Family Law & Divorce

Recovery Order

In plain English

A court order that requires a child to be returned to a parent or carer, for example after the child has been taken or kept without agreement.

What it means

A recovery order is an order of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) that authorises a child to be located and returned to a parent, carer, or person with whom the child lives or spends time. It can authorise the use of police and others to find and recover the child. Recovery orders are typically sought urgently when a child has been wrongfully taken or withheld. As with all parenting decisions, the court's paramount consideration is the best interests of the child.

How it's used

When the father failed to return the children after a holiday, the mother urgently applied for a recovery order.

Dealing with recovery order in real life?

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