Ex parte application: Family Law

An ex parte application refers to an application made by one party to a court without the notice of the other party. This means that an ex parte applicant wants to seek a court order without giving the other party the opportunity to respond to the application.

These applications are usually made in urgent situations where immediate court intervention is necessary to protect a person's safety or interests. To be specific, ex parte applications are used in both family law and financial matters in Australia. Examples of situations where an ex parte application may be appropriate in family law matters include orders that:

• Prevent a child from being removed from Australia without consent;