Victorian Bushfires 2009
General information for clients affected by the 2009 bushfires in Victoria
If you are concerned about the status of your family law proceedings while you or your former partner are managing immediate issues following the fires in Victoria (or possibly the floods in Northern Queensland), you can consult the Family Law Courts to enquire about the assistance we can offer you.
Below are some questions and answers that our clients affected by this trauma may need to consider:
My next Court event
My property is damaged and I am dealing with difficult issues associated with children, finance and accommodation. I am worried about my next Court event(s).
If you are concerned that you may not be able to attend your next Court hearing or event, it is very important that you contact us. You can call our National Enquiry Centre on 1300 352 000 and discuss your situation with our client service officers.
Our enquiry centre can provide you with your file number, advise you on the status of your proceeding, provide any relevant procedural advice in regard to your next event(s), and give you a point of contact for ongoing coordination.
If you have legal representation in your family law proceeding, you should consult your lawyer as soon as you can to discuss any changes in your circumstances. Your lawyer can advise how these changes may effect your proceedings.
Replacement documents
My home was damaged by fire and therefore I don’t have documents relevant to my proceeding. What options do I have?
If you require a replacement divorce order, current orders or other documents, our family law registry will provide you with a replacement copy without charge. You can:
- complete a request form and send to your nearest family law registry
- attend one of our family law registries, or
- call the National Enquiry Cente on 1300 352 000 to make your enquiry by telephone.
The relevant form can be downloaded at:
Victorian Bushfires 2009 Replacement Document Request
- You can view your family law proceeding details and status via My Files at the following link – https://filesearch.familylawcourts.gov.au. You will need to have your file number and Casetrack party indentification ready. If you don’t have your file number or Casetrack identification, contact our enquiry centre on 1300 352 000. Note: My Files does not allow printing.
- If you need replacement marriage, birth or death certificates – your state and\or territory Births Deaths and Marriages Registries will assist you. In Victoria, an application form for a replacment birth, marriage or change of name certificate can be downloaded from the Births, Deaths and Marriages section of the Department of Justice Victoria website www.justice.vic.gov.au. Certificates that have been destroyed as result of the recent fires will be supplied free of charge.
Correspondence from the Family Law Courts
What can I do to ensure direction of my mail as I am currently at an another address?
- You can ask Australia Post to hold your mail at a post office of your choice, or you can ask Australia Post to re-direct your mail to an address which is convenient for you (offered free service for bushfire affected clients). Go to www.auspost.com.au or drop into a post office to discuss your situation.
- If you require a copy of recent letters or information sent to you regarding your family law proceeding, contact our enquiry centre on 1300 352 000. We will provide copies without charge.
- If you need to change your address for service on your Family Law Courts file, you must lodge a Notice of Address for Service with the relevant Registry. The forms can be downloaded at:
Notice of address for service (Family Court)
Notice of address for service (Federal Magistrates Court)
My former partner lives in a bushfire affected area
My former partner lives in an area affected by the fires and may have changed circumstances.
If you have legal representation in your family law proceeding, you should consult your lawyer as soon as you can to discuss any changes in circumstances. Your lawyer can advise how these changes may effect your proceedings. Otherwise, contact our enquiry centre on 1300 352 000 to discuss this situation.
More information
National Enquiry Centre
Phone: 1300 352 000
Email: enquiries@familycourt.gov.au (Note: The email service cannot be used to file any court documents).
Other links
Australia Post
www.auspost.com.au
Department of Justice Victoria, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
www.justice.vic.gov.au
Department of Human Services
www.dhs.vic.gov.au
Centrelink
www.centrelink.gov.au
Victoria Legal Aid
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Red Cross
www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm
* For further information or to get paper copies of this document sent to you, call 1300 352 000, or visit a family law registry near you.