“28 Cover sheet, numbering, and fastening of document

• “(1) The first sheet of a document is the cover sheet, showing the matters specified in rules 29 and 29A.

  “(2) The cover sheet is not numbered, even if the heading is continued on another sheet under rule 29A(2).

  “(3) Each page after the cover sheet must be numbered consecutively, starting with the number 1.

  “(4) All sheets of a document must be securely fastened together.”

“84 Incapacitated person and minor defined

• For the purposes of these rules,—

  “incapacitated person means a person who by reason of physical, intellectual, or mental impairment, whether temporary or permanent, is—

  • “(a) not capable of understanding the issues on which his or her decision would be required as a litigant conducting proceedings; or

  • “(b) unable to give sufficient instructions to issue, defend, or compromise proceedings

  “minor means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years; and a person is of full age if he or she has attained the age of 18 years.

“85 Litigation guardian defined

• For the purposes of these rules, litigation guardian—

  • “(a) means—

    • “(i) a person who is authorised by or under an enactment to conduct proceedings in the name of, or on behalf of, an incapacitated person or a minor (but only in a proceeding to which the authority extends); or

    • “(ii) a person who is appointed under rule 88C to conduct a proceeding; and

  • “(b) has the same meaning as the expression ‘guardian ad litem’.

“86 Incapacitated person must be represented by litigation guardian

• “(1) An incapacitated person must have a litigation guardian as his or her representative in any proceeding, unless the Court orders otherwise.

  “(2) If a person becomes an incapacitated person during a proceeding, a party must not take any step in the proceeding without the permission of the Court until the incapacitated person has a litigation guardian.

“87 Minor must be represented by litigation guardian

• “(1) A minor must have a litigation guardian as his or her representative in any proceeding, unless the Court orders otherwise.

  “(2) Subclause (1) does not apply to a minor who—

  • “(a) is required by an enactment to conduct a proceeding without a litigation guardian; or

  • “(b) is permitted by an enactment to conduct a proceeding without a litigation guardian and elects to do so; or

  • “(c) is authorised under rule 88 to conduct a proceeding without a litigation guardian.

“88 Minor may apply to conduct proceeding without litigation guardian

• “(1) This rule applies to a minor who—

  • “(a) is not required or permitted by an enactment to conduct a proceeding without a litigation guardian; and

  • “(b) is not prohibited by an enactment from conducting a proceeding without a litigation guardian.

  “(2) A minor who wishes to conduct a proceeding in his or her own name may apply to the Court for authorisation to conduct the proceeding without a litigation guardian.

  “(3) On an application under subclause (2), the Court may make an order allowing the minor to conduct the proceeding without a litigation guardian if it is satisfied that—

  • “(a) the minor is capable of making the decisions required or likely to be required in the proceeding; and

  • “(b) no reason exists that would make it in the interests of the minor to be represented by a litigation guardian.

“88A Application of rules 88B to 96 to minors

• Rules 88B to 96 apply to a minor to whom rule 87(1) applies, and every reference in those rules to an incapacitated person must be read as if it was also a reference to a minor.

“88B Court may set aside any step in proceeding

• The Court may set aside a step in a proceeding if an incapacitated person did not have a litigation guardian when that step was taken and the Court considers that the incapacitated person was unfairly prejudiced.

“88C Appointment of litigation guardian

• “(1) This rule applies if an incapacitated person does not have a litigation guardian within the meaning of rule 85(a)(i).

  “(2) The Court may appoint a litigation guardian if it is satisfied that—

  • “(a) the person for whom the litigation guardian is to be appointed is an incapacitated person; and

  • “(b) the litigation guardian—

    • “(i) is able fairly and competently to conduct proceedings on behalf of the incapacitated person; and

    • “(ii) does not have interests adverse to those of the incapacitated person; and

    • “(iii) consents to being a litigation guardian.

  “(3) In deciding whether to appoint a litigation guardian, the Court may have regard to any matters it considers appropriate, including the views of the person for whom the litigation guardian is to be appointed.

  “(4) The Court may appoint a litigation guardian under this rule at any time—

  • “(a) on its own initiative; or

  • “(b) on the application of any person, including a person seeking to be appointed as litigation guardian.

“88D Application to be served on person for whom litigation guardian to be appointed

• “(1) Unless the Court orders otherwise, an application under rule 88C—

  • “(a) may be made ex parte; and

  • “(b) must be served on the person for whom the litigation guardian is to be appointed, unless the Court orders otherwise.

  “(2) When the person for whom the litigation guardian is to be appointed is a minor,—

  • “(a) subclause (1) does not apply; and

  • “(b) unless the Court directs otherwise, the application must be served instead on—

    • “(i) the minor's parent or guardian; or

    • “(ii) if there is no parent or guardian, a person of full age who has the care of the minor or with whom the minor lives.

“88E Notification of appointment

• “(1) A litigation guardian within the meaning of rule 85(a)(i) must file a copy of the order or other document that empowers him or her to conduct the proceeding, at the same time as the first document relating to the proceeding is filed.

  “(2) A person appointed under rule 88C as a litigation guardian of a party to a proceeding must give notice of the appointment to each other party in the proceeding, as soon as practicable after the appointment.”

“91 Service of documents

• “(1) A party who knows that an incapacitated person has a litigation guardian must serve any document in a proceeding—

  • “(a) on the litigation guardian, unless the litigation guardian has filed an address for service:

  • “(b) if the litigation guardian has filed an address for service, at that address for service.

  “(2) Subclause (3) applies to a party who believes on reasonable grounds that a person is an incapacitated person but does not know if that person has a litigation guardian.

  “(3) The party—

  • “(a) may apply to the Court for the appointment of a litigation guardian under rule 88C; and

  • “(b) may apply for directions as to service; and

  • “(c) must serve any documents in the proceeding in accordance with any directions as to service.”

“96 Retirement, removal, or death of litigation guardian

• “(1) A litigation guardian may not retire without the leave of the Court.

  “(2) Unless the Court orders otherwise, the appointment of a litigation guardian under rule 88C ends if another person is subsequently authorised by or under an enactment to conduct the proceeding in the name of, or on behalf of, the incapacitated person.

  “(3) A litigation guardian may be removed by the Court when it is in the interests of the person he or she represents.

  “(4) In the case of retirement, removal, or death of a litigation guardian, no further step may be taken in the proceeding without the leave of the Court until the incapacitated person is represented by another litigation guardian.

“97 Procedure where person ceases to be incapacitated person

• “(1) The Court must make an order terminating the appointment of a litigation guardian if it is satisfied that the person the litigation guardian represents is no longer an incapacitated person.

  “(2) The Court may make an order at any time—

  • “(a) on its own initiative; or

  • “(b) on the application of—

    • “(i) the incapacitated person; or

    • “(ii) the incapacitated person's litigation guardian; or

    • “(iii) a party.

  “(3) From the date of the order,—

  • “(a) all subsequent steps in the proceeding must be carried on by the person formerly represented by the litigation guardian; and

  • “(b) the person formerly represented by the litigation guardian is liable for all the costs of the proceeding (including solicitor and client costs) in the same manner as if he or she had commenced the proceeding or had become a party to the proceeding when he or she was not an incapacitated person.

“98 Procedure where minor attains full age

• “(1) A minor who attains full age must file and serve an affidavit confirming that he or she is no longer a minor.

  “(2) Unless the Court orders otherwise, from the date a minor attains full age—

  • “(a) the appointment of his or her litigation guardian ends; and

  • “(b) all subsequent steps in the proceeding must be carried on by the former minor; and

  • “(c) that person is liable for all the costs of the proceeding (including solicitor and client costs) in the same manner as if he or she had commenced the proceeding or had become a party to the proceeding when he or she was not a minor.”

• “(b) by the person's litigation guardian if the person required to make the statement is—

  • “(i) a minor, except a minor to whom rule 87(2) applies; or

  • “(ii) an incapacitated person:”.

• “(b) by the person's litigation guardian if the person required to make the list is—

  • “(i) a minor, except a minor to whom rule 87(2) applies; or

  • “(ii) an incapacitated person:”.

• “(2) Where a minor, except a minor to whom rule 87(2) applies, or an incapacitated person is or may be entitled to an interim payment, or to part of an interim payment, under these rules,—

  • “(a) acceptance of the interim payment is subject to the approval of the Court; and

  • “(b) payment out of Court must not be made without the leave of the Court.”

“461S Appointment of representative of certain minors

• “(1) This rule applies to a minor who—

  • “(a) is under 16 years of age; or

  • “(b) is 16 years of age and elects under section 11(2A) of the Act to make an application for a restraining order by a representative.

  “(2) For the purposes of section 11 of the Act, a representative of a minor to whom this rule applies must be appointed as a litigation guardian of the minor under rule 88C.

  “(3) Rules 88C, 88D, and 92 to 95 apply to the minor and every reference in those rules to an incapacitated person must be read as if it was also a reference to a minor.

“461SA Applications against minors

• A minor who is aged 17 or over, or who has been married or in a civil union or de facto relationship, who wishes to defend an application against him or her for a restraining order must defend the application on his or her own behalf, without a litigation guardian.”