Family Courts
The Family Courts in Norfolk (and other related Government Agencies)
Family cases are dealt with by:
The courts in Norfolk:
Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court
Swaffham (Central Norfolk) Magistrates Court
The Family Proceedings Court (Magistrates Courts).
These courts deal with most types of cases involving children from care proceedings to all section 8 orders and domestic violence matters, but are not able to deal with actual divorce petitions or make orders in relation to financial matters relating to a divorce or separation of partners involving property or pensions. Specially trained Magistrates deal with all matters in the Family Proceedings courts, assisted by Legal Advisors who are qualified lawyers who manage hearings and advise the Magistrates about law and procedure and also have limited powers to make case management decisions themselves.
To find out more about the role of Magistrates www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates.htm
The County Court
These courts deal with all matters pertaining to relationship breakdown, including divorce petitions, financial matters relating to a divorce or separation of partners, domestic violence orders and all matters relating to children including care proceedings and section 8 orders. They also deal with matters that have been transferred up from the Family Proceedings court either on the grounds of complexity and those that need to be consolidated or linked to matters already proceeding through that court. Both District Judges and Circuit Judges deal with all matters in the County Court.
To find out more about the role of Judges www.judiciary.gov.uk this website aims to provide users with an insight into the working lives of the nearly 42,000 judicial office holders in England and Wales - judges, tribunal members and magistrates.
The Judicial Studies Board www.jsboard.co.uk provides training and instruction for all full-time and part-time judges in the skills necessary to be a judge. It also has an advisory role in the training of Lay magistrates and of chairmen and members of Tribunals. An essential element of the philosophy of the JSB is that the training of judges and magistrates is under judicial control and directions.
The High Court
These courts deal with only the most complex and serious of matters and those with a foreign element. Only High Court Judges or those able to sit as such preside over these matters.
The Family Justice Council have written a Glossary of Common Terms in Family Proceedings to assist the Lay person in understanding the language of the Family Courts.
The Courts in Norfolk
Norwich Combined Court Centre (a County Court and District Registry of the High Court)
The Law Courts
Bishopgate
Norwich
Norfolk.
NR3 1UR
DX 97385 Norwich 5
Work Type
-
District Registry
-
Care Centre
-
Family Work
-
High Court Judge sittings available
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01603 728200
General Fax: 01603 760863
Contacts
Court Manager, Rhona Hodson: 01603 728200
Family Divisional Manager, Donna Major: 01603 728224
Section Manager, Karen Kneeshaw: 01603 728205
Family Listing, Sean Woolmer: 01603 728211
Customer Service: Civil Court, June Pratt: 01603 728209
Customer Service: Family Court, Tina Henderson: 01603 728215
Witness Service: 01603 766289
Email Address
Applications, queries and emailed correspondence can all be sent to: family@norwich.countycourt.gsi.gov.uk provided that any personal and confidential information is sent using a secure service (the Courts use gsi)
e-Filing: e-filing@norwich.countycourt.gsi.gov.uk
County Court Enquiries: enquiries@norwich.countycourt.gsi.gov.uk
Family: family@norwich.countycourt.gsi.gov.uk
Hearings: hearings@norwich.countycourt.gsi.gov.uk
Opening Times
Court building open: 8.30 am
Court building closed: 5.00 pm
Court counter open: 10.00 am
Court counter closed: 4.00 pm
King's Lynn County Court
Chequer House
12 King Street
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE30 1ES
DX 97740 King's Lynn 2
Work Type * family
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01553 772067
General Fax: 01553 769824
Contacts
Mr D. Tate, Court Manager
Mrs H. Thomas, Deputy Court Manager and Customer Service: 01553 77206
Opening Times
Court building open: 10.00 am
Court building closed: 4.00 pm
Court counter open: 10.00 am
Court counter closed: 4.00 pm
Family Proceedings Courts in Norfolk
All Family Proceedings Courts work is administered within the Norwich Combined Court Centre, contact details as above, which is also responsible for listing family cases throughout Norfolk.
*** The following Magistrates’ Courts are also Family Proceedings Courts :
Cromer Magistrates' Court
The Courthouse
Holt Road
Cromer
Norfolk
NR27 9EB
Work Type
-
Civil
-
Family Work
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01493 849800
General Fax: 01263 511446
Contacts
Mrs E. Pitcher, Court Manager
Customer Service, 01493 849800
Email Address
Enquiries: greatyarmouth.court@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
Opening Times
Court building open: 9.00 am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Court building closed: Open until close of Court business.
Court counter open: 9.15 am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Court counter closed: 2.30 pm
Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court
Magistrates' Courthouse
North Quay
Great Yarmouth Norfolk
England
NR30 1PW
DX 139400 Great Yarmouth 3
.
Work : family
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01493 849800
General Fax: 01493 852169
Contacts
Mrs E. Pitcher, Court Manager
Customer Service: 01493 849800
Email Address
Enquiries: greatyarmouth.court@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
Opening hours
Court building open: 9.00 am
Court building closed: 5.00 pm
King's Lynn Magistrates' Court
The CourthouseCollege Lane
King's Lynn Norfolk
England
PE30 1PQ
DX 743330 King's Lynn 6
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01553 770120
General Fax: 01553 775098
Contacts
Mrs S. Cooper, Court Manager
Mrs J. Calloway, Witness Service: 01553 777083
Email Address
Enquiries: kingslynn.court@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
Opening Times
Court building open: 9.00 am
Court building closed: 6.00 pm
Norwich Magistrates' Court
Bishopgate
Norwich
Norfolk
England
NR3 1UP
DX 97389 Norwich 5
Work Type
-
Civil
-
family
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01603 679500
General Fax: 01603 663263
Mrs E. Colbourn,
Witness Service: 01603 679568
Customer Service: 01603 679500
Email Address
Enquiries: norwich.court@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
Opening hours
Court building open: 9.00 am
Court building closed: 5.00 pm
Swaffham (Central Norfolk) Magistrates' Court
The Courthouse
Westacre Road
Swaffham
Norfolk
PE37 7NH
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01553 770120
General Fax: 01553 775098
Contacts
Mrs S. Cooper, Court Manager
Mrs J. Calloway, Witness Service: 01553 777083
Mediation Service: 01553 777083
Email Address
Enquiries: kingslynn.court@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
Opening Times
Court building open: By prior arrangement.
Thetford (South Norfolk) Magistrates' Court
The Courthouse
Old Bury Road
Thetford
Norfolk
IP24 3AQ
General Contacts
Switchboard: 01553 770120
General Fax: 01553 775098
Contacts
Mrs S. Cooper, Court Manager
Mrs J. Calloway, Witness Service: 01553 777083
Email Address: kingslynn.court@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk
Opening Times
Court building open: 09.00
Court building closed: 16.00
Her Majesty’s Court Service
The website of Her Majesty’s Court Service can be found at the following address:
The Court Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. This covers policy, legislation and the Magistrates' courts. The purpose of the Court Service is the delivery of justice.
This website gives access to a wide range of information including all the details of the Courts in Norfolk, giving full details of locations and maps and providing further information on personnel and how to contact them. There is also an alphabetically listed, easily accessed, information page which include details of court hearings, an information and guidance section, and downloadable copies of all Court Forms, including Family Court Forms.
The website of The Ministry of Justice can be found at the following address:
It is responsible in government for upholding justice, rights and democracy.
Equality Schemes under the Ministry of Justice
The MoJ now has responsibility for the Equality Schemes formerly published by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. It provides information on the Equality Schemes covering race, disability and gender.
The website of the Law Commission can be found at the following address:
The role of the Law Commission contributes to the aim of the Ministry of Justice to build fair, effective and accessible justice services and to modernise the law and constitution.