Canberra runs its courts a little differently to the rest of the country. The Australian Capital Territory has just two criminal courts, both housed in the ACT Law Courts building at 4-6 Knowles Place in Civic: the ACT Magistrates Court, where almost every matter starts and where summary offences are finalised, and the ACT Supreme Court, which hears the most serious indictable charges before a judge and jury. There is no District or County court layer in the ACT — matters are either summary or they go straight up to the Supreme Court. As the national capital, Canberra also has a heavy Commonwealth and public-service footprint, and a large share of professionals whose careers, security clearances and registrations can turn on how a charge is handled. Family law and divorce are federal and run through the Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts near the ANU. Whatever you're facing, you don't have to work it out alone or wait days to speak to someone.
Criminal Law in Canberra
In Canberra, criminal charges are prosecuted under the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT) and the Criminal Code 2002 (ACT). Almost every matter begins in the ACT Magistrates Court at Knowles Place, where you'll have your first appearance, deal with bail, and have summary (less serious) offences heard and finalised. The most serious indictable charges — offences such as serious assault, sexual offences, armed robbery, major drug matters and serious fraud — are committed up to the ACT Supreme Court in the same building and heard before a judge and jury. Unlike most other states, the ACT has no intermediate District or County court, so matters move directly from the Magistrates Court to the Supreme Court.
Canberra is a small, professional city, and for many people a criminal charge carries a second risk beyond the court result — a public-service role, a security clearance, a professional registration or a working-with-children check can all hinge on the outcome. That makes the way a charge is dealt with from the very start especially important here.
In the ACT you have the right to silence — beyond giving your name and address you generally don't have to answer police questions, and it's usually wise to speak to a lawyer first. A lawyer can advise you before any police interview, apply for bail, and start building your defence or a plea in mitigation straight away.
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Family Law in Canberra
Family law in Canberra — parenting arrangements and dividing property — is dealt with under federal law by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, which sits at the Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts on the corner of University Avenue and Childers Street, near the ANU. The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) applies in the ACT exactly as it does everywhere else in the country. For most parenting disputes you're required to attempt family dispute resolution (mediation) and obtain a section 60I certificate before applying to the court, unless there's family violence or genuine urgency.
Separating is one of the hardest things a person goes through, and the transient, career-driven nature of Canberra — postings, transfers and partners moving for work — means relocation and interstate parenting questions come up here often. Property can be divided without going to court if you can reach agreement, and parenting arrangements are always decided on what is in the best interests of the child.
Where there's family violence, a Family Violence Order is a separate ACT process heard in the Magistrates Court at Knowles Place and can be dealt with urgently. A lawyer can explain your options and protect your position from the very start.
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Divorce in Canberra
Divorce is a federal process under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), and it's separate from sorting out property or parenting — it simply ends the marriage. You can apply once you've been separated for at least 12 months, and in some cases you can be "separated under one roof".
Applications are filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal rather than over a counter, so you don't need to attend the Canberra registry in person to start the process. You can apply on your own (a sole application) or together with your former partner (a joint application). Canberra divorces are handled by the Federal Circuit and Family Court at the Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts. You'll generally need your marriage certificate, and where there are children under 18 the court must be satisfied that proper arrangements are in place for them.
Getting the application right the first time avoids weeks of delay. A lawyer can prepare and lodge it for you and make sure property and parenting are handled properly alongside it.
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Drink Driving in Canberra
Drink driving in Canberra is dealt with under the Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977 (ACT) and heard in the ACT Magistrates Court at Knowles Place. The ACT sets a zero limit for learner, provisional and certain other licence holders, and the general limit of 0.05 for full licence holders, with penalties stepping up sharply through the higher blood-alcohol ranges. The higher your reading, the heavier the consequences.
Canberra's wide, fast arterials — Northbourne Avenue, the Tuggeranong, Monaro and Barton Highways and the Parkway — see regular random breath testing, and the compact layout of the city means a short drive home after a function still carries real risk. A conviction typically carries a licence disqualification, and how long depends on your reading, your traffic history and the circumstances.
In some cases the court may consider a restricted or hardship arrangement so you can keep driving for essential purposes, but eligibility is narrow and depends on your situation. Whether that's open to you — and how to put your case — is worth sorting out with a lawyer before your court date.
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Traffic Law in Canberra
Traffic matters in Canberra run from speeding and demerit-point trouble through to serious charges like driving while disqualified, suspended or unlicensed, and dangerous or negligent driving. These offences are dealt with under the Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 (ACT) and related road transport legislation, and are heard in the ACT Magistrates Court at Knowles Place; the most serious driving offences causing death or serious harm can be heard in the ACT Supreme Court.
Losing your licence in a city as spread out as Canberra — where work, schools and family can be a long way apart and public transport doesn't always reach — can put your job and your household under real pressure. The ACT's point-to-point and fixed speed cameras catch a lot of otherwise careful drivers, and demerit points accumulated interstate count here too.
The right move depends on your history and what's at stake. A lawyer can tell you quickly whether a charge is worth fighting, and how to keep you on the road wherever the law allows.
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Canberra Courts
Where your matter is heard depends on the offence and its seriousness. The courts that serve Canberra are:
ACT Magistrates Court
4-6 Knowles Place, Canberra City (Civic). Where almost every Canberra criminal, traffic and drink-driving matter begins — first appearances, bail and summary offences are dealt with here, along with Family Violence Order applications. The ACT Magistrates and Supreme Courts share the one law courts building.
ACT Supreme Court
4-6 Knowles Place, Canberra City (Civic), in the same building as the Magistrates Court. Hears the most serious indictable charges before a judge and jury. The ACT has no District or County court, so serious matters move directly here from the Magistrates Court.
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Canberra)
Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts, corner of University Avenue and Childers Street, near the ANU. Handles Canberra family law and divorce — parenting, property and divorce applications under federal law. Divorce applications are filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal.
What to Do Right Now
1
If police want to question you, give only your name and address — you have the right to silence in the ACT. Politely tell them you want to speak to a lawyer first.
2
Write everything down while it's fresh: what happened, dates and times, the names of any witnesses, and anything the police said or did.
3
Check your paperwork for your first court date. Almost all matters list at the ACT Magistrates Court at Knowles Place — missing a court date can lead to a warrant or losing your licence by default.
4
Call Legal Hotline now — free, any time. Tell us what's happened and we'll connect you with a lawyer who can act on your Canberra matter, usually within the hour.
Canberra Legal Questions
Which court will my Canberra matter be heard in?
Almost every matter starts at the ACT Magistrates Court at 4-6 Knowles Place in Civic, where summary offences are also finalised. The most serious indictable charges go up to the ACT Supreme Court in the same building, heard before a judge and jury. The ACT has no District or County court. Family law and divorce are handled by the Federal Circuit and Family Court at the Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts near the ANU.
Can I get a lawyer the same day in Canberra?
Yes. Call the free hotline and we can have a lawyer who is able to act in the ACT courts working on your matter — usually within the hour.
I've been charged with drink driving in Canberra — will I lose my licence?
Most likely there will be a disqualification period under the Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977 (ACT), and how long depends on your reading and your history. In some cases a restricted or hardship arrangement may be possible, but eligibility is narrow. Speak to a lawyer before your court date at the ACT Magistrates Court.
Do I have to go to a courthouse to start a divorce in Canberra?
No. Divorce is a federal process — applications are filed online through the Commonwealth Courts Portal once you've been separated for at least 12 months. A lawyer can prepare it for you; the Federal Circuit and Family Court at the Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts handles Canberra family matters.
Is calling Legal Hotline really free?
Yes. The information line is free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call any time to understand where you stand — no cost, no obligation.