Case Outline Document (final hearing)

The Central Practice Direction: Family Law Case Management sets standard trial directions (Schedule B). Unless the court orders otherwise, no later than 4:00pm on the day 7 days before the trial, every party files and serves a case outline document of no more than 10 pages, or 15 pages if both property and parenting are in dispute. The approved form brings together the material relied on, a chronology and the party's contentions under the relevant Family Law Act provisions, including section 60CC in parenting cases and sections 79 or 90SM in property cases. It is filed in either Division of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

When you need it

• The court has listed your family law case for final hearing and made trial directions requiring an outline of case.
• You are an applicant, respondent, other party or independent children's lawyer in a parenting, property or maintenance case going to trial.
• Not for dispute resolution events: a different Confidential Case Outline is used for mediation and conferences and is not placed on the court file (CPD para 6.33).

1. 1

   Part A and Part B - parties, documents and chronology

   List each court document you rely on (application, response, affidavits, Financial Statements, expert reports) with who filed it and the filing date. Then give a short chronology of the significant events relevant to the issues.

2. 2

   Part C - parenting

   Complete only if seeking parenting orders. Outline your contentions on parental responsibility and on the general considerations for the child's best interests under section 60CC, and, if relevant, the additional consideration for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child (s 60CC(3)).

3. 3

   Part D - property

   Complete the balance sheet of assets, liabilities, superannuation, financial resources and other items with each party's value. Then outline disputes about items or values, contributions under s 79(4) or s 90SM(4) (including any effect of family violence), your contribution percentages, current and future circumstances under s 79(5) or s 90SM(5), any adjustment, justice and equity, and the overall division sought.

4. 4

   Part E - maintenance

   Complete only if seeking maintenance. Outline need and capacity by reference to sections 72, 74 and 75, or 90SE and 90SF, and state the amounts and frequency.

5. 5

   Part F - certification

   Name counsel briefed and whether counsel settled the document, then sign and date it and tick who signed.

• File and serve it by the date in your trial directions. Under the standard directions that is 4:00pm on the day 7 days before the trial (CPD Schedule B).
• Serve every other party, including any independent children's lawyer.
• The standard directions require documents for trial to be filed and provided in electronic format. Family law documents are generally eFiled through the Commonwealth Courts Portal.

• Keep within the page limit unless the court has ordered otherwise: 10 pages, or 15 pages where both property and parenting are in dispute.
• Make your balance sheet figures match the joint balance sheet and your evidence; differences invite cross-examination.
• Express each adjustment as a percentage and say why. If no adjustment is sought, the form asks you to write "No adjustment".