Preparing for Civil court
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, this includes:
- A copy of the claim or court application
- Photo identification e.g. your driving license
- 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 can not 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.