Family Court Act 1997 (WA)

Western Australia Family Court Act 1997 Western Australia Family Court Act 1997 Contents Part 1 — Preliminary 1. Short title 1 2. Commencement 1 3. Contents of this Act 1 4. References in section headings and definitions to comparable provisions of Commonwealth Acts 1 5. Terms used 1 6. Meaning of member of the family — FLA s. 4(1AB) 1 7. Meaning of relative — FLA s. 4(1AC) and (1AD) 1 7A. Meaning of major long‑term issues — FLA s. 4(1) 1 7B. Meaning of debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement — FLA s. 5 1 8. Meaning of court 1 9A. Meaning of family violence etc. — FLA s. 4AB 1 9B. Courts and Tribunals (Electronic Processes Facilitation) Act 2013 Pt. 2 applies 1 Part 2 — Family Court of Western Australia Division 1 — The Family Court 9. Family Court continued 1 10. Constitution etc. of Court 1 Division 2 — Judges 11. Appointment of judges 1 12. Seniority 1 13. Oath of office 1 14. Style and title of judges 1 15. Salaries and allowances of judges 1 16. Leave of judge 1 17. Judges may continue certain superannuation scheme 1 18. Tenure of office 1 19. Judges' Salaries and Pensions Act 1950 applies to Family Court judges 1 20. Next senior judge may act if Chief Judge unable to act, or office vacant 1 21. Acting Chief Judge 1 22. Acting judges 1 23. Effect of acting as judge 1 24. Dual appointments 1 Division 3 — Officers of the Court and staff 25. Officers of Court 1 26. Principal Registrar and registrars may be magistrates 1 27. Personal staff for judges 1 28. Other Court staff 1 29. Marshal 1 30. Functions under federal jurisdiction 1 31. Functions under non‑federal jurisdictions 1 32. Judicial notice of signatures 1 33. Delegation of powers to registrars — FCFCAA s. 98 1 33A. Engagement of consultants and other persons 1 33B. Protection of registrars 1 Division 4 — Administration of Court's family services 34. Director of Court Counselling has functions of family consultants — FCFCAA s. 278 1 34A. Director of Court Counselling may delegate powers and functions that relate to family consultants — FCFCAA s. 279 1 34B. Director of Court Counselling may give directions that relate to family services functions — FCFCAA s. 280 1 34C. Director of Court Counselling may authorise officer or staff member to act as family counsellor or family dispute resolution practitioner — FCFCAA s. 281 1 34D. Director of Court Counselling may engage persons to perform family counselling services or family dispute resolution services 1 Part 3 — Jurisdiction of courts and transfer, staying and dismissal of proceedings Division 1 — Jurisdiction of the Family Court 35. Federal jurisdiction of Court 1 36. Non‑federal jurisdictions of Court 1 37. Principles to be applied, and matters to be considered, by Court in its non‑federal jurisdiction — FLA s. 43 1 Division 2 — Jurisdiction of courts of summary jurisdiction 38. Federal jurisdiction of courts of summary jurisdiction 1 39. Non‑federal jurisdictions of courts of summary jurisdiction 1 40. Functions of officers of courts of summary jurisdiction 1 Division 3 — Jurisdiction of other courts 41. Courts making family violence orders have certain jurisdiction under this Act 1 Division 4 — Transfer, staying and dismissal of proceedings 43. Transfer of proceedings from Magistrates Court in parenting cases 1 43A. Transfer of proceedings from Magistrates Court in cases in relation to property — FLA s. 46 1 43B. Transfer of proceedings to the Court — FLA s. 46(3A) 1 44. Transfer of proceedings to another court — FLA s. 45(2) 1 45. Stay or dismissal of proceedings 1 46. Orders on transfer or staying proceedings 1 46A. Change of venue — FCFCAA s. 65 1 Part 4 — Non‑court based family services Division 1 — Family counselling 47. Term used: family counselling — FLA s. 10B 1 48. Term used: family counsellor — FLA s. 10C 1 49. Confidentiality of communications in family counselling — FLA s. 10D 1 50. Admissibility of communications in family counselling and in referrals from family counselling — FLA s. 10E 1 Division 2 — Family dispute resolution 51. Term used: family dispute resolution — FLA s. 10F 1 52. Term used: family dispute resolution practitioner — FLA s. 10G 1 53. Confidentiality of communications in family dispute resolution — FLA s. 10H 1 54. Admissibility of communications in family dispute resolution and in referrals from family dispute resolution — FLA s. 10J 1 55. Family dispute resolution practitioners must comply with regulations — FLA s. 10K 1 Division 3 — Arbitration 56. Meaning of arbitration — FLA s. 10L 1 57. Meaning of arbitrator — FLA s. 10M 1 58. Arbitrators may charge fees for their services — FLA s. 10N 1 59. Immunity of arbitrators — FLA s. 10P 1 Division 4 — Post‑separation parenting programs 59A. Admissibility of communications in post‑separation parenting programs — FLA s. 10PA 1 Part 4A — Family consultants Division 1 — About family consultants 60. Functions of family consultants — FLA s. 11A 1 61. Term used: family consultant — FLA s. 11B 1 62. Admissibility of communications with family consultants and referrals from family consultants — FLA s. 11C 1 63. Immunity of family consultants — FLA s. 11D 1 Division 2 — Courts' use of family consultants 64. Courts to consider seeking advice from family consultants — FLA s. 11E 1 65. Court may order parties to attend, or arrange for child to attend, appointments with family consultant — FLA s. 11F 1 65A. Consequences of failure to comply with order under section 65 — FLA s. 11G 1 Part 4AA — Family report writers 65AA. Family report writers — FLA s. 11H 1 65AB. Designated family reports — FLA s. 11J 1 65AC. Regulations prescribing standards and requirements for family report writers — FLA s. 11K 1 65AD. Disclosure by court to regulator — FLA s. 11L 1 65AE. Immunity of regulator — FLA s. 11M 1 Part 4B — Obligations to inform people about non‑court based family services and about court's processes and services Division 1 — Introduction 65B. Objects of this Part — FLA s. 12A 1 Division 2 — Kind of information to be provided 65C. Prescribed information about non‑court based family services and court's processes and services — FLA s. 12B 1 65D. Prescribed information about reconciliation — FLA s. 12C 1 65E. Prescribed information about Part 5 proceedings —FLA s. 12D 1 Division 3 — Who must provide information and when 65F. Obligations on legal practitioners — FLA s. 12E 1 65G. Obligations on executive manager — FLA s. 12F 1 65H. Obligations on family counsellors, family dispute resolution practitioners and arbitrators — FLA s. 12G 1 Part 4C — Court's powers in relation to court and non‑court based family services Division 1 — Introduction 65I. Objects of this Part — FLA s. 13A 1 Division 2 — Help with reconciliation 65J. Court to accommodate possible reconciliations — FLA s. 13B 1 Division 3 — Referrals to family counselling, family dispute resolution and other family services 65K. Court may refer parties to family counselling, family dispute resolution and other family services — FLA s. 13C 1 65L. Consequences of failure to comply with order under section 65K — FLA s. 13D 1 Division 4 — Court's role in relation to arbitration of disputes 65M. Court may refer Part 5A proceedings to arbitration — FLA s. 13E 1 65N. Court may make orders to facilitate arbitration of certain disputes — FLA s. 13F 1 65O. Court may determine questions of law referred by arbitrator — FLA s. 13G 1 65P. Awards made in arbitration may be registered in court — FLA s. 13H 1 65Q. Court can review registered awards — FLA s. 13J 1 65R. Court may set aside registered awards — FLA s. 13K 1 Part 5 — Children Division 1 — Introductory Subdivision 1 — Objects 66. Objects of Part — FLA s. 60B 1 Subdivision 2 — Best interests of the child: court proceedings 66A. Child's best interests paramount consideration in making parenting order — FLA s. 60CA 1 66B. Proceedings to which Subdivision applies — FLA s. 60CB 1 66C. How a court determines what is in child's best interests — FLA s. 60CC 1 66D. How views of child are expressed — FLA s. 60CD 1 66E. Children not required to express views — FLA s. 60CE 1 66F. Informing court of relevant family violence orders — FLA s. 60CF 1 66G. Court to consider risk of family violence — FLA s. 60CG 1 66HA. Informing court of care arrangements under child welfare laws — FLA s. 60CH 1 66HB. Informing court of notifications to, and investigations by, information sharing agencies — FLA s. 60CI 1 Subdivision 3A — Best interests of the child: adviser's obligations 66HC. Adviser's obligations in relation to best interests of child — FLA s. 60D 1 Subdivision 3 — Family dispute resolution 66H. Attending family dispute resolution before applying for Part 5 Order — FLA s. 60I 1 66I. Family dispute resolution not attended because of child abuse or family violence — FLA s. 60J 1 Division 2 — Parental responsibility 67. What this Division does — FLA s. 61A 1 68. Term used: parental responsibility — FLA s. 61B 1 69. Each parent has parental responsibility (subject to court orders) — FLA s. 61C 1 69A. Consultation between parents on major long‑term issues — FLA s. 61CA 1 70. Parenting orders and parental responsibility — FLA s. 61D 1 70A. Effect of parenting order that provides for joint decision‑making about major long‑term issues — FLA s. 61DAA 1 70B. No need to consult on issues that are not major long‑term issues — FLA s. 61DAB 1 71. Appointment and responsibilities of guardian 1 71A. Application to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children — FLA s. 61F 1 Division 3 — Reports relating to children under 18 72. Court's obligation to inform people to whom orders under this Part apply about family counselling, family dispute resolution and other family services — FLA s. 62B 1 73. Reports by family consultants — FLA s. 62G 1 Division 4 — Parenting plans 74. What this Division does — FLA s. 63A 1 75. Parents encouraged to reach agreement — FLA s. 63B 1 76. Meaning of parenting plan and related terms — FLA s. 63C 1 77. Parenting plans may include child support provisions —FLA s. 63CAA 1 78. Parenting plan may be varied or revoked by further written agreement — FLA s. 63D 1 78A. Obligations of advisers — FLA s. 63DA 1 78B. Registered parenting plans — FLA s. 63DB 1 79. Registration of revocation of registered parenting plan — FLA s. 63E 1 80. Child welfare provisions of registered parenting plans — FLA s. 63F 1 81. Child maintenance provisions of registered parenting plans — FLA s. 63G 1 82. Court's powers to set aside, discharge, vary, suspend or revive registered parenting plans — FLA s. 63H 1 Division 5 — Parenting orders — what they are 83. What this Division does — FLA s. 64A 1 84. Meaning of parenting order and related terms — FLA s. 64B 1 85. Parenting orders may be made in favour of parents or other persons — FLA s. 64C 1 85A. Parenting orders subject to later parenting plans — FLA s. 64D 1 Division 6 — Parenting orders other than child maintenance orders Subdivision 1 — Introductory 86. What this Division does — FLA s. 65A 1 86A. Child's best interests paramount consideration in making a parenting order — FLA s. 65AA 1 87. Division does not apply to child maintenance orders — FLA s. 65B 1 Subdivision 2 — Applying for and making parenting orders 88. Who may apply for a parenting order — FLA s. 65C 1 89. Court's power to make parenting order — FLA s. 65D 1 89AAA. Reconsideration of final parenting orders — FLA s. 65DAAA 1 89AB. Court to have regard to parenting plans — FLA s. 65DAB 1 89A. Parenting orders — FLA s. 65DA 1 91. General requirements for counselling before parenting order made — FLA s. 65F 1 92. Special conditions for making parenting order about whom child lives with or allocation of parental responsibility by consent in favour of non-parent — FLA s. 65G 1 93. Children who are 18 or over or who have married or entered de facto relationships — FLA s. 65H 1 94. What happens when parenting order that deals with whom child lives with does not make provision in relation to death of parent with whom child lives — FLA s. 65K 1 95. Family consultants may be required to supervise or assist compliance with parenting orders — FLA s. 65L 1 95A. Court may order attendance at post‑separation parenting program — FLA s. 65LA 1 95B. Conditions for providers of post‑separation parenting programs — FLA s. 65LB 1 Subdivision 5 — Obligations under parenting orders relating to taking or sending children from Western Australia to places outside Australia 106. Term used: parenting order to which this Subdivision applies — FLA s. 65X 1 107. Obligations if certain parenting orders have been made: taking or sending child outside Australia — FLA s. 65Y 1 107A. Obligations if certain parenting orders have been made: retaining child outside Australia — FLA s. 65YA 1 108. Obligations if proceedings for the making of certain parenting orders are pending: taking or sending child outside Australia — FLA s. 65Z 1 108A. Obligations if proceedings for the making of certain parenting orders are pending: retaining child outside Australia — FLA s. 65ZAA 1 109. Obligations of owners etc. of aircraft and vessels if certain parenting orders made — FLA s. 65ZA 1 110. Obligations of owners etc. of aircraft and vessels if proceedings for making of certain parenting orders are pending — FLA s. 65ZB 1 111. General provisions applicable to sections 109 and 110 — FLA s. 65ZC(1) and (2) 1 112. No double jeopardy — FLA s. 65ZC(3) 1 Division 7 — Child maintenance orders Subdivision 1 — What this Division does 113. What this Division does — FLA s. 66A 1 Subdivision 2 — Objects and principles 114. Objects — FLA s. 66B 1 115. Principles: parents have primary duty to maintain — FLA s. 66C 1 116. Principles: when step‑parents have duty to maintain — FLA s. 66D 1 Subdivision 3 — Relationship with Child Support (Assessment) Act 117. Child maintenance order not to be made etc. if application for administrative assessment of child support could be made — FLA s. 66E 1 Subdivision 4 — Applying for and making child maintenance orders 118. Who may apply for child maintenance order — FLA s. 66F 1 119. Court's power to make child maintenance order — FLA s. 66G 1 120. Approach to be taken in proceedings for child maintenance order — FLA s. 66H 1 121. Matters to be taken into account in considering financial support necessary for maintenance of child — FLA s. 66J 1 122. Matters to be taken into account in determining contribution that should be made by party etc. — FLA s. 66K 1 123. Children who are 18 or over — FLA s. 66L 1 124. When step‑parents have duty to maintain — FLA s. 66M 1 125. Determining financial contribution of step‑parent — FLA s. 66N 1 Subdivision 5 — Other aspects of court powers 126. General powers of court — FLA s. 66P 1 127. Urgent child maintenance orders — FLA s. 66Q 1 128. Modification of child maintenance orders — FLA s. 66S 1 Subdivision 5A — Varying the maintenance of certain children 128A. Varying maintenance of certain children — FLA s. 66SA 1 Subdivision 6 — When child maintenance orders stop being in force 129. Effect of child turning 18 — FLA s. 66T 1 130. Effect of death of child, person liable to pay or person entitled to receive — FLA s. 66U 1 131. Effect of adoption, marriage or entering into de facto relationship — FLA s. 66V 1 131A. Children who are 18 or over: change of circumstances — FLA s. 66VA 1 132. Recovery of arrears — FLA s. 66W 1 Subdivision 7 — Recovery of amounts paid under maintenance orders 132A. Recovery of amounts paid, and property transferred or settled, under maintenance orders — FLA s. 66X 1 Division 8 — Other matters relating to children Subdivision 1 — What this Division does 133. What this Division does — FLA s. 67A 1 Subdivision 2 — Liability of parent not married to child's mother to contribute towards child bearing expenses 135. Father liable to contribute towards maintenance and expenses of mother — FLA s. 67B 1 136. Matters to be taken into account in proceedings under Subdivision — FLA s. 67C 1 137. Powers of court in proceedings under Subdivision — FLA s. 67D 1 138. Urgent orders — FLA s. 67E 1 139. Who may institute proceedings — FLA s. 67F 1 140. Time limit for institution of proceedings — FLA s. 67G 1 141. Orders for, and unspent, child bearing expenses 1 Subdivision 3 — Location and recovery of children 143. Meaning of location order and State information order — FLA s. 67J 1 144. Who may apply for location order — FLA s. 67K 1 145. Child's best interests paramount consideration in making location order — FLA s. 67L 1 146. Provisions about location orders, other than State information orders — FLA s. 67M 1 147. Provisions about State information orders — FLA s. 67N 1 148. Information provided under location order not to be disclosed except to limited persons — FLA s. 67P 1 149. Meaning of recovery order — FLA s. 67Q 1 150. How recovery orders authorise or direct people — FLA s. 67R 1 151. How recovery orders to stop and search etc. name or describe vehicles, places etc. — FLA s. 67S 1 152. Who may apply for recovery order — FLA s. 67T 1 153. Court's power to make recovery order — FLA s. 67U 1 154. Child's best interests paramount consideration in making recovery order — FLA s. 67V 1 155. Duration of recovery order — FLA s. 67W 1 156. Persons not to prevent or hinder taking of action under recovery order — FLA s. 67X 1 157. Obligation to notify persons of child's return — FLA s. 67Y 1 Subdivision 4 — Allegations of child abuse and family violence 158. Meaning of registrar 1 159. Where interested person in proceedings makes allegation of child abuse — FLA s. 67Z 1 160. Where member of Court personnel, family counsellor, family dispute resolution practitioner or arbitrator suspects child abuse etc. — FLA s. 67ZA 1 161. No liability for notification under section 159 or 160 — FLA s. 67ZB 1 162A. Where interested person makes allegation of family violence — FLA s. 67ZBA 1 162B. Court to take prompt action in relation to allegations of child abuse or family violence — FLA s. 67ZBB 1 Subdivision 4A — Orders for information in child‑related proceedings 162C. Meaning of information sharing agency — FLA s. 67ZBC 1 162D. Order to provide particulars of documents or information relating to certain matters — FLA s. 67ZBD 1 162E. Order to provide documents or information relating to certain matters — FLA s. 67ZBE 1 162F. Disclosure of protected material — FLA s. 67ZBF 1 162G. Advice to court about risk of disclosure — FLA s. 67ZBG 1 162H. Admission of particulars, documents or information into evidence — FLA s. 67ZBH 1 162I. Information sharing agencies and court must have regard to information sharing safeguards — FLA s. 67ZBI 1 162J. When orders may be made — FLA s. 67ZBJ 1 162K. Subpoena in respect of certain documents or information — FLA s. 67ZBK 1 Subdivision 5 — Other orders about children 162. Orders relating to welfare of children — FLA s. 67ZC 1 163. Orders for delivery of travel documents — FLA s. 67ZD 1 Division 9 — Independent representation of child's interests 164. Court order for independent representation of child's interests — FLA s. 68L 1 165. Role of independent children's lawyer — FLA s. 68LA 1 166. Order that child be made available for examination — FLA s. 68M 1 Division 10 — Family violence 173. Purposes of this Division — FLA s. 68N 1 174. Obligations of court making an order or granting an injunction under this Act that is inconsistent with an existing family violence order — FLA s. 68P 1 175. Relationship of order or injunction made under this Act with existing inconsistent family violence order — FLA s. 68Q 1 176. Power of court making family violence order to revive, vary, discharge or suspend an existing order, injunction or arrangement under this Act — FLA s. 68R 1 177. Application of Act and rules when exercising section 176 power — FLA s. 68S 1 178. Special provisions relating to proceedings to make interim (or interim variation of) family violence order — FLA s. 68T 1 Division 11 — Proceedings, parentage presumptions and evidence and jurisdiction as to child welfare laws Subdivision 1 — What this Division does 183. What this Division does — FLA s. 69A 1 Subdivision 2 — Institution of proceedings 184. Certain proceedings to be instituted only under this Act — FLA s. 69B 1 185. Who may institute proceedings — FLA s. 69C 1 186. Institution of maintenance proceedings by certain persons — FLA s. 69D 1 187. Applicant may be in contempt — FLA s. 69F 1 Subdivision 3 — Presumptions of parentage 188. Presumptions of parentage arising from marriage — FLA s. 69P 1 189. Presumption of paternity arising from cohabitation — FLA s. 69Q 1 190. Presumption of parentage arising from registration of birth — FLA s. 69R 1 191. Presumptions of parentage arising from findings of courts — FLA s. 69S 1 192. Presumption of paternity arising from acknowledgments — FLA s. 69T 1 193. Rebuttal of presumptions etc. — FLA s. 69U 1 Subdivision 4 — Parentage evidence 194. Evidence of parentage — FLA s. 69V 1 194A. Declarations of parentage — FLA s. 69VA 1 195. Orders for conducting parentage testing procedures — FLA s. 69W 1 196. Orders associated with parentage testing orders — FLA s. 69X 1 197. Orders directed to persons 18 or over — FLA s. 69Y 1 198. Orders directed to children under 18 — FLA s. 69Z 1 199. No liability if parent etc. consents — FLA s. 69ZA 1 200. Regulations about conducting, and reporting on, parentage testing procedures — FLA s. 69ZB 1 201. Reports of information obtained may be received in evidence — FLA s. 69ZC 1 Subdivision 5 — Child welfare laws not affected 202. Child welfare laws not affected — FLA s. 69ZK 1 Subdivision 6 — Short form reasons for decisions relating to interim parenting orders 202AA. Short form reasons for decisions relating to interim parenting orders — FLA s. 69ZL 1 Division 11A — Principles for conducting child‑related proceedings Subdivision 1 — Proceedings to which this Division applies 202A. Proceedings to which this Division applies — FLA s. 69ZM 1 Subdivision 2 — Principles for conducting child‑related proceedings 202B. Principles for conducting child‑related proceedings — FLA s. 69ZN 1 202C. This Division also applies to proceedings in Chambers — FLA s. 69ZO 1 202D. Powers under this Division may be exercised on court's own initiative — FLA s. 69ZP 1 Subdivision 3 — Duties and powers related to giving effect to the principles 202E. General duties — FLA s. 69ZQ 1 202F. Power to make determinations, findings and orders at any stage of proceedings — FLA s. 69ZR 1 202G. Use of family consultants — FLA s. 69ZS 1 Subdivision 4 — Matters relating to evidence 202H. Rules of evidence not to apply unless court decides — FLA s. 69ZT 1 202J. Evidence of children — FLA s. 69ZV 1 202L. Court's general duties and powers relating to evidence — FLA s. 69ZX 1 Division 12 — State and Territory orders relating to children 204. Registration of State child orders — FLA s. 70C and 70D 1 205. Effect of registration — FLA s. 70E 1 Division 13 — Orders in proceedings relating to contraventions of child‑related orders Subdivision 1 — Preliminary 205A. Simplified outline — FLA s. 70NAA 1 205B. Objects — FLA s. 70NAB 1 205C. Meaning of contravene a child‑related order — FLA s. 70NAC 1 205D. Meaning of reasonable excuse for contravening a child‑related order — FLA s. 70NAD 1 205E. Burden of proof in relation to reasonable excuse — FLA s. 70NADA 1 205F. Standard of proof — FLA s. 70NAE 1 Subdivision 2 — Orders relating to contraventions of child‑related orders 205G. Court may make orders in proceedings relating to contravention of child‑related orders — FLA s. 70NBA 1 205H. Make‑up time parenting orders — FLA s. 70NBB 1 205I. Variation and suspension of child‑related orders that are parenting orders — FLA s. 70NBC 1 205J. Post‑separation parenting programs — FLA 70NBD 1 205K. Orders where contravention established without reasonable excuse — FLA s. 70NBF 1 Subdivision 3 — Further provisions relating to bonds and imprisonment 205L. Matters relating to bonds — FLA s. 70NCA 1 205M. Procedure for enforcing bonds — FLA s. 70NCB 1 205N. Matters relating to imprisonment — FLA s. 70NCC 1 205O. Powers of court in relation to imprisoned person — FLA s. 70NCD 1 205P. Rules relating to child maintenance orders and child support — FLA s. 70NCE 1 Subdivision 4 — Miscellaneous 205Q. Court may issue warrant for arrest of alleged offender — FLA s. 70NDA 1 205R. Relationship between Division and prosecutions for offences under other laws — FLA s. 70NDB 1 Division 14 — Dealing with people who have been arrested Subdivision 1 — What this Division does 205S. What this Division does — FLA s. 70P 1 Subdivision 2 — Dealing with people who have been arrested 205SA. Situation to which this Subdivision applies — FLA s. 70PA 1 205SB. Arrested person to be brought before court — FLA s. 70PB 1 205SC. Obligation of court where application before it to deal with contravention — FLA s. 70PC 1 205SD. Obligation of court where no application before it, but application before another court, to deal with contravention — FLA s. 70PD 1 205SE. Obligation of court where no application before any court to deal with contravention — FLA s. 70PE 1 205SF. Applications heard as required by section 205SC(2) or 205SD(3)(b) — FLA s. 70PF 1 Part 5A — De facto relationships Division 1 — Introductory 205T. Terms used 1 205U. Application of Part generally 1 205V. Right to certain civil proceedings limited 1 Division 2 — Property adjustment orders and maintenance orders Subdivision 1 — Introductory 205W. This Division does not apply to certain matters covered by binding financial agreements or former financial agreements — FLA s. 71A 1 205X. People to whom this Part applies — connection with WA 1 205Y. Court not otherwise limited by connection with WA referred to in section 205X 1 205Z. Where court may make order under this Division 1 205ZA. Declaration of interests in property — FLA s. 78 1 Subdivision 2 — Alteration of property interests, and maintenance 205ZB. Applications, and notifications to spouses 1 205ZC. Right of de facto partner to maintenance — FLA s. 72 1 205ZCA. Powers of court in maintenance proceedings — FLA s. 74 1 205ZD. Matters to be taken into consideration in relation to maintenance — FLA s. 75 1 205ZE. Urgent de facto partner maintenance cases — FLA s. 77 1 205ZF. Specifications in orders of payments etc. for de facto maintenance purposes — FLA s. 77A 1 205ZG. Alteration of property interests — FLA s. 79 1 205ZH. Setting aside of orders altering property interests — FLA s. 79A 1 205ZHA. Notification of criminal confiscation orders etc. — FLA s. 79B 1 205ZHB. Court to stay proceedings under this Division affected by criminal confiscation order etc. — FLA s. 79C 1 205ZHC. Lifting a stay — FLA s. 79D 1 205ZHD. Intervention by DPP — FLA s. 79E 1 205ZHE. Notifying third parties about application — FLA s. 79F 1 205ZHF. Notifying bankruptcy trustee etc. about application under section 205ZA, 205ZCA, 205ZG or 205ZH — FLA s. 79G 1 205ZHG. Notifying court about bankruptcy etc. — FLA s. 79H 1 205ZHH. Notifying non‑bankrupt de facto partner about application under Bankruptcy Act section 139A — FLA s. 79J 1 205ZI. General powers of court — FLA s. 80 1 205ZJ. Duty of court to end financial relations of de facto partners — FLA s. 81 1 205ZK. Cessation of de facto maintenance orders — FLA s. 82 1 205ZL. Modification of de facto maintenance orders — FLA s. 83 1 Division 2A — Orders and injunctions binding third parties Subdivision 1 — Introductory 205ZLA. Object of Division — FLA s. 90AA 1 205ZLB. Term used: third party — FLA s. 90AB 1 205ZLC. This Division overrides other laws, trust deeds, etc. — FLA s. 90AC 1 205ZLD. Extended meaning of property — FLA s. 90AD 1 205ZLE. Other provisions of this Act not affected by this Division — FLA s. 90ADA 1 Subdivision 2 — Orders under section 205ZG 205ZLF. Court may make an order under section 205ZG binding a third party — FLA s. 90AE 1 Subdivision 3 — Orders or injunctions under section 235A 205ZLG. Court may make an order or injunction under section 235A binding a third party — FLA s. 90AF 1 Subdivision 4 — Other matters 205ZLH. Orders and injunctions binding on trustees — FLA s. 90AG 1 205ZLI. Protection for third party — FLA s. 90AH 1 205ZLJ. Service of documents on third party — FLA s. 90AI 1 205ZLK. Expenses of third party — FLA s. 90AJ 1 Division 3 — Financial agreements 205ZM. Term used: dealt with — FLA s. 90A 1 205ZN. Financial agreements before beginning de facto relationship — FLA s. 90B 1 205ZO. Financial agreements during de facto relationship — FLA s. 90C 1 205ZP. Financial agreements after de facto relationship ends — FLA s. 90D 1 205ZPA. Financial agreement may include agreement that deals with superannuation 1 205ZPB. Need for separation declaration for certain provisions of financial agreement or former financial agreement to take effect — FLA s. 90DA 1 205ZQ. Requirements with respect to provisions in financial agreements relating to maintenance of de facto partner or child or children — FLA s. 90E 1 205ZR. Certain provisions in agreements — FLA s. 90F 1 205ZS. When financial agreements and former financial agreements are binding — FLA s. 90G 1 205ZT. Effect of death of party to financial agreement — FLA s. 90H 1 205ZU. Termination of financial agreement and former financial agreement — FLA s. 90J 1 205ZV. Circumstances in which court may set aside financial agreement, termination agreement or former financial agreement — FLA s. 90K 1 205ZW. Validity, enforceability and effect of financial agreements, termination agreements and former financial agreements — FLA s. 90KA 1 205ZX. Notification of criminal property confiscation order etc. — FLA s. 90M 1 205ZY. Court to stay proceedings under Division 2 affected by criminal confiscation order etc. — FLA s. 90N 1 205ZZ. Lifting a stay — FLA s. 90P 1 205ZZA. Intervention by DPP — FLA s. 90Q 1 Part 6 — Intervention 206. Intervention by Attorney General — FLA s. 91 1 207. Intervention by CEO — FLA s. 91B 1 208. Intervention by other persons — FLA s. 92 1 209. Intervention in child abuse cases — FLA s. 92A 1 Part 7 — Appeals 209A. Terms used 1 210. Federal jurisdiction 1 210A. Non‑federal jurisdictions — appeal from decree of Magistrates Court constituted by family law magistrate 1 210AA. Leave to appeal needed in some cases referred to in section 210A 1 210AB. Case stated 1 211. Non‑federal jurisdictions 1 211A. Appeals, and applications for leave, without oral hearing 1 211B. Appeal may be dismissed if no reasonable prospect of success 1 Part 8 — Procedure and evidence Division 1A — Overarching purpose of the family law practice and procedure provisions 211C. Overarching purpose of the family law practice and procedure provisions — FLA s. 95 1 211D. Duty to act consistently with overarching purpose — FLA s. 96 1 Division 1 — General matters concerning procedure and evidence 212. Proceedings generally to be in open court — FLA s. 97 1 213. Power to give directions 1 214A. Children swearing affidavits, being called as witnesses or being present in court — FLA s. 100B 1 214B. Oaths and affirmations 1 214C. Swearing or affirming of affidavits 1 215. Protection of witnesses — FLA s. 101 1 216. Certificates etc. of birth, death or marriage — FLA s. 102 1 217. Admissibility of evidence after medical examination etc. of children — FLA s. 102A(1), (2), (4) and (5) 1 218. Leave for child to be examined medically etc. — FLA s. 102A(3) 1 219. Assessors — FLA s. 102B 1 Division 2 — Use of video link, audio link or other appropriate means to give testimony, make appearances and give submissions etc. 219AA. Evidence Act 1906 not excluded 1 219AB. Testimony — FLA s. 102C 1 219AC. Appearance of persons — FLA s. 102D 1 219AD. Making of submissions — FLA s. 102E 1 219AE. Conditions for use of links — FLA s. 102F 1 219AF. Putting documents to a person — FLA s. 102G 1 219AG. Administration of oaths and affirmations — FLA s. 102J 1 219AH. Expenses — FLA s. 102K 1 219AI. New Zealand proceedings — FLA s. 102L 1 Division 3 — Cross‑examination of parties where allegations of family violence 219AJ. Application of Division 1 219AK. Mandatory protections for parties in certain cases — FLA s. 102NA 1 219AL. Court‑ordered protections in other cases — FLA s. 102NB 1 Part 8A — Suppression and non‑publication orders Division 1 — Preliminary 219AM. Terms used — FLA s. 102P 1 219AN. Powers of a court not affected — FLA s. 102PA 1 219AO. Other laws not affected — FLA s. 102PB 1 219AP. Relationship with Part 11A — FLA s. 102PC 1 Division 2 — Suppression and non‑publication orders 219AQ. Safeguarding public interest in open justice — FLA s. 102PD 1 219AR. Power to make orders — FLA s. 102PE 1 219AS. Grounds for making an order — FLA s. 102PF 1 219AT. Procedure for making an order — FLA s. 102PG 1 219AU. Interim orders — FLA s. 102PH 1 219AV. Duration of orders — FLA s. 102PI 1 219AW. Exception for court officials — FLA s. 102PJ 1 219AX. Contravention of order — FLA s. 102PK 1 Part 8B — Decrees and orders relating to unmeritorious, harmful, and vexatious proceedings Division 1 — Preliminary 219AY. Terms used — FLA s. 102Q 1 219AZ. Interactions between provisions and with other powers of court — FLA s. 102QA 1 Division 2 — Summary decrees 219AZA. Summary decrees — FLA s. 102QAB 1 Division 3 — Harmful proceedings orders Subdivision 1 — Making harmful proceedings orders 219AZB. Making harmful proceedings orders — FLA s. 102QAC 1 Subdivision 2 — Consequences of harmful proceedings orders 219AZC. Proceedings in contravention of harmful proceedings order — FLA s. 102QAD 1 219AZD. Application for leave to institute proceedings — FLA s. 102QAE 1 219AZE. Dismissing application for leave — FLA s. 102QAF 1 219AZF. Granting application for leave — FLA s. 102QAG 1 Division 4 — Vexatious proceedings orders Subdivision 1 — Making vexatious proceedings orders 219AZG. Making vexatious proceedings orders — FLA s. 102QB 1 219AZH. Notification of vexatious proceedings orders — FLA s. 102QC 1 Subdivision 2 — Consequences of vexatious proceedings orders 219AZI. Proceedings in contravention of vexatious proceedings order — FLA s. 102QD 1 219AZJ. Application for leave to institute proceedings by person subject to vexatious proceedings order — FLA s. 102QE 1 219AZK. Dismissing application for leave by person subject to vexatious proceedings order — FLA s. 102QF 1 219AZL. Granting application for leave by person subject to vexatious proceedings order — FLA s. 102QG 1 Part 9 — Enforcement of decrees 219A. Maintenance orders — more than 12 months old — FLA s. 106 1 220. Enforcement of orders as to child maintenance or child bearing expenses 1 220A. Rules relating to enforcement — FLA s. 109A 1 221. Execution of instruments by order of court — FLA s. 106A 1 222. Transactions to defeat claim — FLA s. 106B 1 222A. People not to be imprisoned for failure to comply with certain orders — FLA s. 107 1 Part 10 — Sanctions for failure to comply with orders, and other obligations, that do not affect children Division 1 — Interpretation 223. Terms used — FLA s. 112AA 1 224. Meaning of contravene an order — FLA s. 112AB 1 225. Meaning of reasonable excuse for contravening an order — FLA s. 112AC 1 Division 2 — Sanctions for failure to comply with orders 226. Sanctions for failure to comply with orders — FLA s. 112AD 1 227. Sentences of imprisonment — FLA s. 112AE 1 228. Bonds — FLA s. 112AF 1 229. Sentencing alternatives — FLA s. 112AG 1 230. Failure to comply with sentencing alternative imposed under s. 226(3)(b) — FLA s. 112AH 1 231. Variation and discharge of orders — FLA s. 112AK 1 232. Relationship between Division and other laws — FLA s. 112AM 1 233. Division does not affect enforcement of child maintenance orders etc. — FLA s. 112AO 1 Part 10A — Contempt of court 233A. Terms used 1 234. Contempt — FLA s. 112AP 1 Part 11 — Injunctions 235. Injunctions — FLA s. 68B 1 235A. Injunctions relating to de facto relationships — FLA s. 114 1 236. Powers of arrest where injunction breached — FLA s. 68C and s. 114AA 1 Part 11A — Restriction on communication of accounts and lists of proceedings 236A. Terms used — FLA s. 114P 1 236B. Indictable offence: communication to the public of account of proceedings that identifies parties or others involved in proceedings — FLA s. 114Q 1 236C. Indictable offence: communication to the public of list of court proceedings that refers to names of parties — FLA s. 114R 1 236D. When a communication is not a communication to the public — FLA s. 114S 1 236E. Consent of DPP required to commence proceedings — FLA s. 114T 1 Part 12 — Miscellaneous 237. Costs — FLA s. 117 1 238. Reparation for certain losses and expenses relating to children — FLA s. 117A 1 239. Interest on moneys ordered to be paid — FLA s. 117B 1 240. Offers of settlement — FLA s. 117C 1 241. Ex parte orders 1 243A. Making arrests under this Act or warrants — FLA s. 122A 1 243B. Powers to enter and search premises, and stop conveyances, for making arrests under this Act or warrants — FLA s. 122AA 1 244. Rules 1 245. Regulations 1 246. Repeal 1 247. Transitional and savings 1 Schedule 1 — Oath and affirmation of office Schedule 2 — Transitional and savings Division 1 — Provisions for repeal of Family Court Act 1975 1. Terms used 1 2. Interpretation Act 1984 applies 1 3. Persons holding offices under, or employed or engaged for purposes of, the repealed Act 1 4. Setting aside of orders made under repealed s. 30 altering property interests 1 5. Treatment of orders as to custody, guardianship, access or maintenance or other payments 1 6. Treatment of applications for orders as to custody, guardianship, access or maintenance or other payments 1 7. Treatment of agreements relating to child welfare matters 1 8. Treatment of warrants 1 9. Treatment of orders as to information 1 10. Other things done for purposes of provisions of repealed Act 1 Division 2 — Provisions for Family Court Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2013 11. Application of amendments relating to family violence 1 12. Application of other amendments 1 Division 3 — Provisions for Family Court Amendment Act 2022 13. Application of amendments 1 Division 4 — Provisions for Family Court Amendment (Commonwealth Reforms) Act 2024 14. Application of amendments 1 Notes Compilation table 1 Uncommenced provisions table 1 Other notes 1 Defined terms Western Australia Family Court Act 1997 An Act to continue the Family Court of Western Australia, to repeal the Family Court Act 1975 and for related purposes.