About the Family Court
The Family Court can help you and your whānau work out disagreements.
The Family Court is different to other courts. The role of the Family Court is set out in several laws and the Family Court Rules. These laws and rules determine how the court works, who can be involved, what can be done, and how a judicial officer makes decisions.
Read this section to understand more about how the Family Court works. This includes what disagreements it can help you with, the different people and roles within the Family Court, the types of documents you may come across during the Family Court process, and the laws and rules that set out the role of the Family Court.
This section will also help you to decide if you need to apply for an urgent court order and understand how you can give your documents to the court and other people involved in your case.
What to expect at the Family Court
The Family Court works quite differently to other types of courts. There are certain rules about who can be in the court room with you and what types of case conferences and hearings you may attend.
Read more in this section to find out how to prepare yourself for the Family Court and what to expect on the day.
If you decide to represent yourself at the Family Court, you can find information in this section to help you prepare.
Family Court fees and funding
There are fees for some Family Court applications and hearings and some mediation services.
In most cases, the Family Court won’t accept your application if you have not paid your application fee. If you need to, and you qualify, you can apply for a fee waiver.
You may qualify for funding for Family Dispute Resolution mediation service. This depends on your income and how many dependent people are in your care.
Read more in this section to find out what fees you may need to pay in the Family Court, how you can pay them, and if you qualify for a fee waiver or funding for mediation services.
After Family Court
After your case is finished at the Family Court, there may be things you still need to organise.
You may need help to understand what it means when a case is withdrawn, dismissed, or reserved for decision. You may have been ordered to pay some costs. You may even decide you need to go back to Family Court.
Read more in this section to understand what happens after your case has finished in the Family Court.
General help and services for you and your whānau
Going to Family Court can be stressful and overwhelming. There are services and resources to help you understand the best options for you and your whānau.