Preparing for & Attending Family Law Court

If you are a court user and are due to attend family law court, then these simple, easily summarised videos may be of use to you. 

The Courts Service of Ireland have recently produced these informative videos for those attending family law court, which answers some of the most frequently asked questions relating to family law court.

How to Prepare for a Family Law Hearing

This video applies to applicants, respondents and witnesses and other court participants. Before attending, participants should visit the Courts website to find out the location of the court and use Google Maps to help navigate there.

Allowing for delays is important, as participants are expected to arrive on time for a family law hearing. For accessibility requirements, the court office can be contacted for assistance.

Before the hearing dates, participants should gather all documentation required for the case, including the court application (summons, application, civil bill, notice of motion), identification and supporting documentation.

 

Attending Family Law Court

When arriving at court, it is not required for you to tell anyone you have arrived, but if you have a solicitor you should arrange a time and place to meet your solicitor in advance, before your case is heard.

As a number of cases are dealt with each day, courts may do a ‘callover’, whereby all parties are called into the courtroom to determine if their case is ready to go ahead or not. After this, you will wait in the waiting room.

Cases can vary in length, and sometimes are not heard in the order they are listed. Cases will be called in person or over a public address system by the case number and the initials of the parties.

Family law hearings are held in private (which is known as ‘in camera’). It is important to note that taking pictures, or recording videos, is strictly not allowed anywhere within the court building.

You are allowed to bring a friend or family member with you to the court – however, they will not be permitted inside the courtroom with you, though they may be allowed in instances of domestic violence cases.

 


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