CPD Points: 1
Starts: 5:00pm Tuesday, 28 Jul 2026
Ends: 6:00pm Tuesday, 28 Jul 2026
Location: Online
View MapGroup Ticket 10-15: $650.00
Group Ticket 3-4: $250.00
Group Ticket 5-9: $400.00
Member Ticket: $0.00 Members Free
Non-Member Ticket: $85.00
Without notice applications are among the most urgent and high‑stakes applications made in the Family Court.
They require careful judgment, disciplined advocacy, and a clear understanding of what the Court needs to see - often under significant time pressure.
This webinar brings together a family law barrister and a Family Court Judge to examine without notice applications from both sides of the bench. The judicial perspective will provide rare and valuable insight into how these applications are assessed, what assists the Court in urgent decision‑making, and where applications most commonly fall short.
Designed to be practical and grounded in day‑to‑day practice, this session will assist practitioners to approach without notice applications with greater confidence, clarity, and strategic focus.
Hearing directly from a judge who determines without notice applications offers invaluable insight into judicial expectations and decision‑making.
This session will help practitioners refine their advocacy, strengthen their evidence, and better understand how to assist the Court in urgent family law matters.
Key Topics Covered
- Filing WON – the test
- The duty of disclosure
- Certification requirements of lawyers as officers of the Court
- Practical tips for improving the quality and effectiveness of your drafting
- What the bench is looking for / common pitfalls in without notice applications – from a judicial perspective
- The alternatives to proceeding WON
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Apply the legal test and exercise sound judgment when determining whether to file a without notice application
- Prepare clear, effective, and compliant without notice applications, including meeting disclosure and certification obligations
- Identify judicial expectations, avoid common pitfalls, and present urgent applications in a way that best assists the Court
Written questions can be submitted during the webinar and as many as time allows will be answered.
Who should attend
The webinar is aimed at Junior and Intermediate practitioners, as well as those unfamiliar with this area of practice but wishing to learn particularly those who regularly prepare or respond to without notice applications in the Family Court, its fundamentals and how to guide a client through a family court without notice application. It is also suitable for those looking for a refresher.
Event Speakers
His Honour Judge Tim Black
Judge Tim Black is a graduate of Otago University and was admitted in 1991. From then until 2004 he practised in a Balclutha Firm. He was involved in general practice with a litigation focus, including criminal jury work and family work.
In 2004 Tim moved to Dunedin and joined the firm Anderson Lloyd where he remained a Partner until his appointment in 2015. Tim was a member of the FLS Executive and significantly involved in the NZLS response to the National Government's family law reforms, including the Parliamentary symposium and the submissions in relation to the legislation.
Tim is a member of the Family Court Bench Book and Family Violence Bench Book editing committees, Te Au Reka Programme Steering Group and co-chairs the Information and Digital Governance Committee, a joint MOJ/judicial reference group charged with giving effect to the shared responsibilities of the Executive and the Judiciary in this area. Tim is also a member of a number of Te Au Reka reference groups.
Tim has been a presenter at a number of NZLS, CAANZ and Te Kura Kaiwhakawā seminars, and a guest lecturer at Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University Wellington Faculty of Law.
Judge Tim Black is a graduate of Otago University and was admitted in 1991. From then until 2004 he practised in a Balclutha Firm. He was involved in general practice with a litigation focus, including criminal jury work and family work.
In 2004 Tim moved to Dunedin and joined the firm Anderson Lloyd where he remained a Partner until his appointment in 2015. Tim was a member of the FLS Executive and significantly involved in the NZLS response to the National Government's family law reforms, including the Parliamentary symposium and the submissions in relation to the legislation.
Tim is a member of the Family Court Bench Book and Family Violence Bench Book editing committees, Te Au Reka Programme Steering Group and co-chairs the Information and Digital Governance Committee, a joint MOJ/judicial reference group charged with giving effect to the shared responsibilities of the Executive and the Judiciary in this area. Tim is also a member of a number of Te Au Reka reference groups.
Tim has been a presenter at a number of NZLS, CAANZ and Te Kura Kaiwhakawā seminars, and a guest lecturer at Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University Wellington Faculty of Law.
Kesia Denhardt
Kesia is an experienced family law barrister who is known for providing clear, pragmatic advice under pressure and for advancing focused, disciplined advocacy that assists the Court in urgent decision making including without notice applications. She regularly presents and writes on family law issues, delivering seminars for NZLS, TLA and Legalwise, and publishing in LawTalk, LawPoints, At the Bar and The Family Advocate.
She is a member of the Family Law Section Advisory Panel on law reform, has served on professional committees including a NZLS Lawyers Standards Committee, and is a White Ribbon New Zealand ambassador. Kesia has a longstanding commitment to supporting junior practitioners, including through formal mentoring roles and involvement in university advocacy competitions.
Kesia is an experienced family law barrister who is known for providing clear, pragmatic advice under pressure and for advancing focused, disciplined advocacy that assists the Court in urgent decision making including without notice applications. She regularly presents and writes on family law issues, delivering seminars for NZLS, TLA and Legalwise, and publishing in LawTalk, LawPoints, At the Bar and The Family Advocate.
She is a member of the Family Law Section Advisory Panel on law reform, has served on professional committees including a NZLS Lawyers Standards Committee, and is a White Ribbon New Zealand ambassador. Kesia has a longstanding commitment to supporting junior practitioners, including through formal mentoring roles and involvement in university advocacy competitions.
Simon Jefferson KC
Simon brings more than 33 years’ specialist experience in family law, with a career spanning senior partnership, independent bar practice, and extensive appellate advocacy. A King’s Counsel since 2013, Simon has appeared in the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, with many of his cases reported. He is widely recognised for his expertise in evidence and procedure in the Family Court, has chaired national family law conferences, trained lawyers appointed to represent children, and is editor of the Practice and Procedure Manual. Simon is a highly experienced educator, having delivered numerous seminars and papers for the New Zealand Law Society and international conferences on topics including evidence, ethics, and family justice.
Before his recent retirement, Simon practised across all areas of family law, including care of children, relationship property, estate litigation, Hague Convention matters, and child support.
Simon brings more than 33 years’ specialist experience in family law, with a career spanning senior partnership, independent bar practice, and extensive appellate advocacy. A King’s Counsel since 2013, Simon has appeared in the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, with many of his cases reported. He is widely recognised for his expertise in evidence and procedure in the Family Court, has chaired national family law conferences, trained lawyers appointed to represent children, and is editor of the Practice and Procedure Manual. Simon is a highly experienced educator, having delivered numerous seminars and papers for the New Zealand Law Society and international conferences on topics including evidence, ethics, and family justice.
Before his recent retirement, Simon practised across all areas of family law, including care of children, relationship property, estate litigation, Hague Convention matters, and child support.