Applying for a divorce

= How to file a Divorce Application = To get divorced you will need to file a Divorce Application at the Federal Circuit Court. You can access a do-it-yourself Divorce Application Kit at http://www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fccweb/forms-and-fees/court-forms/diy-kits/kit-application-for-divorce. You can either apply for a divorce as a sole applicant, or with your spouse as joint applicants. (For more information see, Joint application and Sole application)

Before you can file your Application for Divorce, you will need to sign it in the presence of a Justice of the Peace or a solicitor. After you have signed your completed Divorce Application you will need to file it at the Registry of the Federal Circuit Court. You will need to present: If you are not an Australian citizen by birth or descent, you will need to provide proof of permanent residency or citizenship (e.g. Australian citizenship certificate, passport, visa or other proof of permanent residency or citizenship)
 * Your divorce application with two photocopies
 * A copy of your marriage certificate

If you have already filed documents with court regarding other family law matters. If this is the case, there is no need to file another copy, as the court will already have a copy of your marriage certificate on file. If this is the case, you should also have received a file number from the Court, which you should insert on the upper right hand corner of the application.

When your divorce application is filed at the registry, they will keep the original application. However, the two photocopies of your application will be returned to you, stamped with the court seal. You will also receive a file number and a date and time of a court hearing, which will be written on the top right hand corner of your application.

Filing an Divorce Application electronically
You can also file your application online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal. (http://www.comcourts.gov.au) For more information on filing your Divorce Application electronically, see the ‘Guide to using the Commonwealth Courts Portal’ on the Family Courts website. (http://www.familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fcoaweb/reports-and-publications/publications/ccp/guide-to-using-the-commonwealth-courts-portal)

== Fees associated with lodging an application == The fee for filling your divorce application is $845, which must be paid at time of lodging your application. You can apply for reduced fee of $280 if You are on a pension or have a health care card, in which case you must file an Application for Reduction of Payment of Divorce of Decree of Nullity- General

You are suffering financial hardship, in which case you must file an Application for Reduction of Payment of Divorce or Decree of Nullity- Financial Hardship

Service by post
Service by post is an easy and cheap way to serve your spouse with your Divorce Application but it requires your spouse’s cooperation. If your spouse will accept service of your Divorce Application by post, you will need to send them:
 * The sealed Divorce Application (with the Notice of Application for Divorce attached to the front page)


 * Any other documents you filed at the Court (except the marriage certificate)


 * The brochure Marriage, Families and Separation given to you by the Court

Service form and return it to you The Acknowledgement of Service form is not an agreement with the content of your Divorce Application, just an acknowledgement of the fact that he has received the application and the brochure. This signature does not need to be witnessed by a JP or a solicitor.
 * An Acknowledgement of Service form
 * A stamped, self-addressed envelope
 * A letter asking your husband to sign the Acknowledgement of

Once you have received the Acknowledgement of Service form back from your spouse, you will need to complete an Affidavit of Service by Post, indicating that you recognise your spouse’s signature. A JP or solicitor must witness this. The witness must also complete the attached Annexure Note. You must then, attach this to the Affidavit of Service by Post and file them and a photocopy of each at the Registry prior to the hearing date.

Personal service by hand
Alternatively, you can arrange for your Divorce Application, the Acknowledgement of Service form and the brochure to be served to your spouse personally by hand. You cannot serve the Divorce Application to your spouse yourself. If you can afford it, you can get a professional process-server to do this. If you cannot afford a process-server, you will need to find a friend or relative over the age of 18 who is prepared to serve the Divorce Application for you.

To serve the document to your spouse, the server must identify your spouse (either by knowing him personally or by using a photograph or asking questions). The documents must then be handed to your spouse and the server must ask him to sign the Acknowledgment of Service form. If your spouse refuses to sign the form or accept the documents, the server can put them down, making it clear that they are serving a Divorce Application and tell your spouse when and where the Court hearing will take place.

After serving the documents to your spouse, the server will then need to complete an Affidavit of Service by Hand in front of a solicitor or JP. They will also need to attach any documents that helped to identify your spouse. The solicitor or JP will also need to complete an Annexure Note on the Acknowledgement of Service form.

After Serving the Documents
If your spouse signed the Acknowledgement of Service form, and you recognise his signature you must complete an Affidavit Proving Signature (Divorce), also signed in front of a JP or a solicitor. If your spouse refused to sign the Acknowledgment of Service form, it will not matter as long as there is sufficient information in the server’s Affidavit of Service by Hand, establishing that your spouse is in fact the person whom they have served.

You must take a copy of all service forms and file them at the Court Registry.

If your spouse is in Australia, you will need to serve the Divorce Application at least 28 days before the hearing. If your husband is overseas, the Divorce Application must be served at least 42 days before the hearing. If you don’t serve the documents with enough time, the registrar will be unable to hear you case on the assigned date and it will have to be adjourned unless your spouse is willing to give written evidence demonstrating that he is happy for the hearing to continue regardless.

Other means
If you can prove to the Court that you have taken all reasonable steps to serve the documents to your spouse without success, you can apply to the Court for either Substituted Service or Dispensation of Service.

Substituted Service
Allows you to serve the application to a third party who the Court is satisfied will bring the application to the attention of your spouse. (E.g. a relative, or close friend)

Dispensation of Service
Allows you to dispense with service.

= Types of Applications =

Joint application
If you are filing a joint application with your spouse, you are both applicants. Filing a joint application is easier than filing a sole application because you will not need to attend court, even if there is a child under the age of 18 involved. (For more information on children in divorce proceedings, see Children) However, in order to file a joint application you need the cooperation of your spouse.

Sole application
If you lodge an application without your spouse, you will be the applicant and your spouse will be the respondent. Applying for a divorce alone raises a number of issues. Crucially, after filing the documents with the Federal Circuit Court you must then arrange for one of the sealed and stamped copies of the Divorce Application to be served to your spouse. Proving that your spouse has been served with a copy of the divorce application is often one of the most difficult things to prove in a divorce proceeding. The application can be served to your husband in two ways: by post or by hand.

= Children = If you have children under the age of 18, you will need to provide information to the court about you and your spouse’s relationship with every child treated as a member of the family at the time of separation. This includes biological children as well as stepchildren, adopted children and any other children treated as a member of your family prior to the separation. You will need to provide information about the time spent and communication with the child/children, financial support, as well as the health and education of each child.

=== What is the difference between a Divorce Application for Divorce and Parenting Orders? ===

Giving information about whom a child lives with and when the child sees the other parent in a Divorce Application does not mean that the Court makes a parenting order when it grants the divorce. You need to apply separately for parenting orders. See the Centre’s fact sheets on Parenting Orders in the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court.

= Response to an Application for Divorce = Your spouse is entitled to file a Response to Divorce. However, the only reason your spouse can use to stop your Divorce Application from proceeding is by claiming that you have not been separated for 12 months or that the Court does not have jurisdiction over the divorce. (For example because you and your spouse are not Australian citizens, or do not live in Australia)