Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

 

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021

I, The Honourable William Alstergren, Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), make the following Rules of Court.

Dated 26 August 2021

The Honourable William Alstergren

Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)

 

 

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1.01 Name

1.02 Commencement

1.03 Authority

1.04 Court may make orders or dispense with these Rules

Part 2—Application of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

2.01 Application of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

2.02 Modifications of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

Part 3—Transferring proceedings

3.01 Transfer to Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1)

3.02 Proceeding transferred to Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1)—transfer of documents

Part 4—Costs

4.01 Costs in family law and child support matters

Part 5—Delegation

5.01 Delegation of additional powers to Senior Judicial Registrars and Judicial Registrars

Schedule 1—Scale of costs in family law and child support matters

Schedule 2—Additional delegated powers

Part 1Preliminary

 

1.01  Name

  These Rules are the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021.

1.02  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of these Rules specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  The whole of these Rules

1 September 2021.

1 September 2021

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of these Rules as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of these Rules.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of these Rules. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of these Rules.

Note: The Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001, as in force under the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 immediately before 1 September 2021, are repealed as a consequence of the repeal of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 by Schedule 3 to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021.

1.03  Authority

  These Rules are made under Chapter 4 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021.

1.04  Court may make orders or dispense with these Rules

 (1) The court may, in the interests of justice, dispense with compliance, or full compliance, with any of these Rules at any time.

 (2) If, in a proceeding, the court gives a direction or makes an order that is inconsistent with any of these Rules, the direction or order of the court prevails in that proceeding.

Part 2Application of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

 

2.01  Application of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

  The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (other than rules 1.01 to 1.03), as modified in accordance with these Rules, apply to the exercise of the Court’s jurisdiction in family law or child support proceedings as if the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 were provisions of these Rules.

2.02  Modifications of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

  For the purposes of rule 2.01 of these Rules, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 apply as if the modifications in the following table were made.

 

Table 2.1—Modifications of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

Item

Provision

Omit (wherever occurring)

Substitute

1

Subrule 1.04(1)

section 67

section 190

2

Subrule 1.04(1) (note 1)

subsection 67(3)

subsection 190(3)

3

Subsection 1.04(2) (note)

subsection 68(1)

subsection 191(1)

4

Rule 1.05 (paragraph (a) of the definition of Judicial Registrar)

Division 1

Division 2

5

Subrules 1.07(1) and 1.08(1)

Chief Justice

Chief Judge

6

Subrule 3.08(2)

section 57

section 175

7

Subrule 5.08(2)

25 pages

10 pages

8

Subrule 5.08(3)

10 annexures

5 annexures

9

Rule 9.04

Part 9.2

Part 9.2, or Part 3 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021,

10

Paragraph 10.21(1)(a)

in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1)—under an arrangement under section 79

in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2)—under an arrangement under section 246

11

Subrule 10.23(1)

section 102QC of the Family Law Act

section 240 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act, or section 102QC of the Family Law Act,

12

Subrule 10.24(1)

subsection 102QE(2) of the Family Law Act

subsection 242(2) of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act, or subsection 102QE(2) of the Family Law Act,

13

Rule 14.01 (definition of Judicial Registrar)

Division 1

Division 2

14

Rule 14.01 (paragraph (b) of the definition of Senior Judicial Registrar)

Division 1

Division 2

15

Subrule 14.02(2)

Division 1

Division 2

16

Subrule 14.02(2)

subsection 98(1)

subsection 254(1)

17

Subrule 14.02(2)

Chief Justice

Chief Judge

18

Subrule 14.02(2) (note)

section 85

section 251

19

Subrules 14.03(1) and (2)

Division 1

Division 2

20

Subrule 15.21(1)

Chief Justice

Chief Judge

21

Subrule 15.21(1)

Division 1

Division 2

22

Rule 15.22

Division 1

Division 2

23

Rule 15.22

Chief Justice

Chief Judge

24

Schedule 1, Part 1,

paragraph 1(4)(f)

section 67

section 190

25

Schedule 1, Part 2

paragraph 1(4)(f)

section 67

section 190

26

Schedule 4, clause 2

Division 1

Division 2

27

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 2.1

98(2)(q)

254(2)(q)

28

Schedule 4, clause 2, table items 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3

98(3)(d)

254(3)(d)

29

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 5.2

Paragraph 98(2)(p) (qualified by subsection 98(7))

Paragraph 254(2)(p) (qualified by subsection 254(7))

30

Schedule 4, clause 2, table items 12.1 and 12.2

Paragraph 98(2)(i) and subsection 98(6)

Paragraph 254(2)(i) and subsection 254(6)

31

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 12.3

Paragraph 98(2)(j)

Paragraph 254(2)(j)

32

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 14.1

Subsection 68(3)

Subsection 191(3)

33

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 14.2

Section 69

Section 192

34

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 14.5

Paragraph 98(2)(k)

Paragraph 254(2)(k)

35

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 15.1

Section 63

Section 182

36

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 16.1

Paragraph 98(2)(d)

Paragraph 254(2)(d)

37

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 16.2

Paragraph 98(2)(e)

Paragraph 254(2)(e)

38

Schedule 4, clause 2, table items 21.2, 21.3 and 21.7

Paragraph 98(2)(n)

Paragraph 254(2)(n)

39

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 23.5

Subsection 66(2)

Subsection 189(2)

40

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 23.6

Paragraph 98(2)(h)

Paragraph 254(2)(h)

41

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 24.2

Paragraph 98(2)(g)

Paragraph 254(2)(g)

42

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 27.5

Rule 8.04 FCFCOA Rules

Subsection 199(2) FCFCOA Act and rule 8.04 FCFCOA Rules

43

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 27.6

Section 102C FLA

Section 201 FCFCOA Act and section 102C FLA

44

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 27.7

Section 102D FLA

Section 202 FCFCOA Act and section 102D FLA

45

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 27.8

Section 102E FLA

Section 203 FCFCOA Act and section 102E FLA

46

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 27.9

Section 102K FLA

Section 204 FCFCOA Act and section 102K FLA

47

Schedule 4, clause 2, table items 28.1 and 28.2

Paragraph 98(2)(n)

Paragraph 254(2)(n)

48

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 28.3

Paragraph 98(2)(o)

Paragraph 254(2)(o)

49

Schedule 4, clause 2, table item 29.3

Section 65

Section 184

 

Part 3Transferring proceedings

 

3.01  Transfer to Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1)

 (1) The Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) may, on the application of a party or on its own initiative, transfer a family law or child support proceeding pending in the Court to the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1) under section 149 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act.

 (2) Unless the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) otherwise orders, an application under this rule must be made by application supported by an affidavit or included in a response supported by an affidavit.

 (3) In addition to the factors to which the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) must have regard under subsection 149(3) of the Federal Circuit and Family Court Act in deciding whether to transfer a proceeding to the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1), the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) must have regard to the following matters:

 (a) whether the proceeding is likely to involve questions of general importance, such that it would be desirable for there to be a decision of the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1) on one or more of the points in issue;

 (b) the financial value of the claim;

 (c) the complexity of the facts, legal issues, remedies and procedures involved;

 (d) whether the proceeding, if transferred, is likely to be dealt with:

 (i) at less cost to the parties; or

 (ii) at more convenience to the parties; or

 (iii) earlier;

 (e) the availability of a judicial officer specialising in the type of proceeding to which the application relates;

 (f) the availability of particular procedures appropriate for the class of proceeding;

 (g) the adequacy of the available facilities, having regard to any disability of a party or witness, and any safety concerns;

 (h) the wishes of the parties.

3.02  Proceeding transferred to Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1)—transfer of documents

  If a proceeding is transferred to the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1), the Registry Manager of the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) must:

 (a) send to the Registry Manager of the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1) all documents filed and orders made in the proceeding; and

 (b) retain in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) a copy of all orders made in the proceeding.

Part 4Costs

 

4.01  Costs in family law and child support matters

 (1) In applying Chapter 12 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 in relation to family law or child support proceedings, the Court may apply the scale of costs in Schedule 3 to those Rules or the scale of costs in Schedule 1 to these Rules.

 (2) In item 12 of the table in Schedule 1 to these Rules:

 (a) the reference to rule 11.15 is a reference to rule 11.15 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 as that rule applies because of rule 2.01 of these Rules; and

 (b) the reference to rule 11.34 is a reference to rule 11.34 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 as that rule applies because of rule 2.01 of these Rules.

Part 5Delegation

 

5.01  Delegation of additional powers to Senior Judicial Registrars and Judicial Registrars

  Schedule 4 to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 applies as if that Schedule included the items in the table in Schedule 2 to these Rules.

Schedule 1Scale of costs in family law and child support matters

Note: See rule 4.01.

 

 

 

Scale of costs in family law and child support matters

Item

Column 1

Description

Column 2

Amount (including GST)

1

Initiating or opposing an application up to the completion of the first court date

Both:

(a) $2,357; and

(b) the daily hearing fee specified in item 13 that applies to the hearing

2

Initiating or opposing an application that includes interim orders (other than procedural orders) up to the completion of the first court date

Both:

(a) $2,947 and

(b) the daily hearing fee specified in item 13 that applies to the hearing

3

Initiating or opposing an application for interlocutory orders (including an interim hearing) that is not otherwise described in item 1 or 2

Both:

(a) $1,964; and

(b) the daily hearing fee specified in item 13 that applies to the hearing

4

Procedural or summary hearing—as a discrete event

$1,964

5

Conciliation conference (including preparation)

$1,964

6

Other dispute resolution (including preparation)

$1,964

7

Preparation for final hearing—1 day matter

$5,022

8

Preparation for final hearing—2 day matter

$6,227

9

Preparation for final hearing—each additional hearing day after the second hearing day

$1,334

10

Attendance at hearing to take judgment and explain orders

Both:

(a) $321; and

(b) the daily hearing fee specified in item 13 that applies to the hearing

11

Application location, recovery or enforcement of an order (other than an application for enforcement by a Registrar under item 12)

Both:

(a) $997; and

(b) the daily hearing fee specified in item 13 that applies to the hearing

12

Application for enforcement by a Registrar of:

(a) a warrant under rule 11.15; or

(b) a third party debt notice under rule 11.34

$659

13

Daily hearing fee

(a) for a short mention—$321; or

(b) for a half day hearing—$1,178; or

(c) for a full day hearing—$2,357

14

Advocacy loading

50% of the daily hearing fee specified in item 13 that applies to the hearing

15

Drafting, conferences and chamber work (not otherwise covered by other items in the table)

(a) Senior Counsel—$677 per hour;

(b) Junior Counsel—$361 per hour;

(c) Solicitor—$260 per hour

16

Disbursements—Court fees and other fees and payments to the extent that they have been reasonably incurred

The amount of the fees and payments

17

Disbursements—photocopying for each page

$0.81

18

Agents fees and travelling costs

Note: For 2 or more hours travel.

$663

 

Schedule 2Additional delegated powers

Note: See rule 5.01.

 

 

 

Additional delegations to Senior Judicial Registrars and Judicial Registrars

Item

Column 1

Provision

Column 2

Description of power

Column 3

Senior Judicial Registrar

Column 4

Judicial Registrar

14.2A

Subsection 174(2) FCFCOA Act

To give directions about the practice and procedure to be followed in relation to a proceeding or a part of a proceeding in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2)

14.6A

Rule 1.04 of these Rules

On application, or on own initiative, to dispense with compliance with any of these Rules

27.4A

Section 187 FCFCOA Act

but only for a proceeding that is being heard by a Senior Judicial Registrar or Judicial Registrar, or with the consent of the parties

To give directions about limiting the time for oral argument in a proceeding in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2)

27.4B

Section 188 FCFCOA Act

but only for a proceeding that is being heard by a Senior Judicial Registrar or Judicial Registrar, or with the consent of the parties

To give directions about the use of, or length of, written submissions in a proceeding in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2)

27.4C

Section 197 FCFCOA Act

but only for a proceeding that is being heard by a Senior Judicial Registrar or Judicial Registrar, or with the consent of the parties

To give directions about limiting the time for giving testimony in a proceeding in the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2)

29.2A

Section 149 FCFCOA Act

To transfer a proceeding from the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) to the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1)

29.5

Part 3 of these Rules

To transfer a proceeding from the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 2) to the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1) and documents filed in the proceeding