Meier and Drummond

In the matter of *Meier and Drummond*, heard before O’Reilly J, the applicants sought leave to commence adoption proceedings for the adoption of a child, C, born in April 1992. The application was filed on 18 January 2010, with an amended application filed on 4 February 2010.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant the applicants leave to commence adoption proceedings pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This section typically requires a period of 12 months after the breakdown of a marriage for a party to commence such proceedings, unless leave is granted.

O’Reilly J reasoned that granting leave was appropriate in the circumstances of the case. The court ordered that the initial application be treated as an initiating application and the amended application as an amended initiating application. Furthermore, the applicants were permitted to file the original affidavit of service of Mr C, sworn on 19 February 2010. Crucially, pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), Ms Meier and Mr Meier were granted leave to commence adoption proceedings for the adoption of the child C.