Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre

What family cases does Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre deal with?

HM Courts and Tribunals Service lists this court for:

• Children cases, where parents or relatives ask the court to decide arrangements for a child, such as who they live with and when they see each parent. See how to apply for a child arrangements order without a solicitor and form C100.
• Divorce, dissolution and judicial separation. New divorce applications go to the central HMCTS divorce service, not to this court, but a local court can hear a divorce case that needs a judge, for example if it is disputed.
• Financial remedy: court orders about money, property and pensions when you divorce, including hearings when a couple can't agree. See Form A and our guide to Form E.
• Adoption, including applications by step-parents.
• Protection from domestic abuse: non-molestation orders and occupation orders, which have no court fee. Our directory of domestic abuse support lists free helplines.
• Forced marriage protection orders.
• Female genital mutilation (FGM) protection orders.

The building also deals with bankruptcy, employment, High Court district registry work, housing possession, immigration, money claims and social security appeals, so you may share the waiting areas and security queue with people attending other kinds of case.

Do I need to go to Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre for my divorce?

Usually not. Divorce applications in England and Wales go to the HMCTS divorce service, which deals with them online or by post at HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution Service, PO Box 13226, Harlow, CM20 9UG. Its helpline is 0300 303 0642, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm (GOV.UK). Most undefended divorces finish without anyone going to a court building.

You're more likely to come to a local court if you ask a judge to decide arrangements for your children or how to split money and property, or if you apply for protection from domestic abuse. Our step-by-step guide to divorce explains each stage.

How long are children cases taking here?

Children cases between parents or relatives in the Northumbria and North Durham area took a median of 28.2 weeks from application to final order in April to June 2026, up from 23.1 weeks a year earlier. That is slower than the median of 24.7 weeks across England and Wales. 45% of cases finished within 26 weeks. At the end of June 2026, 1,094 children cases were still open in the Northumbria and North Durham area, and 11% of those had been open for more than a year.

Private law children cases finished in April to June 2026. Source: Ministry of Justice, Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2026, published 24 September 2026, "Children Act 26 Weeks" and "Open Caseload" data files.

Family courts are grouped into Designated Family Judge areas, each led by a senior family judge. The Ministry of Justice publishes waiting times for each area, and we've matched Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre to the Northumbria and North Durham area by its location. Cases can be moved between courts, so treat these as a guide to your area rather than to this building.

The Ministry of Justice doesn't publish waiting times by area for divorce or financial cases, because divorce applications are handled centrally. Our family court waiting times tracker has the national figures for every kind of case.

How do I contact Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre?

These are the family contacts HM Courts and Tribunals Service publishes for this court. Have your case number ready if you have one.

Phone

• 0300 123 5577
  Enquiries: National Contact Centre for Civil & Family Court, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm
• 0300 303 0642
  Enquiries: Divorce Contact Centre, Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm

Email

• [email protected]
  Adoption
• [email protected]
  Applications: C100 Applications

Opening hours

• Court open: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
• Counter service by appointment only: County Court: 10am to 2pm (cashless office in operation)
• Counter open: High Court BPC 10am to 2pm, extended to 4pm in an emergency, or in time critical applications

HM Courts and Tribunals Service warns that scammers are copying court phone numbers and email addresses to ask for payment. If you're not sure a call or email is genuine, don't pay anything, and report it to Action Fraud.

Accessibility and facilities

This is what HM Courts and Tribunals Service lists for the building. If you need an adjustment, such as a hearing loop, step-free access or a quiet room, contact the court before your hearing day.

• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network: Lanyards available on request.
• Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome.
• Refreshments: Water dispensers are available to the public on all floors.
• Interview room: Thirty interview rooms spread out across all floors. They cannot be booked in advance and are available on a first come first serve basis.
• Hearing Loop: Loop Neck hearing enhancement facilities are available in all Hearing Rooms. This building has hearing enhancement facilities that work by setting hearing aids to the 'T' setting. These are in all hearing rooms.
• No parking: There are no parking facilities available at the building. However, paid off site parking is available adjacent to the building at Sandyford Square Car Park, NE1 8PP Public transport is available to the building, a bus station is just outside, and it is within walking distance of Haymarket Metro station.
• Disabled access: The public entrance is accessible via a disabled access ramp. All other public floors are accessible by lifts.
• Lift: Lifts are available in the building to access all public floors. The doors are 90cm wide and have a weight limit of 630kg.
• Security arch: For safety and security, all users and their possessions will be searched by security when they enter this building. We have a security arch. Please alert the security officer if you have a pacemaker.
• Public toilets: There are public toilets on all floors.
• Disabled toilet: Disabled toilets are available on each floor.
• Wireless network connection: Gov Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Personal passwords are provided when one signs up to it.
• Video facilities: Court/hearing room video conferencing facilities and prison to court video link facilities are available (by prior arrangement)

No separate waiting room is listed. If you're worried about seeing your ex at court, tell the court in advance: you can ask for measures such as separate waiting areas, different arrival times or a screen in the courtroom.

Where can I get help with a case at this court?

If you're going to court without a lawyer, free guides from Advicenow and Citizens Advice explain what happens at each hearing. For children cases in England, Cafcass advises the court on what is best for your child. You can also ask a family solicitor for a single fixed-fee appointment to prepare, or try mediation before or alongside court.

Family solicitors and mediators near Newcastle upon Tyne

These professionals list an office in or near Newcastle upon Tyne. Labels show whether a listing is paid; most are listed from public information. How we make money.