View source for Family Court (Hong Kong)

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{{Use Hong Kong English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox high court
|court_name = Family Court (Hong Kong)
|image = 
|imagesize = 
|caption = 
|established = <!-- year -->
|jurisdiction = [[Hong Kong]]
|location = Hong Kong
|coordinates= 
|type = <!-- partisan election/non-partisan election/legislative selection/executive selection/cooption/etc -->
|authority = [[Hong Kong Basic Law]]
|appealsto = 
|terms = <!-- length of court term for judges-->
|positions = <!-- number of positions/seats on court-->
|website = {{url|https://www.judiciary.hk/en/home/index.html}}
|chiefjudgetitle = Principal Family Judge
|chiefjudgename = C K Chan

|termstart = <!-- year current chief became chief-->
|termend = <!-- year term for current chief as chief ends, if applicable-->
|termend2 = <!-- year term of current chief ends if applicable-->
}}

The '''Family Court''' of [[Hong Kong]] is a [[court]] (part of the [[District Court (Hong Kong)|District Court]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.judiciary.gov.hk/en/crt_services/pphlt/html/dc.htm#4 |title=District Court: Court services and facilities| website=Judiciary |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828150711/http://www.judiciary.gov.hk/en/crt_services/pphlt/html/dc.htm#4 |archive-date=28 August 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which mainly deals with cases relating to [[divorce]]s and welfare maintenance for children.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.judiciary.gov.hk/en/crt_services/pphlt/html/guide.htm |title=About us|website=Judiciary|access-date=20 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915193039/http://www.judiciary.gov.hk/en/crt_services/pphlt/html/guide.htm |archive-date=15 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Composition==

{{As of|2021|10|1}} the Principal Family Court Judge is C. K. Chan, and there are 42 District Judges.<ref>{{cite web | title=List of Judges and Judicial Officers | website=Hong Kong Judiciary | date=1 October 2021 | url=https://www.judiciary.hk/en/about_us/judges.html | access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref>

==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|Duty Lawyer]] Service's free Legal Advice Scheme for preliminary legal advice including matrimonial law in District Offices.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Judiciary - How to Apply for a Divorce |url=https://www.judiciary.hk/en/court_services_facilities/divorce.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Hong Kong Judiciary}}</ref>

==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. 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.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
*[[Judiciary of Hong Kong]]
*[[Legal system of Hong Kong]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*"[https://www.duxburyetc.hk/book/ 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. 
*"[https://keithhotten.net/ Keith Hotten on Family Law in Hong Kong]" includes updated information on Hong Kong family law.

{{Judiciary of Hong Kong}}

[[Category:Judiciary of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Government of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Politics of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Family courts|Hong Kong]]