Family Court fees hit vulnerable

New Family Court fees hidden in the Budget will penalise families when they are at their most vulnerable, says National's Families and Associate Justice spokeswoman Judith Collins.

She is commenting an announcement by Courts Minister Rick Barker, in which he said Family Court fees would rise because the court is dealing increasingly with property cases that are for private benefit.

Applications for property settlements go from nothing to $165 for filing, and from nothing to $585 per half day for hearings.

"The vast majority of the property cases dealth with in the Family Court are as a result of family breakups, and the only property normally involved is the family home," says Ms Collins.

"It is hard enough trying to keep children out of poverty when families have split, without taking more money out of the family home like this Government is doing.

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