Magistrates Court

The Magistrates have their regular courts dealing with;

• maintenance matters (unmarried couples child maintenance);
• juvenile matters;
• care matters (involving children); and
• a regular Attorney General's court dealing with general financial matters, held once a month.

Magistrates are laypeople, this means they do not necessarily have formal legal qualifications, however they receive training and have regular training updates. There are usually three Magistrates sitting when a Magistrates court is in session.

The Clerk to the Justices, who is a qualified legal advisor, is always on hand to give them advice.