About Family Court

The Family Court is a division of the District Court, which is for the time being assigned by the Chief Justice to deal with proceedings issued under the following legislations:

• the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance (Cap. 13)
• the Separation and Maintenance Orders Ordinance (Cap. 16)
• the Marriage Reform Ordinance (Cap. 178)
• the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance (Cap 179)
• the Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 181)
• the Married Persons Status Ordinance (Cap. 182)
• the Legitimacy Ordinance (Cap. 184)
• the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 188)
• the Domestic and Cohabitation Relationships Violence Ordinance (Cap. 189)
• the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap. 192)
• the Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 290) (except Part 5 and section 23B)
• the Parent and Child Ordinance (Cap. 429)
• the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance (Cap. 481)
• Part 3 of the Child Abduction and Custody Ordinance (Cap. 512)
• the Mainland Judgments in Matrimonial and Family Cases (Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 639)

The majority of the cases heard by the Family Court are divorce on the main suit, and matters arising from divorce, such as disputes over ancillary relief, and custody, care and control and access of the children of the family (including temporary and permanent removal from Hong Kong).

In line with the global trend, the Family Court encourages parties to engage in alternative dispute resolutions outside the court proceedings, such as mediation and private adjudication of financial disputes. The Family Court also has, within the court proceedings, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings and Children Dispute Resolution hearings to assist parties to achieve agreement over their disputes. These hearings are presided by a judge; and in appropriate cases, may be assisted by a mediator.

The Family Court has since April 2024 implemented a Pilot Scheme on Family Court Annexed Mediation Service.