Glossary

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.rytz.com.au/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Australian family law has its own dialect. This page defines every term and acronym you’ll encounter on the platform and in proceedings.

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A

Affidavit — A written statement of evidence sworn or affirmed before a witness (usually a JP, lawyer, or court officer). The standard way evidence is given in family-law proceedings. Application — A formal request to the court for a particular order. Filed using a prescribed form. The first step in court proceedings. ATSI — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Section 60CC(3) of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) requires the court to consider the cultural connection of ATSI children when making parenting orders. Authorisation to Care — A document allowing a non-parent (e.g. grandparent) to make day-to-day care decisions. Distinct from parental responsibility.

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B

Best interests of the child — The paramount consideration in every parenting decision (s60CA). The framework for assessing it is in s60CC. Binding Financial Agreement (BFA) — A pre-nuptial, post-nuptial, or post-separation agreement that, when properly drafted and witnessed, can oust the court’s jurisdiction under s79. Strict procedural requirements.

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C

(Cth) — Commonwealth. Marker that the legislation is federal, not state. Always tag the Family Law Act with (Cth) to avoid ambiguity. Consent Orders — Orders made by the court by consent of both parties. The application is filed with the court (Form 11), reviewed by a registrar, and made into orders that are enforceable like any other court order. The most common formal endpoint of a parenting or property matter. Contravention — Breach of a court order. The Part XIV regime sets out three tiers of contravention seriousness — probable, serious disregard, contumacious — with corresponding remedies. CCS — Children’s Contact Service. A supervised changeover or supervised-time facility, usually used in high-conflict or family-violence matters.

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D

De facto — A genuine domestic relationship of two years’ duration (or with children of the relationship). Section 90SM applies the s79-style property settlement framework to de facto relationships. Divorce — A court order ending the marriage. Procedurally simple — 12 months separation, no-fault, irretrievable breakdown. Distinct from parenting and property settlement, which are separate processes.

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F

FCFCOA — Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The federal court that hears family-law matters. Two divisions: Division 1 (formerly Family Court — appeals, complex matters) and Division 2 (formerly Federal Circuit Court — most matters). FDR — Family Dispute Resolution. Mediation conducted by an accredited practitioner under s60I. Required before filing most parenting applications. Outcomes are non-binding unless parties sign a parenting plan or apply for Consent Orders. FLA — Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). The primary federal statute governing family-law matters. FVO — Family Violence Order. State-issued protective order. The platform supports both AVO (NSW), DVO (QLD), IVO (Vic), and other state equivalents. Section 60CG requires every parenting order to be consistent with any FVO in force.

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I

Initiating Application — Form filed to start parenting or property proceedings (or both). Includes the relief sought and the factual basis.

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J

JP — Justice of the Peace. Authorised under state law to witness signatures on affidavits, statutory declarations, and parenting plans (recommended, not required).

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L

Legal information — General information about how the law works. RYTZ provides legal information. Legal advice — Specific guidance to a particular person about their particular situation. RYTZ does not provide legal advice. Only qualified Australian lawyers do.

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M

MCF — Master Case File. RYTZ’s central record for your matter. Drives every other tool on the platform.

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N

Notice of Risk — Form filed in any parenting application disclosing family violence, child abuse, or substance abuse risks. Mandatory in every parenting matter under Part VII.

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P

Parenting plan — A written agreement under s63C of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). See Section 63C explained. Parenting order — A court order under Part VII covering parental responsibility, time arrangements, communication, etc. Distinct from a parenting plan in that it is enforceable. Part VII — The portion of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) that governs children’s matters. Part VIII — The portion of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) that governs property + financial matters in marriages. Pre-action procedures — Steps the court requires parties to take before filing — disclosure, attempted negotiation, dispute resolution. Specific procedures apply to parenting (s60I) and property (Family Law Rules).

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R

Rice v Asplund threshold — The principle (codified in s65DAAA in 2024) that final parenting orders will not be reconsidered without a significant change in circumstances. Registrar — A court officer who reviews Consent Orders applications and makes orders by consent. Not a judge. Most parenting and property matters that settle by consent are finalised by a registrar, not a judge.

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S

s60I certificate — Issued by an accredited FDR practitioner certifying that FDR was attempted (or that FDR was not appropriate). Required for most parenting applications. s79 — The court’s power to alter property interests in a marriage. The basis for every property settlement in matters that were marriages. s90SM — The de facto equivalent of s79. s63C — Defines what a parenting plan is. See Section 63C explained. Service — Formally delivering court documents to the other party. Usually by personal service or registered post. Spousal maintenance — Payments by one party to the other to meet reasonable needs after separation. Distinct from child support. Rare in practice but available where one party can’t meet their own reasonable needs. SRL — Self-Represented Litigant. A party in court proceedings without legal representation. RYTZ is built for and around SRLs. Subpoena — Court order requiring a person to attend court or produce documents.

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T

Time with parent — The Australian terminology for what used to be called “access”. Always preferred over US/UK terms in Australian proceedings.

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U

Undertaking — A formal promise to the court (or to the other party). Often used to bring contested issues to a quick resolution. UPL — Unauthorised Practice of Law. Giving legal advice without being qualified. RYTZ scrupulously stays within the legal-information line to avoid UPL.

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W

Witness (parenting plan) — A person who watches both parties sign and adds their own signature. Not strictly required for s63C plans but recommended for evidentiary weight, and required for Consent Orders applications.

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