Attending Court

The Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court are located on Goulburn Street, in central Sydney. There is easy access via public transport, with the closest train station being Museum, and many buses that stop along George St or Elizabeth St. Private parking is conveniently located adjacent to the Court premises.

It’s always good to plan your transport the day before, so you feel calm, and you should aim to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your requested time. There are many cafes nearby. If you are concerned about your safety you should let us know, and we can arrange to meet you nearby at one of the local cafes.

It is important to dress neatly for the courts. Comfortable neat business style or smart casual attire, with possibly a jacket, is suitable. You will be required to walk through security screening, much like at the airport, and it is therefore not sensible to bring pointy objects, weapons, scissors, aerosols, flammable liquids, etc. Your shoes should be covered (no thongs or sandals).

The court sits until 4pm each day, and it may go later. If you do have young children, we recommend that you plan in advance for a relative or carer to attend to them.

You can feel confident that a quality Family Law specialist is representing you. It is our role to represent you, and remove any concerns you may have about what will be asked of you. If you have any concerns about your safety, please let us know in advance so we can take appropriate steps to keep you comfortable.

Sometimes you will be asked to bring along specific documents such as updated bank statements or a letter from a treating doctor. However, with preparation these “last minute” requests can usually be avoided.

Often people bring a support person with them, for example a friend or family member. It is never a good idea to bring along a new partner, as this is likely to escalate the conflict.

This depends on the reason your matter is listed in the Family Court. An Application for Divorce is listed along with about ten (10) other matters at fixed times during the day. If you are required to attend Court for your Divorce Hearing, you will probably be at Court for about an hour, but it will only take the Court a few minutes to listen to your case.

There is often a lot of waiting time involved when your Family Law matter goes to Court, and you may want to bring a book or something to do (such as work) for these periods.

For more information about the Family Court, you can visit their website.