Definition: Expanded to include matters where Greater clarity and ‘Urgent matter’ ease of use. (criteria as to the matters in current reported allegations, which a certificate relating to investigations or court proceedings attendance at family dispute relating to child abuse, and resolution is not required as a condition to obtaining assistance a state child protection order is in for litigation) place and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has recommended that legal proceedings be issued in the family law jurisdiction for orders to be made on lapsing of the child protection order. Independent Restructure and redraft for clarity. Greater clarity and Children’s Lawyers (ICL) Clearer articulation of which matter ease of use. types an ICL grant may be made for. (old guideline 5) Child support and child Restructure and redraft for clarity. Included for clarity maintenance (old guideline 6) and consistency. Inclusion of child litigants in child Assistance for child maintenance matters guideline. litigants is currently provided under the Commonwealth special circumstances guideline. Spousal maintenance (old Restructure and redraft for clarity. Greater clarity and guideline 7) ease of use. Arrears of maintenance or child Restructure and redraft for clarity. Greater clarity and support (old guideline 8) Incorporated into relevant guidelines (no ease of use. longer stand-alone). Determining parentage of a child Redraft for clarity. Greater clarity. (old guideline 9) Special medical procedures Restructure and redraft for clarity. involving children (old guideline Removes reference to and Articulates current ‘parents’ 10) replaces with to encompass funding policy and is ‘person’ non-parents who exercise parental not an expansion of responsibility relating to the child. current eligibility criteria. Inclusion of child litigants. Recovery, location and Redraft for clarity. Conditions attached Greater clarity. information orders (old guideline to grants clearer and more 11) comprehensive.
Definition: ‘Urgent matter’ (criteria as to the matters in which a certificate relating to attendance at family dispute resolution is not required as a condition to obtaining assistance for litigation) Expanded to include matters where current reported allegations, investigations or court proceedings relating to child abuse, and a state child protection order is in place and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has recommended that legal proceedings be issued in the family law jurisdiction for orders to be made on lapsing of the child protection order. Greater clarity and ease of use. Independent Children’s Lawyers (ICL) (old guideline 5) Restructure and redraft for clarity. Clearer articulation of which matter types an ICL grant may be made for. Greater clarity and ease of use. Child support and child maintenance (old guideline 6) Restructure and redraft for clarity. Inclusion of child litigants in child maintenance matters guideline. Included for clarity and consistency. Assistance for child litigants is currently provided under the Commonwealth special circumstances guideline. Spousal maintenance (old guideline 7) Restructure and redraft for clarity. Greater clarity and ease of use. Arrears of maintenance or child support (old guideline 8) Restructure and redraft for clarity. Incorporated into relevant guidelines (no longer stand-alone). Greater clarity and ease of use. Determining parentage of a child (old guideline 9) Redraft for clarity. Greater clarity. Special medical procedures involving children (old guideline 10) Restructure and redraft for clarity. Removes reference to ‘parents’ and replaces with ‘person’ to encompass non-parents who exercise parental responsibility relating to the child. Inclusion of child litigants. Articulates current funding policy and is not an expansion of current eligibility criteria. Recovery, location and information orders (old guideline 11) Redraft for clarity. Conditions attached to grants clearer and more comprehensive. Greater clarity.
vla-ready-reckoner-family-law-guideline-changes-overview-accessible.docx