Local Court of New South Wales

Practice Notes

Information alert
New Practice Note - Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings

Commences on 4 May 2026.

This revokes Practice Note of 2012 - Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings & Practice Note of 2023- Specialist Family Violence List, except for matters which had their first mention prior to 4 May 2026.

Criminal Jurisdiction

Practice Note - Crim 1
Commenced 1 May 2012, Amended 18 December 2020
Practice Note - Comm 1
Commenced 1 May 2012 - applies to offences commenced prior to 30 April 2018. Amended 23 June 2017.
Practice Note - Comm 2
Commenced 30 April 2018. Applies to offences commenced 20 April 2018 to 8 January 2023.
Practice Note - Comm 3
Commenced 9 January 2023. Applies to offences commenced from 9 January 2023.
Practice Note - Bail Proceedings
Commenced 22 November 2025. Amended 28 March 2026.
Temporary Court Closure AVL Proceedings (Waverley)
Commenced 12 January 2026. Expires 25 December 2026.

Special Jurisdiction

Practice Note - Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings
Commences 4 May 2026.
Read more about the Special Jurisdiction
Warning alert

The following two Practice Notes are revoked from 4 May 2026, except for matters which had their first mention prior to 4 May 2026.

Practice Note - Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings
Issued 24 April 2012. Commenced 1 May 2012. Revoked 4 May 2026.
Practice Note - Specialist Family Violence List
Commenced 25 September 2023. Amended 6 May 2024. Revoked 4 May 2026.

Annexures: Practice Note - Domestic and Personal Violence Proceedings

Note: this Practice Note applies in the Bankstown Local Court, Blacktown Local Court, Downing Centre Local Court, Gunnedah Circuit (excluding Tamworth), Liverpool Local Court, Moree/Inverell Circuit, Newcastle Local Court, Katoomba Local Court, Windsor Local Court, and Sutherland Local Court.

Annexures: Practice Note - Specialist Family Violence List

Civil Jurisdiction

Practice Note - Civ 1
Commenced 23 March 2011. Amended 3 June 2024.
Instrument Delegating Powers to Registrars
Commenced 13 October 2025.

Coronial Jurisdiction

Coronial Practice Notes

Other

Practice Note - Generative Artificial Intelligence
Commenced 12 January 2026
Practice Note - Form of Address in Court
Commenced 5 August 2010
Identity Theft Prevention and Anonymisation Policy
Commenced 7 April 2008
Recording of Court Proceedings
Commenced 19 July 2013
Use of Devices in Court
Commenced 18 May 2022
Practice Note - Pronunciation of Names and Forms of Address
The Chief Magistrate has endorsed the following SC Practice Note for use in the Local Court.
Further Information

For enquiries about Practice Notes, including revoked Practice Notes, please contact the Local Court Executive Office at [email protected].