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| (03) 9269 0120Melbourne | 1800 677 402Rural areas |  Locate us |
How to run your own family law case
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) runs free workshops for the general public in Melbourne and Dandenong.
About the workshops
These workshops are for people who are planning to represent themselves in their family law case. Workshops focus on property and children's matters.
Workshop 1A introduction – property includes:- property orders – how to apply and respond
- filing and serving of documents
- spousal maintenance
- subpoenas and affidavits
- what the court considers when making a decision.
- parenting orders – how to apply and respond
- filing and serving of documents
- what to do if there is family violence or child abuse
- subpoenas and affidavits
- what the court considers when making a decision.
- steps to final property hearing
- preparing documents for final hearing
- disclosure – information you must make available
- hearing steps – witnesses, evidence, cross examination.
Workshop 2B preparation for hearing – children's matters includes:
- steps to final children's hearing
- preparing documents for final hearing
- changing documents
- hearing steps – witnesses, evidence, cross examination.
All workshops include:
- an introduction to the Family Law Act 1975 and courts
- information about our duty lawyer service
- what to do at court
- where to get further help.
How do I know which workshop is right for me?
Workshops 1A and 1B are for people in the early stages of their family law case. 1A covers property, while 1B is about children's matters. If you have both property and children's matters to take to the court, it is useful to attend both of the workshops - they are held on the same day.
Workshops 2A and 2B are for people heading towards the final hearing. 2A will cover property only, 2B is about children's matters.
Resources and publications
At the workshop you will get a free How to run your family law case kit to help you prepare your case and represent yourself in court. The kit includes alternatives to going to court and where to get help. It is available to download below.
You can also download or order You and family law – a short guide and Child support and parentage testing publications from this website.
See the Children & parenting and Division of property pages for more information about family law.
Melbourne workshops
Phone (03) 9269 0223 or 1800 677 402 to make a booking.
2009 workshop dates
|
Introduction workshops |
Preparation for hearing workshops |
|---|---|
|
1A Property 1B Children's matters |
2A Property 2B Children's matters |
| 25 March | 29 April |
| 27 May | 24 June |
| 29 July | 26 August |
| 23 September | 28 October |
Dandenong workshops
Phone (03) 9767 7111 to make a booking.
2009 workshop dates
| Introduction workshops | Preparation for hearing workshops |
|---|---|
|
1A Property 1B Children's matters |
2A Property 2B Children's matters |
| 4 March | 1 April |
| 6 May | 3 June |
| 1 July | 5 August |
| 2 September | 7 October |
| How to run your family law case - PDF, 1.6mb A do-it-yourself kit to help you prepare a family law case and represent yourself in court; includes alternatives to going to court. Formerly called 'Self-represented litigants' kit'. |