What Happens If Your Family Court Hearing Is Virtual?
If you have a matter that needs to go in front of a family court, you may have been told that this will be heard virtually. This has become increasingly common in recent times due to restrictions, and the federal court has ruled that online hearings will have as much weight as a traditional session. While you may be able to attend such a hearing from your living room, it doesn't mean that this approach is any less formal. What do you need to bear in mind as you prepare for such an eventuality?
Basic Requirements
To begin with, ensure that you have a quiet and secure location and that your Internet coverage is suitable. If you are using a mobile device, ensure that it is fully charged before you begin. You'll also need a microphone and a camera and will need to configure all the settings carefully before the meeting begins.
Expected Participants
Remember, there may be many individual participants, including judges, registrars, transcribers, individual applicants, legal advisers, etc. The court will control the entire proceeding and will keep all parties on "mute" until it is their time to contribute.
How to Behave
You will need to exhibit the same kind of behaviour and adhere to the same protocols as you would if you were in physical court. You should address the judge as "your honour," and when the court is in session, you should pay attention at all times. Put any other phones on "airplane mode," and ensure that you do not have any distractions. If need be, bring in somebody else to look after the kids and ensure they are in a separate room. All witnesses will be required to take an oath, just as they would if they were in open court.
Document Sharing
During the session, it may be necessary to share documents. If you need to prepare any, ensure that they are loaded onto your device and, ideally, through a filesharing platform. The court will enable screen sharing as needed during the course of the online hearing.
How to Prepare
Certainly, this type of hearing is a relatively new phenomenon. You may need to take additional steps to prepare or may have additional questions about the entire process. If so, talk everything through with a family law lawyer. They'll advise you on how to get ready and what you should do when the date and time arrives.
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