Hi there. A class action is a legal proceeding involving a large number of people (called plaintiffs) against one or more defendants. In claims lodged with the Federal Court of Australia, a plaintiff can opt out of a class action proceeding before a date specified by the court.

To opt out, a plaintiff must complete and lodge Form 21, which is available on the Federal Court of Australia website (www.fedcourt.gov.au). You will need to populate the form with the following information: the proceeding number (this should be included in previous correspondence you received about the matter), the district registry and division of the court, and your personal details. You do not need to attach supporting documentation.

You can lodge the form with the court by post, fax, uploading an electronic form on the court’s website, or by visiting any Federal Court registry in person (there are registries in each capital city in Australia). There is no filing fee.

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You should contact a Federal Court registry for more information on completing and lodging Form 21. If you want personalised advice, you can speak to a lawyer. By pressing the “Consult a Lawyer” button, LawAdvisor can help you search for experienced lawyers and obtain fee proposals for their services. Costs for legal advice and representation will vary between providers based on experience and the scope of services.