Family Court (Hong Kong)

22°16′48.02″N 114°10′20.48″E

Family Court (Hong Kong)
Jurisdiction	Hong Kong
Location	Hong Kong
Authorised by	Hong Kong Basic Law
Website	www.judiciary.hk/en/home/index.html
Principal Family Judge
Currently	C K Chan

The Family Court of Hong Kong is a court (part of the District Court)^[1] which mainly deals with cases relating to divorces and welfare maintenance for children.^[2]

Composition

As of 1 October 2021^[update] the Principal Family Court Judge is C. K. Chan, and there are 42 District Judges.^[3]

Divorce law

Hong Kong residents can start a petition for divorce only if having been married for at least one year and be able to prove reasons (or "grounds") for saying that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. They have to fill in a petition form and take it personally to the Family Court Registry. If the couple jointly apply to the court, they should together fill in a joint application form. If there are children of the family who are under the age of 18, Their custody and access must be included. Petitioners seeking legal advice can contact the Duty Lawyer Service's free Legal Advice Scheme for preliminary legal advice including matrimonial law in District Offices.^{[citation needed]}

Family mediation

The Family Court holds family mediation designed to help couples who are divorcing or separating reach their own mutually acceptable agreements about ongoing arrangements for their children and / or how to resolve financial matters.^{[citation needed]}

It is a voluntary process in which a specially trained, impartial third person, the mediator, seeks to help both sides to communicate effectively and to negotiate issues in dispute, all in a completely confidential setting.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Judiciary of Hong Kong
• Legal system of Hong Kong

References

1. "District Court: Court services and facilities". Judiciary. Archived from the original on 28 August 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
2. "About us". Judiciary. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
3. "List of Judges and Judicial Officers". Hong Kong Judiciary. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

External links

• "Hong Kong Family Court Tables" published by the Hong Kong Family Law Association, includes essential information, such as a summary of family law principles, guide to case law and statutes, and a glossary of relevant terms related to the Hong Kong Family Court.
• "Keith Hotten on Family Law in Hong Kong" includes updated information on Hong Kong family law.