Family Justice

The Best Option for You

Once you are inside the courtroom:

Take a seat at the back of the courtroom. The court may hear several cases in one session, so you may have to wait for your case to be called.

(The court clerk may ask people to come forward and check in with him or her before the judge enters the courtroom. Come forward when asked, give the clerk your name and number off the court list, if one has been posted, then take a seat at the back of the courtroom to wait for your case to be called.)
Stand up when the judge enters the courtroom, and remain standing until the judge sits down.
When the court clerk calls your case, walk to the counsel table at the front of the courtroom, just below where the judge sits. Your lawyer, if you have one, and your spouse and his or her lawyer will also step forward at the same time. (You may bring someone to court with you for support, but that person must stay at the back of the courtroom once your case is called, and must not disrupt the proceedings in any way.)
If you do not have a lawyer, you will be asked to state your name and whether you are the Applicant or the Respondent. (If you have a lawyer, you will not be asked to do this.)

After that:

Stand whenever you are asked to speak.
Speak clearly and loudly enough for the judge to hear you, and always address the judge as "Your Honour."
Be brief and to the point.
Treat the judge and all others in the courtroom with respect.
Listen carefully to everything that the judge says, and write down any instructions given by the judge (for example, the judge may instruct you to see a Family Justice Counsellor).
Don't interrupt the judge or anyone else while they are speaking.