Legal Content Update June 2025: Family Law Updates, New Liquidation and Administrative Review Tribunal Matter Types, and More

This has been another busy month for the Legal Product Team! We released a range of updates following the 10 June Family law changes, added a new Liquidation General matter type, updated a raft of other forms and precedents, as well as made a number of exciting changes to reports.

Let’s dive into the highlights below or you can check out the full list here.

Family Law Updates

On 10 June 2025, significant reforms to the Family Law Act 1975 came into effect, following the passing of the Family Law Amendment Act 2024. Key updates include:

• making clear that the effect of family violence is a relevant consideration in determining the division of property and finances following breakdown of a relationship, including expressly capturing ‘economic or financial abuse’ within the definition of family violence.
• specifying the approach the family law courts will take when making decisions about the division of property.
• providing a new framework for determining ownership of the family pet in property settlements.
• providing the family law courts the discretion to use the less adversarial approach in property and financial matters. 
• elevating the duties of financial disclosure from the family law rules into the Family Law Act.

Family Law Forms

Following the legislative changes, a number of FCFCOA forms have been updated.

The following updated forms, practice directions and publications are now available in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia folder in the Precedent Library (listed alphabetically):

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and the Court

• A Guide to Dividing Your Property and Finances After Separation

• Acknowledgement of Service

• Acknowledgment of Service (Divorce)

• Affidavit - Family Law and Child Support

• Affidavit - Non-filing of FDR Certificate

• Affidavit of Service

• Affidavit of Service by Hand (Divorce)

• Affidavit of Service by Post (Divorce)

• Affidavit Proving Signature (Divorce)

• Application for Consent Orders

• Application for Consent Orders - Non Automated

• Applying for a Decree of Nullity

• Application for Review

• Bankruptcy - Summons for Examination

• Before you file - Pre-Action Procedure for Financial Cases (prescribed brochure)

• Before you file - Pre-Action Procedure for Parenting Cases (prescribed brochure)

• Case Outline Document (Final Hearing)

• Child Support Applications (brochure)

• Compulsory Pre-Filing Family Dispute Resolution - Court Procedures and Requirements

• Conciliation Conference

• Confidential Case Outline document (Dispute Resolution)

• Duty of Disclosure

• Family Law Practice Direction - Appeals

• Family Law Practice Direction - Arbitration

• Family Law Practice Direction - Bankruptcy Act Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - Critical Incident List

• Family Law Practice Direction - Divorce Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - Financial Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - Major Complex Financial Proceedings List

• Family Law Practice Direction - Medical Procedure Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - National Contravention List

• Family Law Practice Direction - Parenting Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - Passport Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - Surrogacy Proceedings

• Family Law Practice Direction - Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act Proceedings

• Financial Statement

• Financial Statement - Non Automated

• Genuine Steps Certificate

• Guide for Independent Children’s Lawyers in the Evatt List

• Guide for Parties in the Evatt List

• Information Sheet for Parties - Lighthouse Risk Screening

• Initiating Application

• Lighthouse Information Sheet for Practitioners

• Lighthouse information sheet - Triage Counsellors

• Marriage, Families and Separation (prescribed brochure)

• Notice of Appeal (Child Support)

• Notice of objection to subpoena

• Notice of Request to Inspect

• Notice of Request to Inspect - Arbitration

• PPP Cases Financial Summary

• Questionnaire - Financial

• Reply

• Request to attend by electronic communication

• Response to Initiating Application

• Subpoena - Family Law

• Subpoena in an Arbitration

• Superannuation Information Kit

• Undertaking as to Disclosure

In line with the new changes, the ‘Counselling certificate for applicants married less than 2 years’ has been removed from the precedent library. 

Family Court of Western Australia Forms 

The following forms have also been updated in the Family Court of Western Australia/Family Forms folder:

• Application for Consent Orders

• Consent to Conduct Proceedings as Child-related Proceedings

Marketplace Precedents - FLENA Updates

In line with the changes, the following precedents have also been updated in the FLENA marketplace precedents suite:

• P.2 – Initial formal letter to client regarding children and/or property
• P.3 – Initial formal letter to other side
• P.4 – Letter to client requesting financial disclosure
• P.5 – Initial formal letter to other side lawyer
• P.6 – Property division letter of advice
• P.7 – Letter to other side following up financial disclosure
• P.10 – Written notice of intention to commence proceedings
• CO2 – Letter to other party (self rep) with consent orders
• FA3 – Letter of advice regarding financial agreement
• MCFP L3 – Letter to client confirming MCFP allocation
• SP3 – Mediation Position Paper
• SP5 – Domestic Violence – Coercive Control
• SP4A – Final Orders by consent during proceedings
• SP4B – Interim Orders (property)
• SP4B – Interim Orders (parenting)
• SP4C – Final Orders by consent (no proceedings)

All relevant prescribed and further materials have also been updated to reflect the amendments.

FamilyProperty Forms

FamilyProperty has also made available the following updated forms:

• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia:
  • Application for Consent Orders
  • Initiating Application
  • Response to Initiating Application
  • Financial Statement
  • Genuine Steps Certificate
  • Confidential Case Outline
• Family Court of Western Australia:
  • Application for Consent Orders

Liquidation General Matter Type

We have now also released a new Liquidation General (FED) matter type and corresponding Lead under the Insolvency category. 

Administrative Review Tribunal Matter Type

We have now also released a new Administrative Review Tribunal (FED) matter type and corresponding Lead under the Administrative Tribunals category.

Report Updates

This month we also released the newly enhanced Safe Custody Full List report to Smokeball Desktop Reports.  This upgrade merges the previously separate Safe Custody – Filtered and Safe Custody – Full List reports into a single, streamlined view — offering more filter options for improved usability.

Key Features & Enhancements:
All filters from the existing reports have been retained, along with the addition of new functionality, including:

1. External Reference Number Search: A new search option has been added to filter records by External Reference Number.
2. Date Period Filter: Users can now select either "ALL" to view data across all time or choose a "Custom Range". Selecting Custom Range enables the From Date and To Date fields, allowing users to define a specific period based on the selected date type.
3. Client Name & Matter Number Filters: These filters now feature intelligent dropdowns with search functionality, dynamically displaying relevant options based on user input.
4. Branch Name Field: A new Branch Name column has been added and can be shown or hidden using the Included Columns filter.
5. Grouping Feature: Grouping options have been enhanced to include Branch Name.

This consolidated report offers a more intuitive and flexible reporting experience, making it easier than ever to search, filter, and analyse Safe Custody records.
 

Further Report Enhancements

We have also made several updates to improve the following reports:

Branch Name is now included in these reports:

• Matter - Full List
• Client - Full List
• Matter - Referral List
• Lead - Full List

Grouping by Branch Name is now available in all of the above reports to enhance filtering.
 

Additional Enhancements:

• Matter Stage field and group by option added to the Matter Full List report.
• In the Lead Full List report, the Client Name column is now a hyperlink to the related matter for easier navigation.

That's it for now! Make sure to check out the full list of updates and let us know if you have any questions or feedback.