🇳🇿 New Zealand - Family Law - 19 plans
New Zealand family law operates under a dedicated statutory framework centred on the Family Violence Act 2018, the Care of Children Act 2004, and the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. The Family Court of New Zealand - a specialist division of the District Court - has primary jurisdiction over parenting disputes, relationship property division, protection order applications, and adoption proceedings.
Our New Zealand family law matter plans cover protection order applications, parenting order proceedings, relationship property settlements, child support disputes, and family dispute resolution processes under the Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013. Each plan provides a structured workflow aligned to current procedural requirements, incorporating compulsory mediation steps, court filing obligations, and timeframes specific to New Zealand family law practice.
Replaced the Domestic Violence Act 1995 and provides a comprehensive framework for protection orders, police safety orders, and the legal response to family violence. Defines family violence broadly to include physical, sexual, and psychological abuse as well as controlling or coercive behaviour.
Governs guardianship, day-to-day care, and contact arrangements for children. Establishes the paramount principle that the welfare and best interests of the child are the first and paramount consideration in all proceedings.
Governs the division of relationship property between married, civil union, and de facto partners when a relationship ends or a partner dies. Establishes a general presumption of equal sharing of relationship property.
Establishes family dispute resolution as a prerequisite for many Family Court applications, requiring parties to attempt mediation before filing proceedings relating to guardianship, care, and contact disputes.
National
A specialist division of the District Court with jurisdiction over family violence protection orders, parenting disputes, relationship property proceedings, adoption, and paternity matters. Operates across New Zealand with dedicated Family Court judges.
National
Hears appeals from the Family Court on questions of law and matters of general or public importance. Also has original jurisdiction in certain international child abduction cases under the Hague Convention.
Every family law matter plan on this page has been created and refined by verified legal practitioners. Our community-driven approach means plans reflect real-world practice, not theoretical frameworks.
Suggest improvements, flag outdated procedures, or contribute entirely new plans. All suggestions are peer-reviewed and voted on by the community before being incorporated.
New Zealand family law practitioners can access 19 free family law matter plans, including 13 specialist derivative plans on the Open Matter Plans Network. Each plan is a structured checklist covering every stage of a family law matter - from initial instructions through to completion - with estimated time units, key dates, and role assignments built in. Use them directly in your browser or export to CSV for your practice management system.
All plans are maintained by verified legal practitioners, version-controlled, and aligned to the SALI Alliance Legal Matter Standard Specification - making them compatible with legal AI workflows and direct PMS integration via the JSON API.
When a practice-management system opens a matter at this level, these are the canonical fields it receives - resolved through the field-set hierarchy (base → area of law → geography → plan). Fields added at this levelare shown below, with inherited tiers beneath; each set's page has the full resolved table. How this works.
matter.fieldValues.dissolution_statutory_groundselectmatter.fieldValues.place_of_marriagetextmatter.fieldValues.application_filing_typeselectmatter.fieldValues.nz_domicile_verifiedbooleanmatter.fieldValues.certified_marriage_certificate_heldboolean11 more fields at this level - view the full set (free sign-in).
matter.matterNumbertextrequiredmatter.titletextmatter.matterTypetextmatter.statustextmatter.clientNametextrequiredmatter.clientEmailemailmatter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.phonephonematter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.addresstextmatter.fieldValues.client_date_of_birthdatematter.fieldValues.client_abn_acntextmatter.fieldValues.client_entity_typeselectmatter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.addressStreettextmatter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.addressSuburbtextmatter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.addressStatetextmatter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.addressPostcodetextmatter.linkedContacts.CLIENT.addressLocalitytextmatter.ourFirmNametextrequiredmatter.ourFirmAddresstextmatter.ourFirmPhonephonematter.ourFirmEmailemailmatter.ourFirmAddressStreettextmatter.ourFirmAddressSuburbtextmatter.ourFirmAddressStatetextmatter.ourFirmAddressPostcodetextmatter.ourFirmAddressLocalitytextmatter.user.firstNametextmatter.user.surnametextmatter.user.nametextmatter.user.emailemailmatter.user.addresstextmatter.user.phonephonematter.user.addressStreettextmatter.user.addressSuburbtextmatter.user.addressStatetextmatter.user.addressPostcodetextmatter.user.addressLocalitytextmatter.currentDatedatematter.fieldValues.matter_open_datedatematter.fieldValues.limitation_datedatematter.fieldValues.next_key_datedatematter.fieldValues.opponent_nametextmatter.fieldValues.opponent_solicitor_nametextmatter.fieldValues.opponent_solicitor_emailemailmatter.fieldValues.opponent_solicitor_phonephonematter.fieldValues.opponent_emailemailmatter.fieldValues.opponent_phonephonematter.fieldValues.court_nametextmatter.fieldValues.court_file_numbertextmatter.fieldValues.court_datedatematter.fieldValues.hearing_typetextmatter.fieldValues.estimated_feescurrencymatter.fieldValues.costs_agreement_signedbooleanmatter.fieldValues.professional_feescurrencymatter.fieldValues.disbursements_estimatecurrencymatter.fieldValues.total_disbursementscurrencymatter.user.signatureimage