Online divorce application in Australia
DG of Badilag : Our legal system does not yet permit such application
Jakarta | badilag.net/english (12/12)
People in Australia can file their divorce application online. This service, which was first introduced in August 2008 and has been recently implemented by the Family Law Courts (the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court), is deemed beneficial for litigants who can efile (submit) their divorce applications through the Commonwealth Courts portal.
As reported by www.familycourt.gov.au, over 400 registered users have used this application to file divorce cases electronically since last September. According to Richard Foster, CEO of the Family Law Courts, this web-based application is aimed to improve access to justice, particularly for self represented litigants who comprise 85% of divorce applicants.
Nevertheless, applicants can not automatically have their cases finalized without having to come to the court. “It does not mean that people can get divorced online, this service simply provides people with an alternative way to file their applications, in addition to the traditional way by post or in person at a family law registry,” Richard Foster, who is also the Vice President of IACA International, said as quoted by familycourt.gov.au.
.Meanwhile, Executive Adviser to the CEO of the Family Court of Australia, Leisha Lister said this service, which is a particular pride for the Family Law Courts, was provided to meet the public need of easy access to court.
“This online application has made the Family Courts much easier to access,” she said when giving a speech at Badilag’s office on Monday (7/12).
Asked about the possibility of the implementation of similar online application in Indonesia, Director General of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, said this service seems not inapplicable since the Indonesian Legal System, particularly the procedural civil law, does not yet allow online application.
“But the spirit of improving public service to access to justice, as can be seen from the service, should be made an example for us, especially Religious Courts in Indonesia,” Wahyu said. (avic)