What it means
Consent orders are an agreement reached between separating parties that is submitted to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for approval. Once approved, they have the same force as orders made by a judge after a hearing, which means they are legally binding and enforceable. Couples commonly use consent orders to formalise how property is divided and the arrangements for their children, avoiding the cost and stress of a contested court case.
How it's used
Rather than fight in court, the couple agreed on a 60/40 split and filed consent orders so the arrangement was legally locked in.