 | This article needs to be updated. (December 2017) |
| Family Court of Australia | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Established | 1976 |
| Dissolved | 1 September 2021 |
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Authorised by | Australian Constitution |
| Appeals to | High Court of Australia (on special leave) |
| Website | familycourt.gov.au |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Will Alstergren |
| Since | 10 December 2018 |
| Deputy Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Robert McClelland |
| Since | 10 December 2018 |
The Family Court of Australia was a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters, such as divorce applications, parenting disputes, and the division of property when a couple separate. Together with the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, it covered family law matters in all states and territories of Australia except for Western Australia, which has a separate Family Court. Its core function was to determine cases with the most complex law, facts and parties, to cover specialised areas in family law, and to provide national coverage as the national appellate court for family law matters.[1]
In 2021, the Morrison government introduced legislation merging the Family Court with the Federal Circuit Court of Australia to form the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, effective from 1 September 2021.[2] Since the merger, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is the only court which has jurisdiction to deal with purely family law related issues (except for Western Australia).
- ^ "Budget Statements 2008–09" (PDF). Attorney-General's Department. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
- ^ "Media Release - The Courts to receive $100 million in Government funding announced in the 2021-22 Budget". Family Court of Australia. 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.