Family Courts Act 1980

16A Family Courts Rules

• (1) The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make rules regulating the practice and procedure of Family Courts in proceedings that the Family Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine.

  (2) Rules made under subsection (1) may—

  • (a) apply (with or without modification) specified District Courts rules to proceedings in a Family Court, or proceedings of a particular kind or description in a Family Court:

  • (b) [Repealed]

  • (c) prescribe the form and contents of documents:

  • (d) prescribe any forms that are necessary for the purposes of this Act or any specified Act, or authorise any specified person or persons to prescribe or approve forms, and require the use of such forms:

  • (e) prescribe 1 or more methods for serving documents:

  • (f) prescribe 1 or more methods for giving notice:

  • (g) provide for the transfer of proceedings between Family Courts, or between a Family Court and any other court:

  • (h) provide for the keeping, searching, and transfer of records:

  • (i) provide for any other matters in respect of which rules regulating the practice or procedure of Family Courts are contemplated or specifically authorised by this Act or a specified Act.

  (3) Subsection (2) does not limit the powers conferred by subsection (1).

  (4) For the purposes of subsection (2)(i), each of the following Acts is a specified Act:

  • (a) the Adoption Act 1955:

  • (b) the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 1995:

  • (c) the Child Support Act 1991:

  • (d) the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989:

  • (da) the Civil Union Act 2004:

  • (e) the Domestic Actions Act 1975:

  • (f) the Domestic Violence Act 1995:

  • (g) the Family Proceedings Act 1980:

  • (h) the Family Protection Act 1955:

  • (i) the Care of Children Act 2004:

  • (j) the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949:

  • (k) the Marriage Act 1955:

  • (l) the Property (Relationships) Act 1976:

  • (m) the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.

  Section 16A: inserted, on 13 September 2002, by section 5 of the Family Courts Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 65).

  Section 16A(2)(b): repealed, on 18 May 2009, by section 8 of the Family Courts Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 78).

  Section 16A(4)(b): amended, on 24 January 2009, by section 47 of the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 48).

  Section 16A(4)(da): inserted, on 26 April 2005, by section 46 of the Civil Union Act 2004 (2004 No 102).

  Section 16A(4)(i): amended, on 1 July 2005, by section 151 of the Care of Children Act 2004 (2004 No 90).

  Section 16A(4)(l): amended, on 13 September 2002, by section 64(2) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 5).