Fees payable under the Family Violence and Cross-Examination Scheme
Fees payable under the Family Violence and Cross-Examination Scheme
Where a lawyer is in receipt of assistance under the Family Violence and Cross-Examination of Parties Scheme in the Family Court or the Federal Circuit Court, the fees payable are outlined on this page and in accordance with Victoria Legal Aid's (VLA’s) fees as contained in Fee Table 4. The fees outlined in these tables should be read in conjunction with Fees – entitlements and conditions.
Fees payable under the scheme
Stage 2G – interim contested hearing
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
2G.1 – prepare for an interim contest |
Federal family courts |
$980 |
2G.2 – appearance in an interim contest hearing (defended daily fee) |
Federal family courts |
$1610 |
Take judgment |
Federal family courts |
$225 |
Stage 2H – litigation intervention FDRS
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
2H.1 – preparation for litigation intervention FDRS conference |
FDRS |
$196 |
2H.2 – representing client at litigation intervention FDRS conference (limited to 1 conference) |
FDRS |
$784 |
2H.3 – attendance at litigation intervention FDRS when the conference does not proceed |
FDRS |
$196 |
Preparing and filing consent orders |
Any court |
$392 |
Distance allowance (all matters) |
FDRS |
$196 |
Stage 3A – preparation and first day of trial, Family Court (parenting matters)
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
3A.1 – preparation for hearing estimated at one day |
Family Court |
$1176 |
3A.2 – preparation for hearing estimated at more than one day |
Family Court |
$1960 |
Stage 3C – further preparation and continuation of trial, Family Court
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
3C.1 – preparation for further hearing, estimated at one day |
Family Court |
$980 |
3C.2 – preparation for further hearing, estimated at up to three days |
Family Court |
$1372 |
3C.3 – preparation for further hearing, estimated at four days or more |
Family Court |
$2548 |
Stage 3D – preparation for trial, Federal Circuit Court
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
3D.1 – preparation for hearing, estimated at one day |
Federal Circuit Court |
$1568 |
3D.2 – preparation for hearing, estimated at more than one day |
Federal Circuit Court |
$2744 |
Stage 3E – additional preparation, Federal Circuit Court
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
3E – additional preparation |
Federal family courts |
$196 per hour |
Stage 4 – trial appearances
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
4.1 – defended daily fee |
Federal family courts |
$1610 |
4.2 – counsel’s conference (up to 3 hours at $225 per hour) |
Federal family courts |
Up to $675 |
Take judgment |
Federal family courts |
$225 |
Procedural appearances
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
Case management, mention, directions hearing, callover |
Federal family courts |
$392 |
Inspecting subpoenaed documents* |
Family Court |
$392 |
Appearance at defended subpoena list |
Family Court |
$588 |
Telephone mention |
Family Court |
$196 |
Distance allowance |
Federal family courts |
$196 |
*The fee to attend court to inspect subpoenaed documents is payable per attendance, not per document. Lawyers are expected to minimise the need for multiple attendances to inspect documents. This is because the inspection of documents is considered to be preparation for trial and should primarily be covered by the 3A lump sum fees.
Stage 5 – appeal to a single judge
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
5.1 – preparation |
Family Court |
$2352 |
5.2 – counsel daily fee |
Family Court |
$1251
|
Take judgment |
Family Court |
$225 |
Stage 5 – appeal to the full court
Service/proceedings |
Court |
Fee |
5.3 – preparation |
Family Court |
$1960 |
5.4 – counsel daily fee |
Family Court |
$1610 |
Take judgment |
Family Court |
$225 |
Daily circuit fees
Court |
Fee |
Albury |
$362 |
Bairnsdale |
$348 |
Ballarat |
$223 |
Bendigo |
$261 |
Castlemaine |
$208 |
Geelong |
$189 |
Hamilton |
$362 |
Mildura |
$442 |
Morwell |
$267 |
Sale |
$315 |
Shepparton |
$301 |
Traralgon |
$268 |
Warrnambool |
$348 |
Disbursements
VLA will reimburse the following disbursements:
- any court fees required to be paid by a legally assisted person
- interpreters' fees
- service fees
- disbursements which have prior written approval of VLA.
In exceptional circumstances, VLA may consider providing assistance for other disbursements in accordance with Table Q – Expert reports and court attendances in family law matters.