Matters follow a nationally consistent case management pathway.
The first court event takes place within six to eight weeks of filing. Where it is safe to do so, parties will be required to undertake mediation or other dispute resolution within six months of filing, with the aim of resolving their dispute earlier in time and reducing the financial and emotional stress of litigation.
If the parties are still unable to settle, they will be sent to trial which is to commence, where possible, within 12 months.
The Family Court of Australia, through its specialist judges and staff, assists Australians to resolve their most complex legal family disputes.
An efficient structure and approach to family law
The Courts’ streamlined approach to family law cases delivers many benefits to assist Australian families, including:
a single point of entry for all family law matters
tailored case management pathways, including pathways based on the level of risk in parenting cases
improved early risk identification for the safety of children and vulnerable parties
smarter ways to separate with less animosity and less cost by a greater emphasis on dispute resolution, where it is safe to do so, including the availability of internal dispute resolution in parenting and financial matters
expectation of compliance with court orders
specialist court lists
enhanced and effective child expert reporting processes
an appellate jurisdiction exercised in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) through an efficient Full Court model rather than a separate Appeal Division
enhanced access to justice nationally for vulnerable parties and regional communities through the use of technology, and
an aim to resolve up to 90 per cent of cases within 12 months.