Re:Garwood

In *Re: Garwood*, Murphy J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application for leave to commence adoption proceedings concerning a child, C, born in August 2002. The applicants sought this leave and also requested that service of the proceedings on the Respondent be dispensed with, allowing the application to be heard ex-parte.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether to grant the applicants leave to commence adoption proceedings under section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). A related issue was whether to dispense with service of the Respondent, thereby permitting the application to proceed without their participation.

Murphy J granted leave to the applicants to commence adoption proceedings pursuant to section 60G of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The Court also granted leave to dispense with service of the Respondent, ordering that the application be heard ex-parte.