Isaac and Isaac (No.3)

In the matter of *Isaac and Isaac (No.3)*, Judge O’Sullivan of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered an application concerning the children, Y and X. The dispute involved interim orders sought by the Applicant and Respondent, with a significant focus on the children's welfare and representation.

The court was required to determine the appropriate interim orders for the children, particularly in light of the provisions of Part VII of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), which deals with children's matters. A key issue was the independent representation of the children, necessitating the appointment of an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL).

The court ordered that the children be independently represented pursuant to section 68L(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), requesting Victoria Legal Aid to arrange such representation. The ICL was directed to file a Notice of Address for Service, receive relevant documents from the parties' solicitors within 48 hours of appointment, and adhere to specific guidelines for the child's representative, including tasks related to assessment and recommendation. The ICL was also to prepare a minute of proposed final orders reflecting their preliminary views. The Applicant and Respondent were each ordered to file and serve their respective applications and submissions regarding interim orders, demonstrating why such orders are in the children's best interests, by specific deadlines prior to the adjourned hearing. The matter was adjourned for an interim hearing on 24 June 2015.