Costs changes mooted for the Family Court

There are two types of ways that the courts regulate lawyers’ costs- one way is where the client has the lawyer acting (this is sometimes called solicitor and client costs) and that when a party is ordered to pay another party’s costs. Unlike the Federal Magistrates Court, the Family Court has long regulated costs between… Read More »Custom Single Post Header

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board

Costs changes mooted for the Family Court

There are two types of ways that the courts regulate lawyers’ costs- one way is where the client has the lawyer acting (this is sometimes called solicitor and client costs) and that when a party is ordered to pay another party’s costs.

Unlike the Federal Magistrates Court, the Family Court has long regulated costs between solicitors and their clients.The Family Court has mooted ending that on 1 July 2008, subject to those matters which haven’t finished…

This means that the different State regulations will apply to those costs, and hopefully there will be less bureaucracy for solicitors and their clients when the one dispute with a former partner can stretch into State courts, the Federal Magistrates Court and the Family Court.

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART