Federal Circuit and Family Court guide for Victorian users

What the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia hears, how family law cases start, filing, fees and appeals, for Victorian users, with official sources. Court Co-Pilot is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.

This guide was written from search results for the court's own pages. Its links were checked in a browser on 2 November 2026. Confirm each point on the court's website.

What it hears

This is a federal court, so it applies across Australia, including Victoria. It handles family law, including divorce, parenting and property, and general federal law. The court lists general federal law areas including administrative law, bankruptcy, consumer law, Fair Work law, human rights, intellectual property and privacy. Its migration work is outside the general federal law practice direction.

How to start

The court's practice directions say family law proceedings start in Division 2. Parenting and financial cases usually start with an Initiating Application (Family Law), or an Application for Consent Orders where the parties agree. A Genuine Steps Certificate is filed with it in parenting and financial cases, and pre-action procedures apply.

A divorce starts with an Application for Divorce, made jointly or by one party. General federal law proceedings use the Originating Application where no other application form applies.

Filing

Filing is generally through the Commonwealth Courts Portal, and the court says divorce applications should be eFiled there. The court's practice directions say applications without notice to the other side are filed with the registry by email instead.

Fees

The court says family law fees are set by the Family Law (Fees) Regulations 2022. Amounts increased on 1 July 2026. Reduced divorce fees and exemptions are subject to the court's guidelines, and divorce applications are not eligible for an exemption. Current amounts are on the court's fees page.

Hearings

The Central Practice Direction: Family Law Case Management sets out how family law cases are managed in both divisions. General federal law cases have their own central practice direction.

Appeals

The court says family law appeals from Division 2 are heard by a single judge of Division 1, unless the Chief Justice considers a Full Court appropriate. Its appeal procedures brochure gives 28 days from the orders to file a notice of appeal through the Portal. General federal law and migration appeals are heard by the Federal Court of Australia.

Official sources

• About the Courts: The court and its divisions.
• Family law forms: Forms and kits.
• How do I apply for divorce?: Divorce application steps.
• Applying to the Court for orders: Starting a family law case.
• Family law fees: Current family law fees.
• Central Practice Direction: Family Law Case Management: Family law case management.
• Central Practice Direction: General Federal Law: General federal law case management.
• Family Law: Appeal Procedures: Family law appeals.

Sources, checked 2026-11-02.