Surge in 'urgent' Family Court cases as COVID-19 pressures boil over
Family Law: 28 April 2020
The Family Court and Federal Circuit Court will establish COVID-19 list due to commence on Wednesday 29th April 2020. The COVID-19 list will hear cases that have been listed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. All urgent cases will be assessed by a Registrar of the Court and heard by a Judge within 72 hours.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there has been a 40% increase in urgent applications to the Family Court. There has also been a 23% increase in urgent applications in the Federal Circuit Court in the past month. This is as a result of pressures being placed on families during these unprecedented times.
The Courts continue to hear cases and cases are now being conducted remotely by computer or mobile phone.
Please note: The information in this article is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to be comprehensive or to apply to any specific circumstances. You should seek independent legal advice before acting on any information contained in this article.