What to expect on the day of your family court trial: divorce, parenting orders settlement or property settlement

Are you about to go to trial or worried what your trial would be like in your family court. We will break it down in a really easy to understand way so you know what you will be facing and you won't have any surprises. Break up the fear of the unknown and be prepared for your day in family court for your divorce, children's or property settlement.

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You Don't Want to Miss Out On

• How knowing what goes on in a trial will help you face your fear.
• How keeping a mindfulness approach to your trial day can really keep you focused and achieve better outcomes for you on the day.
• The theatre of a trial and what to expect
• Who will be in the trial room with you.
• What the trial room will look like.
• What to expect from the judge
• How to speak to a judge
• What a judges associate is and what to expect from them on the day of the trial
• How to know where to stand when you go into court
• The layout of the courtroom
• What is a bar table and why is it called one?
• When do witnesses come into the trial
• Where do witnesses wait during the trial proceedings
• Can you take a support person with you?
• How does the judge enter?
• How does the trial start
• What kind of housekeeping does the judge do at the beginning
• What is the point of the witness box
• What do you have to do in the witness box
• What kind of questions do they ask in the witness box
• How can you prepare for a trial
• What does the affidavit have to do with the trial
• Why it's important to refresh your memory
• Why it's important to eat breakfast the day of court
• Top strategy for the witness box
• What is going on in the head of the barrister or the lawyer
• How long can you be in the witness box
• How to ask to go to the bathroom if you're in the witness box
• What should you do when a judge asks you a direct question
• How should you address the judge during your family court trial
• What are closing submissions
• What's the difference between written and spoken submissions
• What do you find out the outcome of your family court trial
• How long does it take to get a judgement
• Can you cross examine your ex in the witness box yourself?
• How to prepare for trial and cross examine if you are doing it yourself
• If you are self representing
• What happens if your trial is via zoom?
• What's the difference between a divorce trial with zoom as opposed to in the court room?
• How many support people should you bring to a trial
• Objections during court, how does it happen, why and who can do it.
• Can you object yourself to questions asked of you in the witness box?
• How to take care of yourself after the trial
• What happens if you cry in the witness box
• Why do lots of people settle on the day of the trial?
• How to avoid being done for costs?
• What happens if the judgement matches the offer you or your ex offered a year ago or months ago?

If you need emergency help you can also contact:

• WOMEN'S SHELTER SERVICE
• LEGAL AID
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Mensline Australia 1300 789 978
• Kids Help Line 1800 551 800
• Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline 1800 019 123
• Relationships Australia
• Police on 000
• DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 (24 hours, 7 days a week) Note: This number is not recorded on your phone bill
• DV Connect Mensline on 1800 600 636
• National DV line on 1800 737 732.1800RESPECT 1800 737 732

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Please note this is general advice only. Please always seek independent legal advice as everyone's situation is different.