Both the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia impose a filing deadline for applications seeking time with children during the Christmas holiday period. Applications must be filed before the second Friday of November, this year being 4pm, Friday 13 November 2015 to be heard prior to Christmas.

If a parent holds concerns that they will not be able to spend time with their children during the Christmas holiday period or there is no agreement about the time the children will spend with each parent, parents need to ensure that their applications are filed before the cut off date.

It is important to for parents to remember that it can take some time to prepare applications and are encouraged to seek legal advice sooner rather than later.