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Commonwealth legislation
The Family Law Regulations 2024 update procedural and operational rules under the Family Law Act 1975, affecting lawyers, family‑law arbitrators, courts, parents, children’s services, surrogacy parties, child protection agencies and service providers. They set modern standards for arbitration and testing, implement international service and enforcement obligations, allow procedural flexibility, and prohibit misuse of protected family‑service names. They commence 1 April 2025, replacing the 1984 regulations.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Family Law Regulations 2024.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This instrument is the Family Law Regulations 2024.
(1) Each provision of this instrument 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.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Commencement information</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:25.44%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p></td><td style="width:52.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p></td><td style="width:22.02%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 3</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:25.44%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Provisions</span></p></td><td style="width:52.54%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Commencement</span></p></td><td style="width:22.02%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Date/Details</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:25.44%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1.</span><span> </span><span>The whole of this instrument</span></p></td><td style="width:52.54%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tablea"><span>1</span><span> </span><span>April 2025.</span></p></td><td style="width:22.02%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span><span> </span><span>April 2025</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
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Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
This instrument is made under the Family Law Act 1975.
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:
(a) applicable Rules of Court;
(b) Chief Executive Officer;
(c) Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
In this instrument:
Act means the Family Law Act 1975.
arbitration agreement: see section 22.
Attorney‑General’s Department means the Department administered by the Attorney‑General.
bodily sample: see section 58.
Central Authority: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
certified copy means a copy of an order, decree or document certified to be a true copy by an officer of the court that:
(a) made or varied the order, decree or document; or
(b) registered or confirmed the order, decree or document.
Child Support Registrar means the Child Support Registrar mentioned in section 10 of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988.
Convention additional authority: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
Convention certificate of service: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
Convention certifying authority: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
Convention country: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
Cooperation Convention: see section 93.
Cooperation Convention country: see section 93.
donor: see section 58.
family law:
(a) means the Act; and
(b) includes this instrument and any other regulations made under the Act.
Note: This definition corresponds to the definition of this Act in subsection 4(1) of the Act.
forwarding authority: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
Hague Service Convention means the Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, done at The Hague on 15 November 1965.
Note: The Convention is in Australian Treaty Series 2010 No. 23 ([2010] ATS 23) and could in 2024 be viewed in the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website (http://www.austlii.edu.au).
initiating process: see section 79.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention.
intervener, in relation to proceedings, means:
(a) the Attorney‑General or any other person when intervening in the proceedings, or applying to intervene in the proceedings, under Part IX of the Act; or
(b) a child independently represented in the proceedings under subsection 68L(2) of the Act.
legal practitioner means a person enrolled as a barrister, a solicitor, a barrister and solicitor, or a legal practitioner, of the High Court of Australia, or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory.
local judicial document means a judicial document that relates to civil proceedings under the family law in the court.
Note: This definition relates to the Hague Service Convention and Cooperation Conventions.
maintenance order has the same meaning as in section 110 of the Act.
nominated reporter: see section 58.
party to proceedings means an applicant, respondent or intervener in proceedings under the family law.
Receiving Agency: see subsection 126(1).
Note: This definition relates to the Recovery Convention.
Recovery Convention: see subsection 126(1).
Recovery Convention country: see subsection 126(1).
relevant Registrar of a court means:
(a) in relation to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)—the following:
(i) the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar, within the meaning of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021;
(ii) a Senior Registrar or Registrar of that court; or
(b) in relation to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)—the following:
(i) the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Registrar, within the meaning of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021;
(ii) a Senior Registrar or Registrar of that court; or
(c) in relation to any other court—the principal officer of the court or any other appropriate officer or staff member of the court.
request for service abroad, in relation to service in a Convention country or a Cooperation Convention country, means a request for service in that country of a local judicial document.
respondent, in relation to proceedings, means a party to the proceedings other than an applicant or an intervener.
sample: see section 58.
sampler: see section 58.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Attorney‑General’s Department.
testing: see section 58.
Transmitting Agency: see subsection 126(1).
Note: This definition relates to the Recovery Convention.
(1) For the purposes of the definition of child welfare law in subsection 4(1) of the Act: (a) any law of a State, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory; and (b) a law in force in Norfolk Island (whether the law is a law of the Commonwealth or a law of Norfolk Island); that relates to a matter mentioned in subsection (2) of this section is prescribed. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the matters are the imprisonment, detention or residence of a child upon being dealt with for a criminal offence. (3) For the purposes of the definition of child welfare law in subsection 4(1) of the Act, each law specified in an item of the following table is prescribed.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Prescribed child welfare laws</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>State or Territory law</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Adoption Act 2000</span><span> (NSW)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 </span><span>(NSW)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Guardianship Act 1987 </span><span>(NSW)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Adoption Act 1984 </span><span>(Vic.)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 </span><span>(Vic.)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 </span><span>(Vic.)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Education and Training Reform Act 2006 </span><span>(Vic.)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>8</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 </span><span>(Vic.)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>9</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Adoption Act 2009 </span><span>(Qld)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Child Protection Act 1999 </span><span>(Qld)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>11</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Maintenance Act 1965 </span><span>(Qld)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>12</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Mental Health Act 2016 </span><span>(Qld)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>13</span></p></td><td style="width:90.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span style="font-style:italic">Public Health Act 2005 </span><span>(Qld)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:9.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; bo
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