Difference between Family Court and Family Circuit Court
Dear Family Court of Australia,
What is the difference between a family court and Family circuit court?
I heard that one is decided by which parent has more money in custody cases. This seems very alarming to me as the Australian government has made sure that most of its people are struggling financially, barely having somewhere to live.
If someone on a low income is in the midst of a custody battle which court do you recommend that they apply to?
From Lauren Ainslie
Please note that this email address is no longer monitored.
Please direct any email correspondence intended for the Federal Circuit
and Family Court of Australia to [email address]
Kind regards,
Customer Service
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Ainslie
I refer to your below email, seeking information under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) ('FOI Act'). Although the FOI Act relates to
requests for documents rather than answers to queries such as this, I am
happy to provide general information in response to your query
administratively, outside the provisions of the FOI Act.
You ask about the difference between a 'family court' and 'Family circuit
court', and which court a custody dispute should be filed in. In
Australia, there are three courts that exercise family law jurisdiction:
1. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1)
2. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)
3. The Family Court of Western Australia
Division 1 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is a
continuation of what used to be referred to as the 'Family Court of
Australia'. Division 2 used to be known as the 'Federal Circuit Court of
Australia'. The term 'Circuit' refers to that Court's provision of
services in regional Australia (on court 'circuits'). There is no
distinction made relating to the amount of money in custody cases.
All family law matters are to be filed in the Federal Circuit and Family
Court of Australia (Division 2). Division 1 may deal with the more
complex matters and other particular types of proceedings, but only where
the matter is transferred to Division 1. For more information, please
refer to the Courts’ [1]website.
The only exception to this is where the parties reside in Western
Australia, as that state has their own separate [2]family court.
I hope this information is of assistance.
Kind Regards
Mike
Freedom of Information Officer
Customer Service
Federal Circuit and Family Court of
Australia
p. 1300 352 000 - family law matters
| p. 1300 720 980 – federal law
matters
e. [3][email address]
w. [4]www.fcfcoa.gov.au
[5]cid:image001.jpg@01D7CFC4.01686F00
[6]cid:image003.png@01D81CF4.2DF92410 I acknowledge the Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples as the first
inhabitants of the nation and the
traditional custodians of the lands
where we live, learn and work.
Dear Family Court of Australia,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Family Court of Australia's handling of my FOI request 'Difference between Family Court and Family Circuit Court'.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/d...
Yours faithfully,
Lauren Ainslie
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Ainslie
Please find letter attached.
Kind Regards
Customer Service
Federal Circuit and Family Court of
Australia
p. 1300 352 000 - family law matters
| p. 1300 720 980 – federal law
matters
e. [1][email address]
w. [2]www.fcfcoa.gov.au
[3]cid:image001.jpg@01D7CFC4.01686F00
[4]cid:image003.png@01D81CF4.2DF92410 I acknowledge the Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples as the first
inhabitants of the nation and the
traditional custodians of the lands
where we live, learn and work.