Kautai and Lino

In the matter of *Kautai and Lino*, Gill J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application for adoption. The applicants, Ms Kautai and Mr Kautai, sought to adopt a child, B, born in 2013.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether it possessed the necessary jurisdiction to hear the adoption application. This involved an examination of the relevant legislative provisions governing the jurisdiction of the Family Court in adoption matters.

Gill J determined that the Family Court had jurisdiction to hear the application pursuant to section 4 of the *Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987* (ACT). Having established jurisdiction, the Court then proceeded to make an adoption order in favour of the applicants, Ms Kautai and Mr Kautai, in relation to the child, B, pursuant to section 14 of the *Adoption Act 1993* (ACT). The final form of the order was contingent upon its formal entry in the Court's records.