In October 2023, the Family Court of Western Australia introduced the PPP500 program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at streamlining the family dispute resolution process for property settlements in Western Australia. This innovative program is designed to reduce the emotional and financial burden on families, while promoting a more efficient and effective approach to resolving disputes.
What is it?
The PPP500 program is a new Court list that attempts to reduce waiting times for parties who are going through family law property settlement negotiations with an asset pool of less than $500,000.00 not including superannuation. Additionally, by reducing the waiting time for parties with lower asset pools, the program is designed at reducing the waiting times for matters involving asset pools above $500,000.00, thereby reducing overall delays in the Family Court system in Western Australia.
Key Features of the PPP500 program
- Streamlined documentation – the documents required to be prepared to initiate proceedings in this list have been simplified to increase access to the Court’s resources for self-represented litigants.
- Lengthened settlement conference – the Court allocates further resources to the parties to give them the best chance of resolving their matter without the need for a trial-based outcome.
- Direct listing to trial – if the matter does not settle at the settlement conference, a Registrar can allocate the matter to a Magistrate for a judicial determination at the conclusion of the conference, cutting waiting times for a final resolution down very significantly.
Benefits of the PPP500 program
1. Cost-effective: By devoting further resources to resolving disputes without the need for judicial determination, parties can save on legal costs and avoid prolonged court proceedings.
2. Time-efficient: The program significantly reduces the time spent on dispute resolution, allowing families to move forward sooner.
- Less stress: By reducing waiting times for those with smaller asset pools, the parties are able to reduce the very significant stress involved with ongoing litigation.
How is it going so far?
At the end of January 2024, being about four months into the introduction of the list, the Family Court of Western Australia had held 27 settlement conferences, and had only referred three of those to a trial, which equates to an approximately 89% settlement rate. Further, for those matters that were listed to a trial, they were listed to trials about three months after the settlement conference.
Conclusion
The PPP500 program represents a significant shift in the approach to family dispute resolution in Western Australia. By providing a streamlined, cost-effective, and efficient process, the program aims to reduce the emotional and financial burden on families. As the program continues to evolve, it is likely to continue to have a positive impact on the family law system in Western Australia, promoting better outcomes for families and a more effective use of court resources.
About the Author: Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology from Macquarie University in Sydney and a Diploma in Law from the Law Extension Committee of the LPAB in NSW. In 2019, Mitchell moved to Perth and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in August 2020. Mitchell has practiced solely in the family law sphere since being admitted and joined the Lynn and Brown team as a lawyer in November 2021.
