EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
FAMILY LAW ACT 1975
FAMILY LAW REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
(Statutory Rules 1989 No. 155)
Subsection 125(1) of the Family Law Act 1975 provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing court fees in respect of proceedings under the Act.
The purpose of the Family Law Regulations (Amendment) is to amend the Family Law Regulations to increase the fees payable for filing of documents in the Family Court.
The proposed Regulations will increase the Court fees payable from $240 and $360 to $300 and $500 respectively. The fees were last increased in September 1987 from $200 and $300 to $240 and $360 respectively.
The proposed increase, which includes a component to account for the increase in the Consumer Price Index and an additional revenue component to assist in offsetting costs involved in running the courts, will bring the fee to the same level as that proposed in other superior courts administered by the Commonwealth.
Court fees are not payable in the Family Court where a litigant is in receipt of Legal Aid or where payment of the fee would impose hardship.
Authorised by the
Attorney-General