---
title: "Check an independent children's lawyer plan against the meeting requirement"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law/check-an-independent-children-s-lawyer-plan-against-the-meeting-requirem"
type: "task"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A16-CO20261022-5"
practice_area: "Family Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Check an independent children's lawyer plan against the meeting requirement

> 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.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law/check-an-independent-children-s-lawyer-plan-against-the-meeting-requirem  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Family Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| 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 / versions | 1 jurisdiction versions below |

## Checking plan

**Source-by-source verification**

Trace relied-on content to independent sources and check for relevant material the output has missed.

- What the AI does: 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 does: 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.
- Who reviews: Responsible lawyer with competence in the matter
- Basis: Practical workflow informed by the linked primary sources; the traffic light and working checks are editorial guidance, not a court or regulator classification.
- Why: The level reflects what the work is, the consequence of an error, and how much of the output the lawyer must independently re-derive.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Calculate the child's age from the birth record. Apply the meeting requirement where the child is over 5.
2. Accept a wish not to meet, or an exceptional circumstance, only where the lawyer is satisfied the source supports it.
3. Where the final hearing commenced before 6 May 2024, check the application provision before treating the requirement as applying.
4. Do not record the child's views in a document that will be shared without the lawyer deciding what can safely be included.

## Notes

- 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.

## Sources

- [Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, family law changes from 6 May 2024](https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/news-and-media-centre/fla2023) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [Attorney-General's Department, Family Law Amendment Act 2023 factsheet for family law professionals](https://www.ag.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/family-law-amendment-act-2023-factsheet-for-professionals.PDF) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Jurisdiction versions

| Jurisdiction | Level |
| --- | --- |
| [United States](https://ailawframework.com/practice/family-law/check-an-independent-children-s-lawyer-plan-against-the-meeting-requirem/united-states.md) | Yellow |

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*