Section 68L — Family Law Act 1975: Court order for independent representation of child’s interests

(1) This section applies to proceedings under this Act in which a child’s best interests are, or a child’s welfare is, the paramount, or a relevant, consideration. This includes any such proceedings arising under regulations made for the purposes of section 111B. Note: Section 111B is about the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. (2) If it appears to the court that the child’s interests in the proceedings ought to be independently represented by a lawyer, the court: (a) may order that the child’s interests in the proceedings are to be independently represented by a lawyer; and (b) may make such other orders as it considers necessary to secure that independent representation of the child’s interests. (4) A court may make an order for the independent representation of the child’s interests in the proceedings by a lawyer: (a) on its own initiative; or (b) on the application of: (i) the child; or (ii) an organisation concerned with the welfare of children; or (iii) any other person.