Melbourne's courts cluster in the legal precinct at the western end of the CBD, running down William Street between Lonsdale and La Trobe Streets, so the Magistrates', County and Supreme Courts and the Commonwealth Law Courts all sit within a few blocks of each other. The Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street is Victoria's busiest court and the entry point for most criminal, drink-driving and traffic prosecutions; serious indictable matters move up to the County Court at 250 William Street, on the corner of Lonsdale Street, and the most serious crimes and appeals are heard at the Supreme Court at 210 William Street. Family law and other federal matters are dealt with at the Federal Circuit and Family Court in the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building at 305 William Street, on the corner of La Trobe Street. With roughly five million people, Greater Melbourne is Australia's second-largest city and the busiest criminal court catchment in Victoria, and suburban venues at Sunshine, Ringwood, Dandenong, Heidelberg, Broadmeadows and Frankston take pressure off the central William Street precinct. Victoria Police run highly visible booze buses and roadside drug testing across the metropolitan freeway network — the Monash (M1), West Gate, Tullamarine and Eastern Freeways and the Western Ring Road — while CityLink, EastLink and arterials like Hoddle Street and Punt Road feed a steady stream of traffic and drink-driving matters into these courts.
Criminal Law in Melbourne
If you have been charged with a criminal offence anywhere in Greater Melbourne, your matter will almost certainly begin at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street. The Magistrates' Court hears summary offences and conducts committal hearings for the more serious indictable matters, which are then sent up to the County Court of Victoria at 250 William Street for trial or plea. The most serious crimes — murder and large-scale drug offences — are heard in the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria at 210 William Street.
Most criminal offences in Victoria are set out in the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), with court procedure and the committal process governed by the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic) and sentencing of adult offenders under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic). Drug charges, including possession, cultivation and trafficking, fall under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic). Which Act and which court applies depends on the specific charge and how it is classified.
Early legal help matters because the first mention sets the direction of the whole case — bail conditions, whether to seek a diversion, and how a plea is approached are all easier to influence early than to unwind later. Getting clear information before you walk into William Street puts you in a far stronger position.
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Family Law in Melbourne
Family law in Melbourne is a federal matter, dealt with at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building at 305 William Street, on the corner of La Trobe Street. This is where parenting disputes, property settlements and family law matters in the federal jurisdiction are heard — separate from the Victorian state courts further down William Street.
Because family law is governed by Commonwealth legislation rather than a Victorian Act, the rules about parenting arrangements and dividing property are the same across the country, but the Melbourne registry has its own filing procedures, lists and timeframes. Intervention orders for family violence, by contrast, are a state matter and are usually dealt with at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court or a suburban venue such as Dandenong, Sunshine or Frankston.
Family matters move quickly once an application is filed, and decisions about children and finances made early can be hard to revisit. Speaking to someone before you respond to an application — or before you file one — helps you understand your options and avoid agreeing to something that does not work for you long term.
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Divorce in Melbourne
Divorce in Melbourne is handled by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia at the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street. A divorce is the legal end of the marriage itself; it is a separate process from sorting out parenting arrangements or dividing property, which are dealt with under their own applications.
Divorce is governed by Commonwealth law, and in most cases the application can be made and managed online, with the court generally requiring that you have been separated for at least twelve months. Many straightforward divorces are dealt with without anyone needing to attend the Melbourne registry in person, though there are situations — such as a sole application where there are children under 18 — where an appearance may be required.
The paperwork looks simple but small errors about separation dates, service of the application or jurisdiction can delay things by months. A short conversation early on confirms you are eligible, that your forms are right, and that property and parenting issues are not accidentally left unresolved alongside the divorce.
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Drink Driving in Melbourne
Drink-driving and drug-driving charges in Melbourne are prosecuted under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) and are heard at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street, or at a suburban venue such as Ringwood, Heidelberg, Broadmeadows or Frankston closer to where you were intercepted. Victoria Police run booze buses and roadside drug testing right across the metro freeway network — the Monash (M1), West Gate, Tullamarine and Eastern Freeways and the Western Ring Road — so charges come in from every corner of the city.
Under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic), penalties scale with your reading and your history, and many drink-driving offences carry a mandatory licence disqualification and a compulsory alcohol interlock condition before you can drive again. Even a first offence over the limit can mean losing your licence, which has real consequences for work and family in a city as spread out as Melbourne.
Because the licence loss is often automatic on conviction, the value of early help is in understanding exactly what you face, whether the charge can be contested, and how to put your circumstances before the magistrate. Knowing this before your mention date is far better than finding out on the day.
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Traffic Law in Melbourne
Traffic offences serious enough to go to court in Melbourne — careless or dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, excessive speed and licence matters — are dealt with under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street, or at a suburban Magistrates' venue near where the offence occurred. CityLink, EastLink and arterials such as Hoddle Street, Punt Road and the Princes Highway are common spots for speed-camera and enforcement matters that end up before a magistrate.
The most serious driving matters — culpable or dangerous driving causing death — are not heard in the Magistrates' Court at all but move up to the County Court of Victoria at 250 William Street as indictable offences. Where your matter is heard depends on how the charge is classified under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) and the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).
Traffic charges can carry demerit points, fines, licence suspension and, in serious cases, imprisonment, and the flow-on effect on your ability to drive can be significant. Getting clear information early helps you understand whether to plead or contest, how to protect your licence, and what to expect at the William Street court.
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Melbourne Courts
Where your matter is heard depends on the offence and its seriousness. The courts that serve Melbourne are:
Melbourne Magistrates' Court (Magistrates' Court of Victoria)
233 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Victoria's busiest court and the entry point for most criminal matters. Hears summary offences, committal hearings for indictable offences, bail applications, intervention orders, and the majority of drink-driving, drug-driving and traffic prosecutions. Most local Melbourne criminal and traffic matters start and finish here.
County Court of Victoria
250 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, on the corner of Lonsdale Street. Victoria's principal trial court (intermediate level). Hears serious indictable criminal matters such as drug trafficking, serious assaults, sexual offences, armed robbery and culpable or dangerous driving causing death, as well as appeals from the Magistrates' Court and common law and commercial civil claims.
Supreme Court of Victoria
210 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. The highest court in the State. The Trial Division hears the most serious indictable crimes (murder, large-scale drug offences) and major civil disputes; the Court of Appeal hears appeals against conviction and sentence from the County Court and the Supreme Court Trial Division. The registry counter is at 450 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Melbourne registry)
Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, on the corner of La Trobe Street. Hears family law matters — divorce, parenting and property disputes — and general federal law including migration, bankruptcy, consumer and employment disputes. Adjacent to Flagstaff railway station at the northern end of the William Street court precinct.
What to Do Right Now
1
Find your court date and location on your charge sheet, bail notice or court papers — for most Melbourne matters this will be the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street, or a suburban venue such as Ringwood, Dandenong or Frankston. Note the date and do not miss it.
2
Gather every document you have been given — the charge sheet, infringement or penalty notice, bail conditions, police summary and any correspondence — and keep them together so nothing is lost before your mention.
3
Write down what happened while it is fresh: dates, times, locations (which freeway or road), and the names of any witnesses. Do not discuss the details on social media or with anyone other than a lawyer.
4
Call the free 24/7 legal hotline for clear legal information about your situation, and to book a fixed-fee consultation with an admitted Australian lawyer if you want advice on your specific matter.
Melbourne Legal Questions
Which Melbourne court will my matter be heard in?
Most criminal, drink-driving and traffic matters in Greater Melbourne start at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at 233 William Street, or at a suburban venue such as Ringwood, Dandenong, Heidelberg, Broadmeadows, Sunshine or Frankston near where the offence occurred. Serious indictable matters move up to the County Court at 250 William Street, and the most serious crimes and appeals are heard at the Supreme Court at 210 William Street. Family law and divorce matters go to the Federal Circuit and Family Court at 305 William Street. Your charge sheet or court papers will state the exact court and date.
Can I speak to a lawyer the same day in Melbourne?
The hotline is free and available 24/7, so you can get clear legal information immediately, day or night. If you want advice on your specific matter, the service can book a fixed-fee consultation with an admitted Australian lawyer, often very promptly. This is a legal-information service and not a law firm, but it can connect you with a lawyer when you need one.
Will I lose my licence for drink driving in Melbourne?
Many drink-driving offences under the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) carry a mandatory licence disqualification, and a compulsory alcohol interlock is often required before you can drive again — even for a first offence over the limit. How long you lose your licence depends on your reading and your driving history. Because the loss is frequently automatic on conviction, it is worth getting clear information before your mention date at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court about exactly what you face and whether the charge can be contested.
Can I get divorced online in Melbourne?
Yes. Divorce is a federal matter dealt with by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and in most cases the application can be made and managed online without attending the Melbourne registry at 305 William Street in person. The court generally requires that you have been separated for at least twelve months. Some situations — such as a sole application where there are children under 18 — may still require an appearance. A short conversation can confirm whether your circumstances qualify.
Is the hotline really free?
Yes. The hotline provides free legal information 24/7, with no charge to call and no obligation. It gives you general legal information to help you understand your situation — which is different from legal advice about your specific case. If you decide you want advice tailored to your matter, the service can book a fixed-fee consultation with an admitted Australian lawyer so you know the cost upfront.