Wolfe & Black practical guide
Family Court Position Statement: Preparation Guide
How litigants in person can structure the issues, background, current position and orders sought without losing the key points.
Updated September 2026
The useful starting point is not the volume of paperwork. It is the decision or issue, the evidence relevant to it, the chronology and the next decision-making stage.
Preparing a family case
Start with the current order, application or report and identify the decisions the court is being asked to make.
Separate allegations from findings and identify the evidence relevant to each disputed issue.
Keep the welfare issues central and make the outcome sought clear, realistic and connected to the evidence.
1. Identify exactly what is being challenged
Keep the original decision, order, report, notice or correspondence. Record its date, the decision-maker, the reasons given, every relevant deadline and the precise outcome you want. A difficult matter becomes easier to analyse when the disputed questions can be stated concisely.
2. Build an evidence-linked chronology
Create a dated sequence of material events and link each important event to its source document. The chronology is a navigation tool: a reader should be able to understand what happened, when it happened and where the supporting evidence can be found.
3. Separate evidence, allegation and inference
Mark what is proved by a contemporaneous record, what is alleged by a person or organisation and what is an inference, opinion or disputed conclusion. Then identify contradictory records, missing material and conclusions for which the supporting evidence is unclear.
4. Check the current framework
Identify the legislation, procedural rules, statutory guidance and published policy that actually apply to the particular decision. Use current authoritative material. A strong challenge connects the evidence to the applicable framework and the outcome sought.
5. Prepare for the next decision point
Work backwards from the next hearing, review, committee, complaint stage or decision. Identify what must be provided, what the decision-maker needs to understand and which documents best demonstrate each important point.
Family proceedings can involve confidentiality and restrictions on publication. Case material should be handled carefully and not published merely because it has been provided to you.
Questions to ask before proceeding
What is the exact decision? What deadline applies? Which facts are genuinely disputed? What documents prove the important facts? What framework governs the decision? What outcome are you asking for? What has already been tried? Those questions expose the gaps that need work.
Related guides
Section 7 Report in Family Court: How to Prepare
A Section 7 report can influence decisions about children. Learn how to organise evidence, identify disputed findings and prepare a focused response.
Read guide →Building a Family Court Evidence Chronology
A practical method for turning messages, reports, orders and events into a usable chronology for hearing preparation.
Read guide →McKenzie Friend Support: What It Can and Cannot Do
Understand the practical role of a McKenzie Friend, including case-paper assistance and hearing support, and the limits on rights of audience.
Read guide →How to Prepare for a Family Court Hearing
A structured approach to issues, evidence, orders sought, questions and key documents for litigants in person.
Read guide →Wolfe & Black is not a firm of solicitors. We provide case preparation and non-reserved support. Reserved legal activities or representation are only undertaken where lawfully permitted. Nothing on this page guarantees that we can perform every procedural step in a particular matter.
Need this applied to your documents?
We can assess the material, organise the chronology and evidence, identify the issues and help prepare you for the next stage.