Purpose

• The purpose of the Family Law Act of 1975 was to define the laws regarding child custody and financial issues during a divorce. It also details the legal handling of disputes over property, according to the Australian Attorney-General family law site.
  
  

History

• The initial federal act passed in 1975 covered disputes resulting from the end of a legal marriage. However, Queensland and the other Australian territories made their own laws involving similar disputes between unmarried couples. In 1988 the federal act was amended so that these disputes--no matter the marriage status of the couple--would be handled with the same laws throughout the territories. However, Queensland did not enter the new agreement until 1990.
  
  

Court Types

• Although the federal Family Court of Australia handles divorce and child custody cases, territory and local courts in Queensland also take on such cases. The Children's Court of Queensland handles cases involving child welfare such as incidents of abuse. The territory's local courts take on divorce and custody matters.