The Childers Street Courts Complex is located on the corner of Childers Street and University Avenue, adjacent to the Australian National University campus.

The Complex is easily accessible by bus with the Civic Bus interchange only 10 minutes walk from the building, with stops closer by for some routes.

General information

No public telephones available.

Photocopier available on ground floor - 20c per copy.

Public access computers to court websites only.

Justice of the Peace - all documents should be signed, witnessed and photocopied before attending the registry.

Bathrooms located on ground floor.

Parents' room with changing facilities for babies located ground floor.

Wheelchair access available via the main entrance.

Lift access available to all public floors.

Hearing loops available by contacting the registry in advance – email and postal address information above.

General enquiries

  • Information about filing and family law procedures
  • Procedural information about your case
  • Family law forms and publications
  • Commonwealth Courts Portal Support

email

Proof of divorce

I need to prove we are divorced – how do I do that?

 

Filing of documents by email

For documents that are unable to be eFiled

email

Producing subpoenaed documents by email

Where possible, you should provide documents electronically (via email). For more information see Subpoena: Information for named person or other person (served with a subpoena or a copy of a subpoena.

email

Registry enquiries

  • Lost property
  • Request for a lawyer code
  • Request availability of a file for file viewing or subpoena viewing (you should check that leave has been granted through the Commonwealth Courts Portal prior to sending a request to inspect a subpoena)
  • Case file information – parties/lawyers
  • Lawyers providing conciliation conference documents
  • Follow up enquiries for consent orders and urgent applications
  • Divorce hearing – requests to attend by telephone and adjournment.

email

Court Children’s Service

Please contact the Court Children’s Service directly via email to:

  • Confirm appointments
  • Request information in relation to appointments
  • Make enquiries about childcare
  • Request to cross-examine a Court Child Expert or Regulation 7 family consultant.

Childcare

No childcare is available for children attending appointments with a Court Child Expert

email

Judges chambers

To contact a judges  chambers please refer to Communicating with Judges' Chambers.

 

Divorce hearings

  • Requests to attend by telephone
  • Requests for adjournments

email

Enquiries relating to: bankruptcymigrationhuman rightsindustrial law and other matters.

Street Address

Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts Building
Cnr University Ave & Childers St Canberra

Email

Email for General Federal Law matters.

Phone

1300 720 980

Phone hours

8:30am - 5pm

Fax

(02) 5134 4804 (GENERAL FEDERAL LAW ONLY or NON FAMILY LAW)

Opening hours

9.00am - 4.30pm - Monday to Friday

Urgent after hours

For urgent after hours applications contact the Duty Registrar on 1300 352 000.

https://www.legalaidact.org.au/what-we-do/lawyers-at-court

Provides free legal advice to parties in family law matters.

Hours: Monday - Friday 10 am - 3 pm 

Location: Ground floor, next to court 4.

The Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS) is a free service providing assistance to families with family law matters who have been affected by family violence.

You are eligible for support from this service if:

  • You or a family member have experienced, used or are alleged to have used family violence in your relationship; and
  • You need legal assistance with family law, child protection or family violence intervention orders.

FASS social support service

The FASS social worker can help with:

  • Safety planning and risk management when attending court, at home and in the community
  • Providing court support before, during and after court
  • Providing warm referrals to relevant service providers for counselling, financial, accommodation and other services that can assist.

Hours: Monday to Friday 10 am to 3 pm

Location: Ground floor, next to court 4.