While the Court and registry continue to operate at this time, essential social distancing measures mean we must temporarily modify how we deliver our services to you.
This page summarises the resources available and processes in place to ensure the court can continue to operate by minimising the need for physical interaction and trips to our courtroom and registry locations in Sydney's CBD.
Virtual courtrooms
Unless you are involved in an ongoing jury trial, or have leave from a judge to physically appear in exceptional circumstances, physical appearance is not required in any proceedings. A range of alternative options are available so you can continue to progress your case without physically attending the courtroom. The options include:
Virtual courtroom appearance by phone or video
Appearing in the Online Court
Teleconference mediations
Appearing by audiovisual link.
The specific option that applies to your case will vary according to whether you need to appear in a criminal or civil case, the stage at which your case is at, and the list into which your case is being managed.
If you need to appear in a virtual courtroom, the general process is outlined in
this document. The listing notice the registry will email you the day before your listing event will include additional essential details to facilitate your appearance.
Online Court appearances will continue to be required in accordance with the relevant Practice Note provisions.
Mediations will continue to proceed by telephone or, where possible, MS Teams. This document outlines the detailed procedures for conducting mediations using MS Teams.
The conduct of any corporate examinations listed before the Registrar will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. You can email the corporations registrar directly with any enquiries about upcoming examinations.
A summary of the list-specific procedures appears below. These procedures may be subject to change and will be updated regularly.
Urgent applications before the Duty Judge
If you need to bring an urgent application before the Common Law Duty Judge, please follow the steps outlined in this document:
PDF version | Word version
If you need to bring an urgent application before the Equity Duty Judge, the following process applies:
PDF version | Word version
In criminal cases:
Arraignments list: will be conducted in the manner set out in this document.
Bails list: applicants will continue to attend by audio visual link and representatives can appear virtually by phone or videoconferencing.
In civil cases:
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Adoptions List: follow the procedures set out in
this document.
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Commercial List, Technology & Construction List and Commercial Arbitration List: follow the procedures set out in
this document.
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Corporations List: if your matter is before a Registrar, Online Court is available in accordance with Practice Note
SC Eq 4. If your matter is before a Judge, the temporary procedures are set out in this document.
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Defamation List: follow the procedures set out in
this document.
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Equity General List: if your matter is before a Registrar, Online Court is available in accordance with
SC Eq 14. Virtual courtroom appearances before judges managing cases can be accommodated and parties will be contacted with details.
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Expedition List: follow the procedures set out in
this document.
- Possession List: if your matter is before a Registrar, Online Court is available in accordance with Practice Note SC CL 6. Virtual courtroom appearances before judges managing cases can be accommodated and parties will be contacted with details.
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Real Property: follow the procedures set out in this document.
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Succession Judge matters entered into the Family Provision and Probate Lists: telephone appearances will be available. You will be contacted with details of how to participate by phone.
Modified registry procedures
While face to face transactions in the registry are not possible, we have had to modify the way accept documents for filing, enable uplift or retrieval of documents, and deliver other services such as duty registrar guidance and witnessing oaths of office.
Filing modifications
The current modified document filing options are detailed below. These procedures may change over time and this page will be updated regularly.
Filing documents in civil appeals* and cases, including some probate documents
* see special instructions below in relation to Appeal books and Lists of Authorities.
| Check the
list of available forms to file through the Online Registry. If your document is not available to file online, or is too large, you can email scanned copies to
sc.emailfiling@justice.nsw.gov.au. The subject line of your email should include the case number and title into which you need to file documents. Unless cases are being heard together, only include one case number per email (i.e. do not send documents for multiple cases in a single email). This will greatly assist staff manage the filings. If your document is very large, you may need to split it across multiple emails. If you need to do this, please clearly indicate this in the subject line, for example, "Case number 2020/123456, Sample Plaintiff v Sample Defendant, PART 1 OF 2". If this is not feasible, you can post or DX your documents to the Court. If you are filing an application for probate, the will must be scanned without dismantling the original and removing any staples from the document e.g. on a flatbed scanner. You will also need to post the original will to the Court along with all supporting documents. All other Probate documents (including answers to
requisitions) must be either filed online via the Online Registry or sent to
the Court via DX or post.
You will receive confirmation of your filing by reply email, including an invoice for any filing fees payable. Any document sent to sc.emailfiling@justice.nsw.gov.au
that could have been filed via the Online Registry will be rejected unless
there is a good reason for not filing the document via the Online Registry. Any
such reasons should be explained in the covering email. |
Filing documents in criminal cases, including bails, and criminal appeals | Email documents to
sc.emailfiling@justice.nsw.gov.au. The subject line of your email should include the case number and title into which you need to file documents. Unless cases are being heard together, only include one case number per email (i.e. do not send documents for multiple cases in a single email). This will greatly assist staff manage the filings.
If your document is very large, you may need to split it across multiple emails. If you need to do this, please clearly indicate this in the subject line, for example, "Case number 2020/123456, R v Sample Accused, PART 1 OF 2". If this is not feasible, you can post or DX your documents to the Court. |
Producing documents under subpoena | If you need to produce documents after receiving a subpoena in a civil case, upload your documents through the
subpoena response portal.If you need to produce documents into a criminal case, email them to sc.subpoena@justice.nsw.gov.au.
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Submitting Appeal Books (including amended books) and Lists of Authorities to the Court of Appeal | Make an appointment by emailing
courtofappeal@justice.nsw.gov.au to attend the Court to drop off appeal books, or collect them for amendment. As confirmed by the President on 30 March 2020, electronic versions of the books should accompany the physical copies. The electronic versions can be stored on USB, CD or DVD storage devices. Or, by prior arrangement with the Court of Appeal Registrar, you can email links to documents. The collection or drop off point for physical books and electronic storage devices is on the ground level foyer Law Courts Building. A registry officer will meet you in the foyer to receive the books at the scheduled time, or hand them to you for amendment. Please bring a pen to sign a receipt and adhere to social distancing rules. The registry officer will wait no more than 5 minutes after the appointment time. If you are running late you must notify the registry, otherwise you will need to make another appointment. If you are feeling unwell on the scheduled day, you are required to reschedule your appointment If you need to provide Lists of Authorities in an upcoming appeal, hard copies are no longer accepted. You can email a PDF version of your list to COA.researcher@courts.nsw.gov.au by 10am 3 days before the hearing. |
Applying for fee postponement or waiver with documents for filing | Email a scanned copy of your completed fee postponement/waiver application form to sc.emailfiling@justice.nsw.gov.au, along with scanned copies of the documents you wish to file. |
Viewing, retrieving and uplifting material
Viewing material produced under subpoena | Use the Online Registry to view material produced in civil cases. If you need to view material produced in a criminal case or the item is bulky, complete the subpoena access application form in the usual way. Registry staff will either email the material to you, or contact you with details of an appointed time at which you can access the material. |
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Uplifting lower court files in civil appeals | Make an appointment by emailing courtofappeal@justice.nsw.gov.au to attend the Court to collect the lower court file. The collection point will be on the ground level foyer Law Courts Building. Please bring your own pen to sign a receipt adhere to social distancing rules. A registry officer will meet you in the foyer to supply the file at the scheduled time. The registry officer will wait no more than 5 minutes after the appointment time. If you are running late you must notify the registry, otherwise you will need to make another appointment. If you are feeling unwell on the scheduled day, you are required to reschedule your appointment. |
Other registry services
Duty registrar services | Monday to Friday by telephone only. Email sc.enquiries@justice.nsw.gov.au for an appointment time. Appointments by telephone will remain limited to 20 minutes in duration. |
| Oaths of Office | Make an appointment by emailing sc.enquiries@justice.nsw.gov.au. to attend the Court to take the Oath. The Oath will be taken on ground level foyer of the Law Courts Building. Please bring your own pen and you will need to adhere to social distancing rules. The registrar will meet you in the foyer for the purpose of taking the Oath at the scheduled time. The registrar will wait no more than 5 minutes after the appointment time. If you are running late you must notify the registry, otherwise you will need to make another appointment. If you are feeling unwell on the day the Oath is to be taken, you are required to reschedule your appointment. |