Summary of the preparing for court guide.

Summary

Summary

If you have now read the various sections on preparing for court, you should have a basic understanding of what you need to do to prepare for your case and what may happen on the day.

Below is a list of some of the key points to remember with links back to theindividual sections in case you need to revisit them.

Key Points

Key Points

Things to consider before court:

  • You may wish to consider whether you need legal advice in advance of the hearing.
  • You may also need to consider any special needs or requirements you may have on the day as facilities can vary from location to location.
  • If you don't speak English or Irish you may need to request an interpreter.
  • To revisit this section click here.

Planning your trip:

  • It is advised that you plan your journey in advance.
  • The details of your court hearing are available from the official court documentation that you should have received including date, venue, time etc.
  • You can find the location of your courthouse and what facilities are available there on the 'Find Us' section of our website.
  • You should make any necessary arrangements (e.g. childcare) in advance and allow plenty of time for your journey.
  • To revisit this section click here.

What to do on the day:

  • Consider what documentation you should bring with you on the day.
  • You should go straight to the waiting area when you arrive and wait for your case to be called.
  • You will be called by your case reference number and the initials of the parties to the case.
  • Cases do not always run on schedule, so be prepared for a wait.
  • There is no expectation that you will know all of the courtroom formalities, and direction will also be provided during the case.
  • To revisit this section click here.

What to expect in the Courtroom:

  • Family Law Courts can be an unfamiliar setting, so it is good to know what to expect in advance.
  • To revisit this section click here.

Supports:

  • There are a number of support services available to you for a number of things, such as legal support, family support, domestic violence support and others.
  • To revisit this section click here.