When you arrive at Family Court

Court security

When you arrive at the court, you’ll go through a security check. This means you’ll go through a metal detector and your personal items will be checked by security staff. Anything that’s a risk to safety or security will be taken. Your item may be returned when you leave – this depends on whether it’s a safety risk.

If you need security support or feel unsafe while at the court, let court staff know as soon as possible.

Find your court room

When you arrive, wait outside the allocated court room. If you don’t know where to go, ask security. If you have a lawyer representing you, they’ll usually meet you at the court. You can ask them questions before your case starts if you are unsure about what is happening.

Waiting areas

You’ll usually be in the same waiting area outside the court room as the other people involved in the case and any support people. If you’re worried about your safety waiting in the same area as the people in your case, you or your lawyer should let court staff know before you arrive.

Court staff will try to make other arrangements for you. They may:

• find another space for you to wait in
• arrange court security to be in the waiting area with you.

Court staff will let you know when it’s your turn

Court is split into different time blocks. In each timeslot lots of different cases are heard. The time on your ‘Notice of Hearing’ is the time you need to arrive by, not the time your case conference or hearing will necessarily start. It’s important you are at the court by that time, so you don’t miss your case being called. You may have to wait a while until your case conference or hearing starts.

When it is your turn, court staff will let you know to enter the court room. They usually do this by calling your name over a loudspeaker, so you know your case conference or hearing is about to start.