Fears exodus of Judges will disrupt divorce, custody disputes

Lawyers fear under-resourcing and a looming exodus of Canberra-based judges from the Family and Federal Circuit Courts may disrupt and delay child custody and divorce proceedings in the ACT. Two local Family Court judges, Deputy Chief Justice John Faulks and Justice Mary Finn, are due to retire next year, having reached their statutory retirement age. So is Federal Circuit Court judge Jim Brewster. The local retirements will prompt a significant changing of the guard at the two courts, which

Best Interest of the Child

When a court is making a parenting order, the Family Law Act 1975 requires it to regard the best interests of the child as the most important consideration. Parents are encouraged to use this principle when making parenting plans. The Family Law Act makes clear that: - both parents are responsible for the care and welfare of their children until the children reach 18, and - there is a presumption that arrangements which involve shared responsibilities and cooperation between the parents are in