Is there a family law court in Newcastle?

Yes. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia sits at the Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 61 Bolton Street, Newcastle, and hears divorce, parenting and property matters.

Where are children's matters heard in Newcastle?

Criminal matters for young people and care and protection matters are heard at Broadmeadow Children's Court, 19–23 Lambton Road, Broadmeadow.

Do I need a Newcastle lawyer for a Newcastle court matter?

No. Any solicitor with a current NSW practising certificate can appear in Newcastle courts. A local firm can be more practical for in-person meetings and short-notice court dates.

Which Legal Aid office in Newcastle should I contact?

It depends on the matter. Civil and family law is at Level 2, 51–55 Bolton Street, and criminal law is at Level 3, 400 Hunter Street.

Best Law Firms in Newcastle, NSW (2026): By Practice Area

Law firms in Newcastle act in matters heard at the Newcastle Local and District Court at 343 Hunter Street, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) at 61 Bolton Street, Broadmeadow Children's Court and NCAT's Newcastle registry at 175 Scott Street.

Pick your practice area first, then compare firms that appear in the court or tribunal for your matter. Ask each firm for a written costs estimate and who will handle the file. For Supreme Court matters, such as contested estates, check whether the firm has experience before that court.

Law firms in Newcastle by practice area

Family Lawyers

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1Burgess Thomson★★★★★ 5.0 (287)
2Allwright Bourke Lawyers & Conveyancing (previously Lawrep)★★★★★ 5.0 (75)
3Delaney Roberts Specialist Family Lawyers★★★★★ 4.9 (163)

Conveyancers

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1Burgess Thomson★★★★★ 5.0 (287)
2Next Legal and Conveyancing Pty Ltd★★★★★ 4.9 (221)
3The Conveyancing Exchange (incorporating Stevens Conveyancing)★★★★★ 5.0 (83)

Criminal Lawyers

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1Burgess Thomson★★★★★ 5.0 (287)
2Arthur Law★★★★★ 5.0 (97)
3Andrew John Carr Solicitors★★★★★ 5.0 (71)

Which courts and tribunals are in Newcastle?

Newcastle has state courts, a federal family court registry and an NCAT registry.

Court or tribunal	What it hears	Location
Newcastle Local Court	Criminal and traffic matters, apprehended violence orders, smaller civil claims	343 Hunter Street
Newcastle District Court	Criminal jury trials, civil claims, appeals from the Local Court	343 Hunter Street
Broadmeadow Children's Court	Criminal matters for young people, care and protection	19–23 Lambton Road, Broadmeadow
FCFCOA	Divorce, parenting orders, property settlement, general federal law	Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 61 Bolton Street
NCAT Newcastle registry	Tenancy, home building and consumer disputes	Level 1, 175 Scott Street

Lake Macquarie also has its own Local Courts at Belmont (530 Pacific Highway) and Toronto (140–142 Cary Street). Contested estates, probate and large civil claims go to the Supreme Court of NSW in Sydney.

Where can you get free legal help in Newcastle?

Free legal help in Newcastle is available from two Legal Aid NSW offices and two community legal centres.

Legal Aid NSW, civil and family law. Level 2, 51–55 Bolton Street.
Legal Aid NSW, criminal law. Level 3, 400 Hunter Street.
Hunter Community Legal Centre. 19 Queen Street, Cooks Hill. A generalist centre giving free legal advice to people in the Hunter.
University of Newcastle Legal Centre. A generalist community legal centre run through the Newcastle Law School.
LawAccess NSW. Call 1300 888 529, 9am to 5pm on weekdays, for legal information and referrals anywhere in NSW.

Legal Aid applies a means test, and community legal centres set their own eligibility rules. For other free and low-cost options, see Free Legal Advice in Australia. To compare paid help, see Family Lawyers in Newcastle, Criminal Lawyers in Newcastle and Conveyancers in Newcastle.