Section 19A — Family Proceedings Act 1980: Circumstances where joint counselling not to be required

19A Circumstances where joint counselling not to be required (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Part of this Act, a party to a marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship shall not be required, under any provision of this Part of this Act, to attend counselling at which the other party to the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship is also present, in any case where the other party to the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship has used violence (within the meaning of section 3(2) of the Domestic Violence Act 1995 ) against the first-mentioned party, or against a child of the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship. (2) Nothing in this section prevents the provision of counselling in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1) of this section with the agreement of the first-mentioned party. Section 19A was inserted, as from 1 July 1996, by section 3 Family Proceedings Amendment Act 1995 (1995 No 90). See clause 2 Family Proceedings Amendment Act Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/144). Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 44(1) Civil Union Act 2004 (2004 No 102) by inserting the words “ or civil union ” after the word “ marriage ” wherever it appears. Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 2005, by section 149 Care of Children Act 2004 (2004 No 90) by substituting the words “ , civil union, or de facto relationship ” for the words “ or civil union ” wherever they appear.