Tell the Justice Committee what you think

The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill aims to improve outcomes for people who participate in Family Court proceedings, particularly children, by reducing delays. It would do this by creating a new Family Court Associate role.

The Family Court Associate would be a judicial officer, enabling them to take on some work currently undertaken by judges, such as making decisions in the early stages of proceedings. The Family Court Associate role is based on a recommendation made by the Independent Panel in its report about the 2014 family justice reforms, Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau.

The bill would amend the Family Court Act 1980 to provide for the appointment, jurisdiction and powers, remuneration, restrictions, and immunity of Family Court Associates. The amendments to the Act would also enable Family Court Associates to transfer certain proceedings to a Family Court Judge.

The bill would also amend the following Acts to give Family Court Associates some of the functions and powers of Family Court Judges in certain circumstances:

· Adoption Act 19558

· Care of Children Act 2004

· Child Support Act 1991

· Family Proceedings Act 1980

· Family Violence Act 2018

· Marriage Act 1955

· Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

· Property (Relationships) Act 1976

· Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988

· Status of Children Act 1969.

Make a submission on the bill by 11.59pm on 14 September 2022.

For more details about the bill:

· Read the full content of the bill

· What’s been said in Parliament about the bill?

· Follow the committee’s Facebook page for updates
 

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