Check an independent children's lawyer plan against the meeting requirement
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- From the independent children's lawyer's plan and the child's date of birth, record the child's age and whether the plan records a meeting, a wish not to meet, or a stated exceptional circumstance. Do not decide that an exception applies.
- What the lawyer must review
- The lawyer, or the independent children's lawyer, decides whether a meeting is required and whether an exception applies. The court says an independent children's lawyer must meet a child who is over 5 unless the child does not wish to meet or there are other exceptional circumstances. The Attorney-General's factsheet says the lawyer must meet the child and give the child an opportunity to express a view, unless an exception applies. The court says the amendments apply from 6 May 2024 to new and existing proceedings except where the final hearing had already commenced.
- Written for / version
- US
Open a jurisdiction version of this task to see which instruments apply: US
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Do not begin AI assistance until the responsible lawyer has defined and confirmed its permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Calculate the child's age from the birth record. Apply the meeting requirement where the child is over 5.
- Accept a wish not to meet, or an exceptional circumstance, only where the lawyer is satisfied the source supports it.
- Where the final hearing commenced before 6 May 2024, check the application provision before treating the requirement as applying.
- Do not record the child's views in a document that will be shared without the lawyer deciding what can safely be included.
Sources
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, family law changes from 6 May 2024 · 2026-10-22
- Attorney-General's Department, Family Law Amendment Act 2023 factsheet for family law professionals · 2026-10-22
These are suggested working checks. Confirm the required checking with the responsible lawyer before work starts; the checking approach does not establish permission to use AI.