 25(1)(c) of the Act, containing information about subpoenas.
(2)A document required to be served under subrule (1) must be served —
(a)in relation to a subpoena for production, either —
(i)by ordinary service; or
(ii)by a manner of service agreed between the issuing party and the named person;
and
(b)in relation to a subpoena to give evidence, or a subpoena for production and to give evidence, by hand.
(3)The issuing party for a subpoena must serve a copy of the subpoena, in accordance with subrule (4), on —
(a)each other party; and
(b)each interested person in relation to the subpoena; and
(c)the independent children’s lawyer (if any).
(4)A document required to be served under subrule (3) must be served —
(a)by ordinary service; or
(b)by a manner of service agreed between the issuing party and the person to be served.
(5)Unless the court directs otherwise, a document required to be served under subrule (1) or (3) must be served —
(a)in relation to a subpoena for production, at least 10 days before the day on which production in accordance with the subpoena is required; and
(b)in relation to a subpoena to give evidence, at least 7 days before the day on which attendance in accordance with the subpoena is required; and
(c)in relation to a subpoena for production and to give evidence, at least 10 days before the day on which production and attendance in accordance with the subpoena is required.
(6)A subpoena must not be served on a child without the court’s permission.
250.Conduct money and witness fees
(1)A named person is entitled to be paid conduct money by the issuing party at the time of service of the subpoena, of an amount that is —
(a)sufficient to meet the reasonable expenses of complying with the subpoena; and
(b)at least equal to the minimum amount mentioned in Schedule 3 Division 1.
(2)A named person served with a subpoena to give evidence and a subpoena to give evidence and produce documents is entitled to be paid a witness fee by the issuing party in accordance with Schedule 3 Division 2 immediately after attending court in compliance with the subpoena.
(3)A named person may apply to be reimbursed if the named person incurs a substantial loss or expense that is greater than the amount of the conduct money or witness fee payable under this rule.
251.When compliance is not required
(1)A named person does not have to comply with the subpoena if —
(a)the person was not served in accordance with these rules; or
(b)conduct money was not tendered to the person —
(i)at the time of service; or
(ii)at a reasonable time before the day on which attendance or production in accordance with the subpoena is required.
(2)If a named person is not to be called to give evidence or produce a document to the court in compliance with the subpoena, the issuing party may excuse the named person from complying with the subpoena.
252.Discharge of subpoena obligation
(1)A subpoena remains in force until the earliest of the following events —
(a)the subpoena is complied with;
(b)the issuing party or the court releases the named person from the obligation to comply with the subpoena;
(c)the hearing or trial is concluded.
(2)For the purposes of subrule (1)(c), a trial or hearing is concluded when all parties have finished presenting their case.
(1)This rule applies if —
(a)a subpoena is issued in relation to proceedings; and
(b)the named person or an interested person in relation to the subpoena, or an independent children’s lawyer in the proceedings —
(i)seeks an order that the subpoena be set aside in whole or in part; or
(ii)seeks any other relief in relation to the subpoena.
(2)The person referred to in subrule (1)(b) must, before the day on which attendance or production in accordance with the subpoena is required, apply to the court, in writing, for the relevant order.
(3)If a person makes an application under subrule (2), the subpoena must be referred to the court for the hearing and determination of the application.
(4)The court may compel a person to produce a document to the court for the purpose of determining an application under subrule (2).
Subdivision 2 — Production of documents and access by parties
This Subdivision applies to a subpoena for production.
(1)In this rule —
copy includes —
(a)a photocopy; and
(b)a copy in an electronic format that is approved by the Registry Manager, and is capable of being printed in the form in which it was created without any loss of content.
(2)A named person may comply with a subpoena for production by providing to the court, at the place specified in the subpoena, on or before the day on which production in accordance with the subpoena is required —
(a)a copy of the subpoena; and
(b)either —
(i)the documents identified in the subpoena; or
(ii)copies of those documents, accompanied by a verification by the named person that they are accurate copies of the originals.
(3)The named person, when complying with the subpoena for production, must inform the Registry Manager in writing about whether —
(a)the documents referred to in the subpoena are to be returned to the named person; or
(b)the Registry Manager is authorised to dispose of the documents when they are no longer required by the court.
256.Right to inspect and copy documents
(1)This rule applies if —
(a)the court issues a subpoena for production in relation to proceedings; and
(b)at least 10 days before the day (the production day) on which production in accordance with the subpoena is required, the issuing party —
(i)serves the named person with the subpoena and the brochure in accordance with rule 249(1); and
(ii)serves each person mentioned in rule 249(3) with a copy of the subpoena in accordance with that subrule;
and
(c)no objection under rule 257 to production of a document required in accordance with the subpoena is made by the production day; and
(d)the named person complies with the subpoena; and
(e)on or after the production day, the issuing party files a notice of request to inspect in an approved form.
(2)Each party to the proceedings, and any independent children’s lawyer in the proceedings, may —
(a)inspect a document produced in accordance with the subpoena; and
(b)take copies of a document (other than a child welfare record, criminal record, medical record or police record) produced in accordance with the subpoena.
(3)Subrule (2) has effect subject to rule 257(4)(c).
(4)Unless the court orders otherwise, an inspection under subrule (2)(a) —
(a)must be by appointment; and
(b)may be made without an order of the court.
257.Objections relating to production of documents
(1)Subrule (2) applies if a subpoena for production is issued in relation to proceedings, and —
(a)the named person objects to producing a document in accordance with the subpoena; or
(b)any of the following objects to the inspection or copying of a document identified in the subpoena —
(i)the named person;
(ii)an interested person in relation to the subpoena;
(iii)another party to the proceedings;
(iv)any independent children’s lawyer in the proceedings.
(2)The person or party (the objector) must, before the day on which production in accordance with the subpoena is required, give written notice of the objection and the grounds for the objection, to —
(a)the Registry Manager; and
(b)if the objector is not the named person, the named person; and
(c)each party, or other party, to the proceedings; and
(d)each independent children’s lawyer, or each other independent children’s lawyer, in the proceedings.
(3)If a subpoena for production requires the production of a person’s medical records, the person may, before the day (the production day) on which production in accordance with the subpoena is required, notify the Registry Manager in writing that the person wishes to inspect the medical records for the purpose of determining whether to object to the inspection or copying of the records.
(4)If a person (the potential objector) gives notice under subrule (3) —
(a)the potential objector may inspect the medical records; and
(b)if the potential objector wishes to object to the inspection or copying of the records, the potential objector must, within 7 days of the production day, give written notice of the objection and the grounds for the objection, to the Registry Manager; and
(c)unless the court orders otherwise, no other person may inspect the medical records until the later of —
(i)7 days after the production day; or
(ii)if the potential objector makes an objection under paragraph (b), the end of the hearing and determination of the objection.
(5)If a person makes an objection under subrule (2) or (4)(b), the subpoena must be referred to the court for the hearing and determination of the objection.
(6)The court may compel a person to produce a document to the court for the purpose of ruling on an objection under subrule (2) or (4)(b).
258.Court permission to inspect documents
A person may not inspect or copy a document produced in compliance with a subpoena for production, but not yet admitted into evidence, unless —
(a)rule 256 applies; or
(b)the court gives permission.
259.Production of document from another court
(1)A party who seeks to produce to the court a document in the possession of another court must give the Registry Manager a written notice setting out —
(a)the name and address of the court having possession of the document; and
(b)a description of the document to be produced; and
(c)the date when the document is to be produced; and
(d)the reason for seeking production.
(2)On receiving a notice under subrule (1), a registrar may ask the other court, in writing, to send the document to the Registry Manager of the filing registry by a specified date.
(3)A party may apply for permission to inspect and copy a document produced to the court.
260.Return of documents produced
(1)This rule applies to a document produced in compliance with a subpoena that is to be returned to the named person.
(2)If the document is tendered as an exhibit at a hearing or trial, the Registry Manager must return it at least 28 days, and no later than 42 days, after the final determination of the application or appeal.
(3)The Registry Manager may return a document to the named person at a time that is earlier than the time mentioned in subrule (2) if —
(a)the document is not tendered as an exhibit at a hearing or trial; and
(b)the party who filed the subpoena has been given 7 days’ written notice of the Registry Manager’s intention to return it.
(4)If the Registry Manager has received written permission from the named person to destroy the document —
(a)subrules (2) and (3) do not apply; and
(b)the Registry Manager may destroy the document, in an appropriate way, not earlier than 42 days after the final determination of the application or appeal.
Subdivision 3 — Non‑compliance with subpoena
261.Non‑compliance with subpoena
(1)This rule applies if —
(a)a named person does not comply with a subpoena; and
(b)the court is satisfied that the named person was served with the subpoena and given conduct money in accordance with rule 250.
(2)The court may issue a warrant for the named person’s arrest and order the person to pay any costs caused by the non‑compliance.
This Division applies to all applications other than —
(a)an application for divorce; or
(b)an application for an order that a marriage is a nullity; or
(c)an application for a declaration as to the validity of a marriage, divorce or annulment.
(1)A party may apply for the appointment of an assessor to assist the court under section 219 of the Act or the Family Law Act section 102B by filing —
(a)an initiating application and an affidavit; or
(b)after a case has commenced, an application in a case and an affidavit.
(2)The affidavit filed with the application must —
(a)state —
(i)the name of the proposed assessor; and
(ii)the issue about which the assessor’s assistance will be sought; and
(iii)the assessor’s qualifications, skill and experience to give the assistance;
and
(b)attach the written consent of the proposed assessor.
(3)The court may appoint an assessor on its own initiative only if the court has —
(a)notified the parties of the matters mentioned in subrule (2); and
(b)given the parties a reasonable opportunity to be heard in relation to the appointment.
(1)The court may direct an assessor to prepare a report.
(2)A copy of the report must be given to each party and any independent children’s lawyer.
(3)An assessor must not be required to give evidence.
(4)The court is not bound by any opinion or finding of the assessor.
(1)An assessor may —
(a)be remunerated as determined by the court; and
(b)be paid by the court, or a party or other person, as ordered by the court.
(2)The court may order a party or other person to pay, or give security for payment of, the assessor’s remuneration before the assessor is appointed to assist the court.
266.Term used: expert’s report
In this Division —
expert’s report means a report by an expert witness, including a notice under rule 284(5).
(1)This Division, except rule 280, does not apply to any of the following —
(a)evidence from a medical practitioner or other person who has provided, or is providing, treatment for a party or child if the evidence relates only to any or all of the following —
(i)the results of an examination, investigation or observation made;
(ii)a description of any treatment carried out or recommended;
(iii)expressions of opinion limited to the reasons for carrying out or recommending treatment and the consequences of the treatment, including a prognosis;
(b)evidence from an expert who has been retained for a purpose other than the giving of advice or evidence, or the preparation of a report for a case or anticipated case, being evidence —
(i)about that expert’s involvement with a party, child or subject matter of a case; and
(ii)describing the reasons for the expert’s involvement and the results of that involvement;
(c)evidence from an expert who has been associated, involved or had contact with a party, child or subject matter of a case for a purpose other than the giving of advice or evidence, or the preparation of a report for a case or anticipated case, being evidence about that expert’s association, involvement or contact with that party, child or subject matter;
(d)evidence from a family consultant, including from a person appointed under the Family Law Regulations 1984 (Commonwealth) regulation 7.
(2)Nothing in this Division prevents an independent children’s lawyer communicating with a single expert witness.
The purpose of this Division is —
(a)to ensure that parties obtain expert evidence only in relation to a significant issue in dispute; and
(b)to restrict expert evidence to that which is necessary to resolve or determine a case; and
(c)to ensure that, if practicable and without compromising the interests of justice, expert evidence is given on an issue by a single expert witness; and
(d)to avoid unnecessary costs arising from the appointment of more than 1 expert witness; and
(e)to enable a party to apply for permission to tender a report or adduce evidence from an expert witness appointed by that party, if necessary in the interests of justice.
Subdivision 2 — Single expert witness
269.Appointment of single expert witness by parties
(1)If the parties agree that expert evidence may help to resolve a substantial issue in a case, they may agree to jointly appoint a single expert witness to prepare a report in relation to the issue.
(2)A party does not need the court’s permission to tender a report or adduce evidence from a single expert witness appointed under subrule (1).
270.Order for single expert witness
(1)A court may, on application or on its own initiative, order that expert evidence be given by a single expert witness.
(2)When considering whether to make an order under subrule (1), a court may take into account factors relevant to making the order, including —
(a)the main purpose of these rules and the purpose of this Division; and
(b)whether expert evidence on a particular issue is necessary; and
(c)the nature of the issue in dispute; and
(d)whether the issue falls within a substantially established area of knowledge; and
(e)whether it is necessary for the court to have a range of opinion.
(3)A court may appoint a person as a single expert witness only if the person consents to the appointment.
(4)A party does not need the court’s permission to tender a report or adduce evidence from a single expert witness appointed under subrule (1).
271.Orders that court may make
A court may, in relation to the appointment of, instruction of, or conduct of a case involving, a single expert witness make an order, including an order —
(a)requiring the parties to confer for the purpose of agreeing on the person to be appointed as a single expert witness; or
(b)that, if the parties cannot agree on who should be the single expert witness, the parties give the court a list stating —
(i)the names of people who are experts on the relevant issue and have consented to being appointed as an expert witness; and
(ii)the fee each expert will accept for preparing a report and attending court to give evidence;
or
(c)appointing a single expert witness from the list prepared by the parties or in some other way; or
(d)determining any issue in dispute between the parties to ensure that clear instructions are given to the expert; or
(e)that the parties —
(i)confer for the purpose of preparing an agreed letter of instructions to the expert; and
(ii)submit a draft letter of instructions for settling by the court;
or
(f)settling the instructions to be given to the expert; or
(g)authorising and giving instructions about any inspection, test or experiment to be carried out for the purposes of the report; or
(h)that a report not be released to a person or that access to the report be restricted.
272.Single expert witness’s fees and expenses
(1)The parties are equally liable to pay a single expert witness’s reasonable fees and expenses incurred in preparing a report.
(2)A single expert witness is not required to undertake any work in relation to their appointment until the fees and expenses are paid or secured.
273.Single expert witness’s report
(1)A single expert witness must prepare a written report.
(2)If the single expert witness was appointed by the parties, the expert witness must give each party a copy of the report at the same time.
(3)If the single expert witness was appointed by the court, the expert witness must give the report to the Registry Manager.
(4)An applicant who has been given a copy of a report must file the copy but does not need to serve it.
274.Appointing another expert witness
(1)If a single expert witness has been appointed to prepare a report or give evidence in relation to an issue, a party must not tender a report or adduce evidence from another expert witness on the same issue without the court’s permission.
(2)The court may allow a party to tender a report or adduce evidence from another expert witness on the same issue if it is satisfied that —
(a)there is a substantial body of opinion contrary to any opinion given by the single expert witness and that the contrary opinion is or may be necessary for determining the issue; or
(b)another expert witness knows of matters, not known to the single expert witness, that may be necessary for determining the issue; or
(c)there is another special reason for adducing evidence from another expert witness.
275.Cross‑examination of single expert witness
(1)A party wanting to cross‑examine a single expert witness at a hearing or trial must inform the expert witness, in writing at least 28 days before the date fixed for the hearing or trial, that the expert witness is required to attend.
(2)The court may limit the nature and length of cross‑examination of a single expert witness.
Subdivision 3 — Permission for expert’s evidence
276.Permission for expert’s reports and evidence
(1)A party must apply for the court’s permission to tender a report or adduce evidence at a hearing or trial from an expert witness, except a single expert witness.
(2)An independent children’s lawyer may tender a report or adduce evidence at a hearing or trial from 1 expert witness on an issue without the court’s permission.
277.Application for permission for expert witness
(1)A party may seek permission to tender a report or adduce evidence from an expert witness by filing an application in a case.
(2)The affidavit filed with the application must state —
(a)whether the party has attempted to agree on the appointment of a single expert witness with the other party and, if not, why not; and
(b)the name of the expert witness; and
(c)the issue about which the expert witness’s evidence is to be given; and
(d)the reason the expert evidence is necessary in relation to that issue; and
(e)the field in which the expert witness is an expert; and
(f)the expert witness’s training, study or experience that qualifies the expert witness as having specialised knowledge on the issue; and
(g)whether there is any previous connection between the expert witness and the party.
(3)When considering whether to permit a party to tender a report or adduce evidence from an expert witness, the court may take into account —
(a)the purpose of this Division; and
(b)the impact of the appointment of an expert witness on the costs of the case; and
(c)the likelihood of the appointment expediting or delaying the case; and
(d)the complexity of the issues in the case; and
(e)whether the evidence should be given by a single expert witness rather than an expert witness appointed by 1 party only; and
(f)whether the expert witness has specialised knowledge, based on the person’s training, study or experience —
(i)relevant to the issue on which evidence is to be given; and
(ii)appropriate to the value, complexity and importance of the case.
(4)If the court grants a party permission to tender a report or adduce evidence from an expert witness, the permission is limited to the expert witness named, and the field of expertise stated, in the order.
Subdivision 4 — Instructions and disclosure of expert’s report
278.Application of Subdivision
This Subdivision does not apply to a market appraisal or an opinion as to value in relation to property obtained by a party under rule 190(g) or 191(2) for the purposes of a procedural hearing or conference.
279.Instructions to expert witness
(1)A party who instructs an expert witness to give an opinion for a case or an anticipated case must —
(a)ensure the expert witness has a copy of the most recent version of, and has read, Subdivisions 4, 5 and 6; and
(b)obtain a written report from the expert witness.
(2)All instructions to an expert witness must be in writing and must include —
(a)a request for a written report; and
(b)advice that the report may be used in an anticipated or actual case; and
(c)the issues about which the opinion is sought; and
(d)a description of any matter to be investigated, or any experiment to be undertaken or issue to be reported on; and
(e)full and frank disclosure of information and documents that will help the expert witness to perform the expert witness’s function.
(3)The parties must give the expert witness an agreed statement of facts on which to base the report.
(4)However, if the parties do not agree on a statement of facts —
(a)unless the court directs otherwise, each of the parties must give to the expert witness a statement of facts on which to base the report; and
(b)the court may give directions about the form and content of the statement of facts to be given to the expert witness.
280.Mandatory disclosure of expert’s report
(1)A party who has obtained an expert’s report for a parenting case, whether before or after the start of the case, must give each other party a copy of the report —
(a)if the report is obtained before the case starts, at least 2 days before the first court event; or
(b)if the report is obtained after the case starts, within 7 days after the party receives the report.
(2)The party who discloses an expert’s report must disclose any supplementary report and any notice amending the report under rule 284(5).
(3)If an expert’s report has been disclosed under this rule, any party may seek to tender the report as evidence.
(4)Legal professional privilege does not apply in relation to an expert’s report that must be disclosed under this rule.
281.Provision of information about fees
A party who has instructed an expert witness must, if requested by another party, give each other party details of any fee or benefit received, or receivable, by or for the expert witness, for the preparation of the report and for services provided, or to be provided, by or for the expert witness in connection with the expert witness giving evidence for the party in the case.
282.Application for provision of information
(1)This rule applies if a court is satisfied that —
(a)a party (the disclosing party) has access to information or a document that is not reasonably available to the other party (the requesting party); and
(b)the provision of the information or a copy of the document is necessary to allow an expert witness to carry out the expert witness’s function properly.
(2)The requesting party may apply for an order that the disclosing party —
(a)file and serve a document specifying the information in enough detail to allow the expert witness to properly assess its value and significance; and
(b)give a copy of the document to the expert witness.
283.Failure to disclose report
A party who fails to give a copy of an expert’s report to another party or the independent children’s lawyer (if any) must not use the report or call the expert witness to give evidence at a hearing or trial, unless the other party and independent children’s lawyer consent to the report being used or the expert witness being called, or the court orders otherwise.
Subdivision 5 — Expert witness’s duties and rights
284.Expert witness’s duty to court
(1)An expert witness has a duty to help the court with matters that are within the expert witness’s knowledge and capability.
(2)The expert witness’s duty to the court prevails over the obligation of the expert witness to the person instructing, or paying the fees and expenses of, the expert witness.
(3)The expert witness has a duty to —
(a)give an objective and unbiased opinion that is also independent and impartial on matters that are within the expert witness’s knowledge and capability; and
(b)conduct the expert witness’s functions in a timely way; and
(c)avoid acting on an instruction or request to withhold or avoid agreement when attending a conference of experts; and
(d)consider all material facts, including those that may detract from the expert witness’s opinion; and
(e)tell the court —
(i)if a particular question or issue falls outside the expert witness’s expertise; and
(ii)if the expert witness believes that the report prepared by the expert witness —
(I)is based on incomplete research or inaccurate or incomplete information; or
(II)is incomplete or may be inaccurate, for any reason;
and
(f)produce a written report that complies with rules 287 and 288.
(4)The expert witness’s duty to the court arises when the expert witness —
(a)receives instructions under rule 279; or
(b)is informed by a party that the expert witness may be called to give evidence in a case.
(5)An expert witness who changes an opinion after the preparation of a report must give written notice to that effect —
(a)if appointed by a party, to the instructing party; or
(b)if appointed by the court, to the Registry Manager and each party.
(6)A notice under subrule (5) is taken to be part of the expert’s report.
285.Expert witness’s right to seek orders
(1)Before final orders are made, a single expert witness may, by written request to the court, seek a procedural order to assist in carrying out the expert witness’s function.
(2)The request must —
(a)comply with rule 483(1) or (2); and
(b)set out the procedural orders sought and the reason the orders are sought.
(3)The expert witness must serve a copy of the request on each party and satisfy the court that the copy has been served.
(4)The court may determine the request in chambers unless —
(a)within 7 days of being served with the request, a party makes a written objection to the request being determined in chambers; or
(b)the court decides that an oral hearing is necessary.
286.Expert witness’s evidence in chief
(1)An expert witness’s evidence in chief comprises the expert’s report, any changes to that report in a notice under rule 284(5) and any answers to questions under rule 293.
(2)An expert witness has the same protection and immunity in relation to the contents of a report disclosed under these rules or an order as the expert witness could claim if the contents of the report were given by the expert witness orally at a hearing or trial.
(1)An expert’s report must —
(a)be addressed to the court and the party instructing the expert witness; and
(b)have attached to it a summary of the instructions given to the expert witness and a list of any documents relied on in preparing the report; and
(c)be verified by an affidavit of the expert witness.
(2)The affidavit verifying the expert’s report must state the following —
I have made all the inquiries I believe are necessary and appropriate and to my knowledge there have not been any relevant matters omitted from this report, except as otherwise specifically stated in this report.
I believe that the facts within my knowledge that have been stated in this report are true.
The opinions I have expressed in this report are independent and impartial.
I have read and understand the Family Court Rules 2021 Part 15 Division 5 Subdivisions 4, 5 and 6 and have used my best endeavours to comply with them.
I have complied with the requirements of the following professional codes of conduct or protocol, being [state the name of the code or protocol].
I understand my duty to the Court and I have complied with it and will continue to do so.
288.Content of expert’s report
An expert’s report must —
(a)state the reasons for the expert witness’s conclusions; and
(b)include a statement about the methodology used in the production of the report; and
(c)include the following in support of the expert witness’s conclusions —
(i)the expert witness’s qualifications;
(ii)the literature or other material used in making the report;
(iii)the relevant facts, matters and assumptions on which the opinions in the report are based;
(iv)a statement about the facts in the report that are within the expert witness’s knowledge;
(v)details about any tests, experiments, examinations or investigations relied on by the expert witness and, if they were carried out by another person, details of that person’s qualifications and experience;
(vi)if there is a range of opinion on the matters dealt with in the report, a summary of the range of opinion and the basis for the expert witness’s opinion;
(vii)a summary of the conclusions reached;
(viii)if necessary, a disclosure that —
(I)a particular question or issue falls outside the expert witness’s expertise; or
(II)the report may be incomplete or inaccurate without some qualification and the details of any qualification; or
(III)the expert witness’s opinion is not a concluded opinion because further research or data is required or because of any other reason.
289.Consequences of non‑compliance
If an expert witness does not comply with these rules, the court may —
(a)order the expert witness to attend court; and
(b)refuse to allow the expert’s report or any answers to questions to be relied on; and
(c)allow the report to be relied on but take the non‑compliance into account when considering the weight to be given to the expert witness’s evidence; and
(d)take the non‑compliance into account when making orders for —
(i)an extension or abridgment of a time limit; or
(ii)a stay of the case; or
(iii)interest payable on a sum ordered to be paid; or
(iv)costs.
Subdivision 6 — Clarification of single expert witness reports
290.Purpose of this Subdivision
(1)The purpose of this Subdivision is to provide ways of clarifying a report prepared by a single expert witness.
(2)Clarification about a report may be obtained at a conference under rule 291 or by means of questions under rule 292.
(1)Within 21 days after receipt of the report of a single expert witness, the parties may enter into an agreement about conferring with the expert witness for the purpose of clarifying the report.
(2)The agreement may provide for the parties, or for 1 or more of them, to confer with the expert witness.
(3)Without limiting the scope of the conference, the parties must agree on arrangements for the conference.
(4)It is intended that the parties should be free to make any arrangements for the conference that are consistent with this Subdivision.
(5)Before participating in the conference, the expert witness must be advised of arrangements for the conference.
(6)In seeking to clarify the report of the expert witness, the parties must not interrogate the expert witness.
(7)If the parties do not agree about conferring with a single expert witness, the court, on application by a party, may order that a conference be held in accordance with any conditions the court determines.
292.Questions to single expert witnesses
(1)A party seeking to clarify the report of a single expert witness may ask questions of the single expert witness under this rule —
(a)within 7 days after the conference under rule 291; or
(b)if no conference is held, within 21 days after receipt of the single expert witness’s report by the party.
(2)The questions must —
(a)be in writing and be put once only; and
(b)be only for the purpose of clarifying the single expert witness’s report; and
(c)not be vexatious or oppressive, or require the single expert witness to undertake an unreasonable amount of work to answer.
(3)The party must give a copy of any questions to each other party.
293.Single expert witness answers
(1)A single expert witness must answer a question received under rule 292 within 21 days after receiving it.
(2)An answer to a question —
(a)must be in writing; and
(b)must specifically refer to the question; and
(c)must —
(i)answer the substance of the question; or
(ii)object to answering the question.
(3)If the single expert witness objects to answering a question or is unable to answer a question, the single expert witness must state the reason for the objection or inability in the document containing the answers.
(4)The single expert witness’s answers —
(a)must be —
(i)attached to the affidavit under rule 287(1)(c); and
(ii)sent by the single expert witness to all parties at the same time; and
(iii)filed by the party asking the questions;
and
(b)are taken to be part of the expert’s report.
294.Single expert witness costs
(1)In this rule —
attend includes attendance by electronic communication.
(2)The reasonable fees and expenses of a single expert witness incurred in relation to a conference are to be paid as follows —
(a)if only 1 of the parties attends the conference, by that party;
(b)if more than 1 of the parties attends the conference, by those parties jointly.
(3)If a single expert witness answers questions under rule 293, their reasonable fees and expenses incurred in answering any questions are to be paid by the party asking the questions.
(4)A single expert witness is not required to undertake any work in relation to a conference or answer any questions until the fees and expenses for that work or those answers are paid or secured.
(5)Subrule (4) is not affected by rule 293(1).
295.Application for directions
A party may apply to the court for directions relating to a conference with a single expert witness or the asking or answering of questions under this Subdivision.
Subdivision 7 — Evidence from 2 or more expert witnesses
296.Application of Subdivision
This Subdivision applies to a case in which 2 or more parties intend to tender an expert’s report or adduce evidence from different expert witnesses about the same, or a similar, question.
297.Conference of expert witnesses
(1)In a case to which this Subdivision applies —
(a)the parties must arrange for the expert witnesses to confer at least 28 days before the date fixed for the hearing or trial; and
(b)each party must give to the expert witness the party has instructed a brochure approved by the executive manager of the Court appointed under section 25(1)(c) of the Act, giving information about experts’ conferences.
(2)The court may, in relation to the conference, make an order, including an order about —
(a)which expert witnesses are to attend; or
(b)where and when the conference is to occur; or
(c)which issues the expert witnesses must discuss; or
(d)the questions to be answered by the expert witnesses; or
(e)the documents to be given to the expert witnesses, including —
(i)Subdivisions 4, 5 and 6; and
(ii)relevant affidavits; and
(iii)a joint statement of the assumptions to be relied on by the expert witnesses during the conference, including any competing assumptions; and
(iv)all expert’s reports already disclosed by the parties.
(3)At the conference, the expert witnesses must —
(a)identify the issues that are agreed and not agreed; and
(b)if practicable, reach agreement on any outstanding issue; and
(c)identify the reason for disagreement on any issue; and
(d)identify what action (if any) may be taken to resolve any outstanding issues; and
(e)prepare a joint statement specifying the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) and deliver a copy of the statement to each party.
(4)If the expert witnesses reach agreement on an issue, the agreement does not bind the parties unless the parties expressly agree to be bound by it.
(5)The joint statement may be tendered as evidence of matters agreed on and to identify the issues on which evidence will be called.
298.Conduct of trial with expert witnesses
At a trial, the court may make an order, including an order that —
(a)an expert witness clarify the expert witness’s evidence after cross‑examination; or
(b)the expert witness give evidence only after all or certain factual evidence relevant to the question has been led; or
(c)each party intending to call an expert witness is to close that party’s case, subject only to adducing the evidence of the expert witness; or
(d)each expert witness is to be sworn and available to give evidence in the presence of each other; or
(e)each expert witness give evidence about the opinion given by another expert witness; or
(f)cross‑examination, or re‑examination, of an expert witness is to be conducted —
(i)by completing the cross‑examination or re‑examination of the expert witness before another expert witness; or
(ii)by putting to each expert witness, in turn, each question relevant to 1 subject or issue at a time, until the cross‑examination or re‑examination of all witnesses is completed.
Division 6 — Other matters about evidence
(1)A court may, on its own initiative —
(a)call any person as a witness; and
(b)make any orders relating to examination and cross‑examination of that witness.
(2)The court may order a party to pay conduct money for the attendance of the witness.
300.Order for examination of witness
(1)A court may, at any stage in a case —
(a)request that a person be examined on oath before any court, or an officer of any court, at any place in Australia; or
(b)order a commission to be issued to a person in Australia authorising that person to take the evidence of any person on oath.
(2)The court receiving the request, or the person to whom the commission is issued, may make procedural orders about the time, place and manner of the examination or taking of evidence, including that the evidence be recorded in writing or by electronic communication.
(3)The court making the request or ordering the commission may receive in evidence the record taken.
(1)If, under the Foreign Evidence Act 1994 (Commonwealth), a court orders a letter to be issued to the judicial authorities of a foreign country requesting that the evidence of a person be taken, the party obtaining the order must file —
(a)2 copies of the appropriate letter of request and any questions to accompany the request; and
(b)if English is not an official language of the country to whose judicial authorities the letter of request is to be sent, 2 copies of a translation of each document specified in paragraph (a) in a language appropriate to the place where the evidence is to be taken; and
(c)an undertaking —
(i)to be responsible for all expenses incurred by the court, or by the person at the request of the court, in respect of the letter of request; and
(ii)to pay the amount to the Registry Manager of the filing registry, after being given notice of the amount of the expenses.
(2)A translation filed under subrule (1)(b) must be accompanied by an affidavit of the person making the translation —
(a)verifying that it is a correct translation; and
(b)setting out the translator’s full name, address and qualifications for making the translation.
(3)If, after receiving the documents mentioned in subrules (1) and (2) (if applicable), the registrar is satisfied that the documents are appropriate, the Registry Manager must send them to the Secretary of the Attorney‑General of the Commonwealth’s Department for transmission to the judicial authorities of the other country.
302.Transcript receivable in evidence
A transcript of a hearing or trial may be received in evidence as a true record of the hearing or trial.
(1)A party may, no later than 7 days before a hearing or 28 days before a trial, by written notice, require another party to produce, at the hearing or trial, a specified document that is in the possession or control of the other party.
(2)A party receiving a notice under subrule (1) must produce the document at the hearing or trial.
Part 16 — Principles for conducting child‑related proceedings
In this Part —
child‑related proceedings provisions means —
(a)the Act Part 5 Division 11A; or
(b)the Family Law Act Part VII Division 12A;
prescribed form means a form authorised by the Principal Registrar for the purposes of a party in a case giving consent to the case being treated as a child‑related proceeding.
This Part applies if the consent of the parties to a case is necessary before the child‑related proceedings provisions can apply to the case.
306.Consent for case to be treated as child‑related proceedings
If a party to a case seeks to consent to the application of the child‑related proceedings provisions to the case, or part of the case, the party must —
(a)give consent in accordance with the prescribed form; and
(b)file a copy of the form.
307.Application for case commenced by application before 1 July 2006 to be treated as child‑related proceeding
For the purposes of seeking the leave of the court for a case commenced by an application filed before 1 July 2006 to be treated as a child‑related proceeding, an application for permission may be made to a court at a procedural hearing.
Part 17 — Orders and undertakings
(1)An order is made —
(a)in a hearing or trial — when it is pronounced in court by the judicial officer; or
(b)in any other case — when it is signed.
(2)An order takes effect on the date when it is made, unless otherwise stated.
(3)A party is entitled to receive —
(a)a sealed copy of an order; and
(b)if the order is rectified by the court — a sealed copy of the rectified order; and
(c)a copy of any published reasons for judgment.
(4)Subrule (3) does not apply to a procedural order.
309.When order must be entered
(1)An order must be entered if —
(a)the order takes effect on the signing of the order; or
(b)the order is to be served; or
(c)the order is to be enforced; or
(d)an appeal from the order has been instituted or an application for leave to appeal has been made; or
(e)a step is to be taken under the order; or
(f)the court directs that the order be entered.
(2)However, an order need not be entered if it only (in addition to any provision as to costs) —
(a)makes an extension or abridgment of time; or
(b)grants leave or makes a direction —
(i)to amend a document (other than an order); or
(ii)to file a document; or
(iii)for an act to be done by an officer of the court other than a lawyer;
or
(c)gives directions about the conduct of proceedings.
(1)An order is entered by —
(a)the court, a person at the direction of the court or a registrar attaching the seal of the court to the order; and
(b)a judicial officer signing the order.
(2)An order may be entered, in accordance with subrule (1) —
(a)in a registry of the court; or
(b)in court; or
(c)in chambers.
311.Varying or setting aside orders
(1)A court may at any time vary or set aside an order, if —
(a)it was made in the absence of a party; or
(b)it was obtained by fraud; or
(c)it is interlocutory; or
(d)it is an injunction or for the appointment of a receiver; or
(e)it does not reflect the intention of the court; or
(f)the party in whose favour it was made consents; or
(g)there is a clerical mistake in the order; or
(h)there is an error arising in the order from an accidental slip or omission.
(2)Subrule (1) does not affect the power of the court to vary or terminate the operation of an order by a further order.
312.Varying or setting aside reasons for judgment
A court may, at any time —
(a)vary or set aside reasons for judgment if the reasons were issued by mistake; or
(b)correct a clerical mistake in reasons for judgment, or an error arising in reasons for judgment from any accidental slip or omission.
The prescribed rate at which interest is payable under the Act sections 205ZW(b) and 239 and the Family Law Act sections 87(11)(b), 90KA(b), 90UN(b) and 117B(1) is —
(a)for the period beginning on 1 January and ending on 30 June in any year, the rate that is 6% above the cash rate last published by the Reserve Bank of Australia before that period began; and
(b)for the period beginning on 1 July and ending on 31 December in any year, the rate that is 6% above the cash rate last published by the Reserve Bank of Australia before that period began.
314.Order for payment of money
(1)This rule applies if a person is ordered by a court (other than by way of consent) to pay money and —
(a)the person is not present, or represented by a lawyer, in court when the order is made; or
(b)the order is made in chambers.
(2)The person must be served with a sealed copy of the order —
(a)if the order imposes a fine — by the Marshal or other officer of the court; or
(b)in any other case — by the person who benefits from the order.
If a court orders the payment of a fine or the forfeiture of a bond, the fine or forfeited amount must be paid immediately into the filing registry.
(1)An undertaking that a person must or may give under these rules may be given orally or in writing.
(2)An undertaking given by a person in writing must be —
(a)signed by the person or the person’s legal representative; and
(b)filed in the filing registry.
(3)If a person gives an undertaking orally, a written record of the undertaking must be —
(a)signed by the person or the person’s legal representative; and
(b)filed in the filing registry within 14 days of the undertaking being given; and
(c)served within 14 days of the undertaking being given.
(4)An undertaking as to damages is an undertaking —
(a)to submit to such order (if any) as the court may consider to be just for the payment of compensation (to be assessed by the court or as the court may direct) to any person (whether or not that person is a party) affected by the operation of the order or undertaking or any continuation (with or without variation) of the order or undertaking; and
(b)to pay compensation referred to in paragraph (a) to the person affected by the order or undertaking.
(5)This rule is subject to any requirements specified in these rules for the giving of particular undertakings.
Part 18 — Powers of registrars
In this Part —
registrar means the Principal Registrar, a deputy registrar or a registrar.
(1)If under these rules a function is conferred upon a registrar, the function may also be performed —
(a)in the Court — by a judge; or
(b)in the Magistrates Court — by a magistrate.
(2)If a registrar is required or able to do an act not involving the exercise of judicial power it is sufficient if the act is done on behalf of the registrar by —
(a)a clerk in the office of the registrar; or
(b)another officer of the court or by a clerk in that person’s office.
319.Registrars not required to give reasons
Unless requested by a party to do so a registrar need not give reasons for any order, direction or decision.
(1)In the exercise of a power of the court or in the conduct of a conference or enquiry under these rules, a registrar or other person acting under rule 318 has the same protection and immunity as a judge or a magistrate.
(2)A party, lawyer or witness appearing before a registrar or other person acting under rule 318 on the hearing of any application or matter, or on the conducting of any conference or enquiry, has the same protection and immunity as the party, lawyer or witness would have if appearing in proceedings in a court.
Division 2 — Delegation of judicial power to registrars
321.Delegation of powers to registrars
For the purposes of the Act section 33, the following powers of the Court are delegated to each Principal Registrar, registrar and deputy registrar —
(a)the powers conferred under a provision —
(i)of the Act specified in column 1 of the Table; or
(ii)of the Family Law Act specified in column 2 of the Table; or
(iii)of these rules specified in column 3 of the Table;
Table
|
Column 1 Act |
Column 2 Family Law Act |
Column 3 These rules |
|
section 44 |
section 44(1C) |
rule 9 |
|
section 215 |
section 45 |
rule 10 |
|
Part 8 Division 2 |
section 48 |
rule 11 |
|
section 237 |
section 55(2) |
rule 12 |
|
|
section 55A |
rule 15 |
|
|
section 57 |
Part 3 |
|
|
section 98A |
rule 81 |
|
|
section 101 |
rule 82 |
|
|
Part XI Division 2 |
rule 110 |
|
|
section 117 |
rule 120 |
|
|
|
rule 135 |
|
|
|
rule 136 |
|
|
|
rule 159 |
|
|
|
rule 162 |
|
|
|
rule 169 |
|
|
|
rule 171 |
|
|
|
rule 172 |
|
|
|
rule 173 |
|
|
|
rule 176 |
|
|
|
rule 180 |
|
|
|
rule 181 |