Family Law and Reform of “In Camera Rule”

The Department of Justice have announced the coming into operation of reforms to the in camera rule for family law and childcare proceedings from the start of the new legal term. A copy of the press release on the Department’s website is available here.The Minister has now signed the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (Part 2) (Commencement) Order 2014 commencing Part 2 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 with immediate effect.The new changes allow the media to report on family law and childcare proceedings according to strict conditions. These reforms are designed to address the need for public access to important information on the operation of family and child care proceedings in the courts. The changes are part of the Government’s commitment in the Programme for Government to reform and modernise aspects of family law (reference Department Press Release above).