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If you and the other people involved in the case come to an agreement at any time during the case, you may ask the Family Court to consider making what you’ve agreed into an order. You and the other people involved in the case will need to file a consent memorandum to the Family Court.
A consent memorandum is a document that states what everyone involved in the case is agreeing to and the reasons why. The document must be signed by all parties named in the original application.
Consent memorandums can be hard to fill in on your own. If you don’t have a lawyer, there is support available to help you fill in forms.
Use a BLUE or BLACK ballpoint pen if you complete the forms by hand.
You’ll need to complete the following form.
General consent memorandum [PDF, 460 KB]
To have the forms sent to you, freephone the Ministry of Justice on 0800 224 733. You can also pick them up from the court.
You must print the forms single sided.
Your application must include:
You can file your memorandum electronically, by post, or in person. When you file your memorandum, it must have the original signatures. You must file your memorandum at the correct courthouse. If you file your memorandum in person or by post, you’ll need to provide enough exact copies for everyone named as a party to your memorandum and keep a copy for yourself.
Court staff will contact you if they need more information.
You don’t need to pay a court filing fee for this application. There may be other fees involved when using the Family Court. This may include:
Before a judge makes a decision, they may:
If they agree with what you are asking for, they may make a final court order. At this point, it usually means your case is finished in the Family Court.
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Going through a change in your whānau situation can be hard. It's normal to feel overwhelmed. There are services available to help and support you through this time.
Visit our help page