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Where am I now? Lawlink > Local Courts > About Courts > Our Services
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Our Services
Local courts registries are located throughout NSW and provide administrative and clerical support to assist with the operation of the sittings of the Local Court.
Staff at each registry are responsible for processing documents filed at the court, securing and maintaing court records, issuing court process and providing assistance to a variety of court users.
This page provides information about:
- Client Service Charter
- Getting Help with Legal and Court Matters
- Chamber Service
- Government Access Centres
- Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship
- Marriage Celebrants
Client Service Charter
NSW Courts and Tribunals are committed to providing our clients with a high standard of service. The Charter sets out the services NSW Courts and Tribunals provide and the standards you can expect - click here to access the full Client Service Charter.
Getting Help with Legal and Court Matters (Information Sheet PDF)
The NSW Attorney General's Department acknowledges that legal and court matters can sometimes be confusing and people may be unsure how to get help.
If you have matters before the court, you are encouraged to seek independent legal advice. LawAccess NSW can give you free legal information and help you find the legal information or assistance you require.
LawAccess NSW is the central contact point for people who have a legal problem in NSW. Contact LawAccess NSW by telephone on 1300 888 529 (TTY 1300 889 529) Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays), or visit the LawAccess NSW website at www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
Staff at local court registries can give you information about your court matter and court forms. People telephoning a local court may be first transferred to LawAccess NSW for information and referral options. In some instances, LawAccess NSW may refer you back to the court registry for specific advice in relation to local courts process and procedure.
Court registry staff can help you:
- apply for a apprehended violence order
- apply for urgent apprehended violence orders including when there has been an injury to the person and/or damage to their property
- when local court proceedings have commenced (eg. civil claims)
- when an agency such as, a community legal centre, has provided you with advice and referred you to the local court for information or assistance with forms
- when telephone assistance may be difficult
- witness court documents
Chamber Service (Information Sheet PDF)
Most full-time local court registries have a registrar or deputy registrar who can provide information, assistance and guidance to members of the public on local court procedures and applications. This is called the chamber service. The chamber service does not provide legal advice and cannot represent people in court.
The chamber service may be available by appointment at your local court, depending on the nature of the inquiry and the availability of the senior registry officer.
Local court staff and the chamber service can help you prepare some court documents ofr matters to be heard by a local court including:
- applications to commence proceedings (including Statements of Claim for civil proceedings) where the cause of action is straight forward
- apprehended and domestic violence applications
- defence, notices of motion to stay proceedings and set aside judgment in civil actions (but not advice on what to say in support of a defence or motion)
- family law applications
- Family Law recovery orders in limited circumstances, primarily in country locations where no other service is available.
Local Court staff cannot help people seeking assistance or advice on:
- drafting complex applications of documents
- affidavits, deeds of settlement or their equivalent in any jurisdiction. You may need to seek legal advice for these matters
- forms to be lodged in the Family Law Courts (telephone 1300 352 00 or visit the website at www.familylawcourts.gov.au)
- forms to be lodged in the Federal Court of Australia (telephone (02) 9230 8567 or visit the website at www.fedcourt.gov.au)
- forms to be lodged with the Child Support Agency (ph: 131 272 or visit the website at www.csa.gov.au)
Contact the local court registry (by telephone or in person) to find out if staff can assist you directly, whether your inquiry could be best answered by LawAccess NSW, or if you need to speak to the chamber service. Click here to go to the Local Courts Locations page to find a Local Court near you.
Government Access Centres
The Government Access Program is a state government initiative to provide access to services and information to people living in country towns. The program delivers services and information on behalf of a range of state government agencies using Government Access Centres (GAC).
GACs are a 'one-stop shop' for Government services for rural and remote communities. Your nearest GAC can:
- undertake agreed transactions on behalf of various state government agencies
- provide information on a range of government activities and services
- organise referrals and appointment for visiting agency staff
- help you get expert advice
Your nearest GAC may be at the courthouse or another government agency's premises such as the Motor Registry. More information about the location of GACs and the services provided is available at www.directory.nsw.gov.au/gap.asp
Powers of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship
Powers of Attorney and/or the Appointment of an Enduring Guardian are legal documents used for life planning. Local court registrars can witness these documents through an appointment, but cannot complete the forms or give you legal advice. If you need a assistance with a complex power of attorney or enduring guardianship you will need to contact a solicitor.
More information is available on the Local Court Information Sheets:
- Enduring Power of Attorney
- Enduring Guardianship in NSW
Marriage Celebrants
Local court registrars at most country courts (and some larger metropolitan courts) are authorised to perform marriages on behalf of the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Contact the local court registry to ask about marriage ceremonies. Click here to go to the Local Courts Locations page to find a Local Court near you.
More information is available on the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages website at www.bdm.nsw.gov.au
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