Costs payable in Commonwealth family law and child support matters

This section sets out the following information about costs payable under grants of assistance in Commonwealth family law and child support matters:

• Family law costs management
• General costing principles
• Fee increases
• Grants pathways
• Fee table 4: Commonwealth family law and child support matters

4.1 – Lawyer professional costs (excluding ICL costs)

• Stage 1 – early intervention: advice, negotiation and dispute resolution
• Stage 2 – initiating litigation
• Stage 3 – preparation for trial
• Stage 4 – trial costs in the federal family courts
• Stage 5 – appeals in the Family Court

4.2 – Independent children’s lawyer professional costs

• Stage 1 – first court hearing and FDRS for ICLs
• Stage 2 – litigation for ICLs
• Stage 3 – trial costs for ICLs

4.3 – Counsel costs and ​daily circuit fees

• Counsel costs
• Counsel costs when briefed by an ICL
• Daily circuit fees

4.4 – Lawyer-assisted family law property mediation – professional costs

• Stage 1 – early intervention – dispute resolution
• Stage 2 – urgent litigation in property disputes in any court
• Stage 3 – preparation for trial, federal family courts
• Stage 4 – trial costs in the federal family courts

Fees outlined in these tables are effective from 1 January this year. For fees payable prior to this date, see Archived versions of the Handbook.