Victoria Legal Aid

Family law resources

Our lawyers have written a selection of materials, including conference papers, articles, guides and checklists, which may be useful references for other lawyers.

Family law trial practice tools

Acting on a recommendation from the 2015 Family Law Legal Aid Services Review, we have developed a suite of practice tools in consultation with an advisory group of family lawyers. The tools include a:

  • case strategy plan
  • litigation preparation checklist
  • adult client capacity checklist.

Read more and download the tools.

Changes to the family law guidelines

A video resourceExternal Link will walk you through the July 2017 changes to the guidelines, ATLAS and the Notes to the guidelines.

Forms for independent children's lawyers

This form is for independent children's lawyers to gather information about parents and children in a case.

Guide for lawyers at our Family Dispute Resolution Service

Lawyers representing clients at Victoria Legal Aid Family Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS) should refer to our Guide for lawyers at Victoria Legal Aid Family Dispute Resolution Service, together with practice tools, to ensure parties come prepared to have respectful, child-focused and future-focused discussions.

Case notes

  • This case note summarises how Victoria Legal Aid's specialised child support team represented the claimant parent of an adult child in what we understand to be the first case confirming adult child maintenance is available to support children receiving NDIS.
  • Summary of landmark decision of the Full Court of the Family Court which removes the need for trans-gender people under the age of 18 to seek court authorisation to commence stage 2 hormone treatment in non-controversial cases. Case note includes useful definitions of terms and commentary on the circumstances in which court authorisation is still required.
  • Case note on Re Isaac [2014] FamCA 1134 (17 December 2014) including facts, decision and commentary regarding whether Isaac was competent and capable of making an informed decision about his own medical treatment for gender dysphoria.
  • This case note details how we helped a woman keep herself and her children safe from her violent ex-partner throughout the family law litigation.

Conference papers and articles

A selection of conference papers, articles and guides written by our lawyers are provided for other lawyers to use.

  • A guide describing the ins and outs of drafting a quality affidavit of evidence in support of your family law case.
  • A guide to making sense of the regime for enforcing parenting orders.

More information

Independent Children's LawyersExternal Link – a website developed by National Legal Aid to support independent children's lawyers across Australia.

Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Reviewed 21 December 2023

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