The following changes to Family Law regulations apply from 1 April 2025:
- The Family Law Regulations 2024 replace the 1984 Regulations,
- The Family Law (Superannuation) Regulations 2025 replace the 2001 Regulations, and
- The Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner) Regulations 2025 replace the 2008 regulations.
The new regulations are substantially the same as the old ones, but are re-numbered, and have minor drafting changes to modernise the provisions, and support the operation of the Family Law Act after some recent amendments.
Regulation 53 of the 2024 Regulations now contains the prescribed Information Sharing Agencies for the purpose of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia being able to issue Information Sharing Orders.
The superannuation regulations support Parts VIIIB and VIIIC of the Family Law Act 1975 by prescribing:
- the methods and factors for valuing superannuation interests;
- the way in which superannuation payment flags and splits are put into effect; and
- the information that trustees must provide to parties to property proceedings, and to couples negotiating a superannuation agreement.
The Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners Regulations provide for the accreditation, certification, and administration of such practitioners.
By Lawyers Divorce, Children, Financial Agreements and Property Settlement guides have been updated to reflect the new regulations as required.
Some FCFCOA forms have changed too, mainly to update references to regulations that have been renumbered.