Magistrates Court

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The Magistrates Court is the first level of the Queensland Courts system. Most criminal cases are first heard, in some form, in this court. Most civil actions are also heard here. The Magistrates Court deals, among other things, with:

• some minor family law matters (although most go to the Family Court);
• some other Commonwealth matters, such as those covered by the Customs Act 1901, the Social Security Act 1991 and the Taxation Act 1953;
• most domestic violence matters (DVO);
• applications for child-protection orders.