General Federal Law Trial in Family Law Courts
The Federal Magistrates Court, Federal Court and Family Court are
working together to improve general federal law services to clients in
rural and regional centres.
From March 1 2007, Family Law Courts’ registries in Dandenong, Newcastle, Parramatta, Lismore and Townsville are receiving general federal law
documents for the Federal Court and Federal Magistrates Court* as part
of a trial to improve services.
Clients and the legal profession can give documents, with or without
payment, to a Family Law Courts’ client service officer. The officer
will give a written acknowledgement and send the documents by overnight
mail to the nearest Federal Court for processing. (The Federal Court
provides registry services for the Federal Magistrates Court’s general
federal law documents.)
Documents will not be considered presented, lodged or filed until
received and accepted by the relevant Federal Court Registry.
With family law registries located around the country, this new service
will be of great value to clients in assisting them to access the
courts.
If the trial is successful, the service may be extended to other family
law registries. It may also be expanded to include full filing services.
*In the Federal Magistrates Court, jurisdiction includes administrative
law, bankruptcy, unlawful discrimination, consumer protection and trade
practices, privacy, migration, copyright, industrial law and admiralty
law. |
