Table Q sets out the fixed fees which Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) will pay for expert reports and court attendances in family law matters.
These fees are effective from 1 January this year. For fees payable prior to this see Archived versions of the Handbook.
VLA expects assisted people to get family reports from the Court Counselling Section, unless it is impractical or inappropriate.
In exceptional circumstances, the fees may be increased.
| Services provided | Fees paid |
|---|---|
| Family assessment and report | $2654 total cost Note: VLA will pay only the assisted person’s appropriate share of this total amount. In the event that there is an independent children’s lawyer VLA will only pay what would have been the assisted person’s or self-represented person’s appropriate share of this total amount. |
| Supplementary report (ie any second or later report by an expert): if prepared within nine months after the first report. | $1472 total cost Note: VLA will pay only the assisted person’s appropriate share or shares of this total amount. In the event that there is an independent children’s lawyer VLA will only pay what would have been the assisted person’s or self-represented person’s appropriate share of this total amount. |
| Supplementary report (ie any second or later report by an expert): if prepared more than nine months after the first report | $2212 total cost Note: VLA will pay only the assisted person’s appropriate share or shares of this total amount. In the event that there is an independent children’s lawyer VLA will only pay what would have been the assisted person’s or self-represented person’s appropriate share of this total amount |
| Interview of a third party (eg a grandparent) who has intervened in a dispute | $441 additional fee on top of total cost |
| Attending court, including travel: half day | $658 Note: If the person attending court is the writer of the family report, then the fee is payable out of the grant of legal assistance made to the child representative/independent children’s lawyer. |
| Attending court, including travel: full day | $971 Note: If the person attending court is the writer of the family report, then the fee is payable out of the grant of legal assistance made to the child representative/independent children’s lawyer. |
A person is engaged to write a family report but does not need to complete the report:
| The report writer may claim a fee for the actual work done. |
| Individual reports | Fee payable to psychiatrist or psychologist |
| Assessment and report by an independent expert | $2500 |
| Treating expert’s report | $526 |
| Supplementary assessment and report (i.e. any second or later assessment and report by an independent expert) | $1600 |
| Attending court, including travel: half day | $658 |
| Attending court, including travel: full day | $971 |
| If the assisted person does not attend a firm appointment made with the expert | $118 |
| Other disbursements | |
| Hair follicle test | $1000 |
Documentary requirements
Where a practitioner is required to seek prior approval for a disbursement, they must provide VLA with a copy of the quote for service, the qualifications of the expert providing the service (if relevant), and the reasons for the request including an explanation of how the service would benefit the assisted person and the detriment to the assisted person if the service is not provided.
Where a disbursement is approved under this fee table, in order to claim the fee payable, a practitioner must retain on their file:
- a copy of the report, and
- a tax invoice from the report writer and evidence of payment by the practitioner.
Read the table of minimum evidence requirements for disbursements.
Updated