Courtrooms are formal settings for resolving legal matters. If you have not attended court before, you should be aware that it can often be a busy and crowded place.
Below you can find useful information on locating your courthouse, booking appointments, and preparing for court.
Locate your courthouse
Your courthouse details will be on your court documents, along with the time and date your case will be heard.
To find your courthouse address and Eircode, visit our Find Us section. This guide will show you how to navigate this page.
Our appointment booking service allows you to make an appointment online to visit a court office. If you have any accessibility needs, please contact the relevant court office.
Preparing your documents
Before your court date, you should gather everything you will need for your case, including:
- A copy of the claim or court application
- Photo identification (for example, your driving licence)
- Copies of the supporting documentation and any other relevant documentation for your case
There are support services available who can help you prepare for court. You may also consider getting legal advice.
Preparing to attend your Civil court date
It is important that you attend court on the date your case will be heard.
If you have any questions, you should contact the relevant court office directly by telephone, in writing, or in person.
You can bring someone for moral support if you wish. However, they cannot take part in court proceedings.
Most courtrooms have large video screens. This allows people involved in the case to be present in court remotely, similar to being on a group video call. You should contact the relevant court office to check if this option is available to you.
A short animated video to help you understand a Civil court hearing
This helpful video will provide you with more information on preparing for, and attending, a Civil court hearing.
You can also learn more about what the court offices and courtrooms look like with this virtual tour. It allows you to rotate the camera around the courtroom and select information points within the court.
On your court date, you will not be expected to know all courtroom formalities. You will get assistance on what to do during your case. For example:
- If you are unsure where to sit, ask the Court Registrar.
- The judge will give you guidance on when you can speak. If you need to ask anything, raise your hand.
- If someone is interrupting the hearing, it is normal for the judge to tell them that they will get a chance to speak at a later stage.
Please see more information on what to expect in the courtroom below.
Things you should know when attending court
- If you have a solicitor, they will speak to the court on your behalf.
- Dress appropriately for a formal environment.
- Stand when the Judge or County Registrar enters and leaves the courtroom.
- Address the Judge as 'Judge' or the County Registrar as 'County Registrar'.
- Stand when speaking to the court.
- Turn your mobile phone off or put it on silent.
- Take notes if necessary.
- You can bring a friend or family member for support.
- If you are giving oral evidence, you must swear to tell the truth.
Things you should not do when attending court
- Disturb others in the courtroom.
- Use, take pictures, or record on any mobile or electronic devices.
- Eat food or chew gum.
- Interrupt others when addressing the court.
How to find your courtroom
When you enter the courthouse there are usually signs or screens that will direct you to the correct courtroom. If you are unsure of where to go, please ask at the office counter which courtroom you should go to for your court case.
What happens in court
- Civil hearings are generally held in public. At the beginning of each court day, the case list is called out to determine if cases are ready to proceed. This is known as a 'callover' of the list. You should be present for this.
- After the callover, the order in which the cases are going to be heard will be called out by the Judge or the Court Registrar. You may wait for your case in the courtroom unless you are told otherwise.
- If you wait outside the courtroom, please remain close by as you may be called into court very quickly.
- Court sittings may not always run on time and they are not always heard in the order in which they are listed. Please be prepared to wait until your case is called.
Before you go to court, you might want to familiarise yourself with the courtroom layout and who will be in it. Below you can find some useful information on who you can expect in the courtroom.
Courtroom layout
01 Judge
The Judge is in charge of your court hearing. They dress formally and sit at their own bench at the top of the courtroom. The Judge enters and leaves the courtroom through a separate door near their bench.
02 County Registrar
A County Registrar is a court official who has a number of quasi-judicial functions in the Circuit Court. They dress formally and sit at their own bench at the top of the courtroom. The County Registrar enters and leaves the courtroom through a separate door near their bench.
03 Court Registrar
The Court Registrar sits in front of the Judge or County Registrar. They assist the Judge or County Registrar with administrative matters and are in charge of court documents and evidence. It is the Court Registrar who administers the oath to witnesses and who records the decision or outcome of the case.
04 Witness
The witness sits to one side of the Judge and gives testimony in court. Either the claimant or respondent to a case may be called to the witness box to give testimony during the hearing. Other witnesses may also be called who can provide additional information to a case to help the Judge reach a decision.
05 Claimant and Respondent
The claimant (plaintiff) in a hearing is the person who started the Civil Law case. The respondent (defendant) is the person who has had a case started against them. They will sit at different sides of the courtroom. In many cases, they are legally represented by a solicitor or barrister, or both, who will speak to the court on their behalf.
In some cases, claimants and respondents may choose to represent themselves and speak directly to the court.
06 Solicitor
The solicitor will state the case for their client to the Judge or County Registrar and outline what decisions their client is looking for.
07 Barrister
In addition to a solicitor, either party may also seek representation from a barrister for their hearing. The barrister will face the Judge and argue the case on behalf of their client.
08 Assistant to the Judge (not shown on illustration)
The Judge may have an assistant in court. They usually wear a black robe. In addition to other duties, the assistant to the Judge often announces the arrival and departure of the Judge from the courtroom (usually by saying “All rise”).
09 Others (not shown on illustration)
At any one time, you may find court officers, legal representatives, parties to other cases, and witnesses in the courtroom. Members of the public and press are generally allowed to attend civil court hearings also, except where the court directs otherwise, or in certain types of cases which are always held in private.
In some cases, claimants and respondents may choose to represent themselves and speak directly to the court, and may have reasonable assistance from another person (typically known as a “McKenzie Friend”). For more information on the role of a McKenzie Friend, please see our McKenzie Friend page.
Your case may have a number of adjournments before the Judge or County Registrar will make a final decision.
When your case is finalised, the Judge or County Registrar may:
- Make a decision based on all the facts of your case. This decision is called an order or a judgment. There may be a number of court dates prior to a final decision being reached.
- If the case is settled between you and the other party, then it may be marked as settled or struck out. In this case, no follow-up order is issued.
- A copy of the order or judgment, if made, will be available to you when the case is finalised.
- If you are not happy with the order or judgment, you may be able to appeal to a higher court. There are time limits for appeals, so you should contact support services or consider getting legal advice. Alternatively, you can speak to a Courts Service staff member about this.
If you are unsure about anything when your case has finished, you can ask the Court Registrar or call to the court office for further information.
