Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2011 (189 of 2011)

Schedule 2   Other amendments

Part 1   Amendments

Family Law Act 1975

28   After section 98

Insert:

98AA Oaths and affirmations

(1) A Judge of the Family Court may require and administer all necessary oaths and affirmations for the purposes of the Family Court.

(2) A Judge of the Family Court may cause to be administered all necessary oaths and affirmations for the purposes of the Family Court. For this purpose, the Family Court may, either orally or in writing, authorise any person (whether in or outside Australia) to administer oaths and affirmations.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer may, in writing, authorise:

(a) a Registrar of the Family Court; or

(b) a staff member of the Family Court;

to administer oaths and affirmations for the purposes of the Family Court.

98AB Swearing of affidavits etc.

(1) An affidavit to be used in a proceeding in the Family Court may be sworn or affirmed in Australia before:

(a) a Judge of the Family Court; or

(b) a Registrar of the Family Court; or

(c) a justice of the peace; or

(d) a commissioner for affidavits; or

(e) a commissioner for declarations; or

(f) a person who is authorised to administer oaths or affirmations for the purposes of:

(i) the Family Court; or

(ii) the High Court; or

(iii) the Federal Court of Australia; or

(iv) the Supreme Court of a State or Territory; or

(v) the Federal Magistrates Court; or

(g) a person before whom affidavits can be sworn or affirmed under the Evidence Act 1995.

(2) An affidavit to be used in a proceeding in the Family Court may be sworn or affirmed at a place outside Australia before:

(a) an Australian Diplomatic Officer or an Australian Consular Officer, as defined by the Consular Fees Act 1955, who is exercising his or her function in that place; or

(b) an employee of the Commonwealth who is:

(i) authorised under paragraph 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

(ii) exercising his or her function in that place; or

(c) an employee of the Australian Trade Commission who is:

(i) authorised under paragraph 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and

(ii) exercising his or her function in that place; or

(d) a notary public who is exercising his or her function in that place; or

(e) a person who is:

(i) qualified to administer an oath or affirmation in that place; and

(ii) certified by a person mentioned in any of paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d), or by the superior court of that place, to be so qualified.

(3) An affidavit sworn or affirmed outside Australia otherwise than before a person referred to in subsection (2) may be used in a proceeding in the Family Court in circumstances provided by the standard Rules of Court.