first return date

Your Guide to the Family Law Case Management Pathway

With the merger on 1 September 2021 of the the Family Court of Australia (FCoA) and Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC) to create the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA), there are also new Family Law Rules and a new Family Law Central Practice Direction. These have set out the family law …

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Going to Court: What Happens on the First Return Date?

The first court date is also known as the first return date, or the first mention date. As this is the first time that your matter will be listed before the court, it is a very important event. If you are represented by your lawyer, then you do not need to attend in person, however you may still choose to attend, especially if you think there is a good chance to negotiate with the other side.