Richards and Richards

In *Richards and Richards*, Young J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by the solicitor for the mother concerning the relocation of court proceedings. The dispute involved family law matters, and the specific issue before the court was whether to grant leave for an oral application to transfer the file and all related proceedings to the Brisbane Registry.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the mother's application for the transfer of the file and relocation of all court proceedings to the Brisbane Registry of the Family Court or Federal Magistrates Court. This included considering the consolidation of existing files and the provision of legal representation for the children in the new jurisdiction.

Young J granted leave for the oral application and ordered the transfer of all proceedings to the Brisbane Registry. The court further ordered that the Melbourne-based Independent Children’s Lawyer be discharged and requested Brisbane Legal Aid to provide appropriate representation for the children. Liberty was reserved to the respondent husband to apply in the Brisbane Registry for the reinstatement of communication with the children, provided proper material was filed. The proceedings were subsequently removed from the docket of Young J.