Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FEDERAL MAGISTRATES ACT 1999 - SECT 19

             (1)  Proceedings must not be instituted in the Federal Magistrates Court in respect of a particular matter if proceedings in respect of an associated matter are pending in the Family Court or the Federal Court.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to:

                     (a)  proceedings for a decree of dissolution of marriage; or

                     (b)  proceedings instituted in the Federal Magistrates Court under:

                              (i)  Division 13A of Part VII of the Family Law Act 1975 ; or

                             (ii)  Part XIII or XIIIA of that Act.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  proceedings are instituted in the Federal Magistrates Court in contravention of subsection (1); and

                     (b)  the proceedings are subsequently transferred to the Federal Court or the Family Court;

the proceedings are taken to be as valid as they would have been if subsection (1) had not been enacted.