NSW Forbes Local Court List Today

This page tracks the daily court list for the Forbes Local Court, also known as Forbes Court House, at Victoria Lane, Forbes NSW 2871, opposite Victoria Park. The list is published so that defendants, legal practitioners, witnesses, family members and members of the public can confirm where and when a matter is being heard. A single sitting day at a regional registry like Forbes can carry dozens of matters, so checking the list before you travel saves time and avoids a missed appearance. Because listings can be updated, adjourned or reallocated at short notice, always confirm anything time critical directly with the registry.

Forbes Local Court Key Facts

• Court name: Forbes Local Court (Forbes Court House)
• Address: Victoria Lane, Forbes NSW 2871
• Postal address: PO Box 130, Forbes NSW 2871
• Phone: (02) 6852 5100 or 1300 679 272
• Fax: (02) 6852 5108
• Email: local-court-forbes@justice.nsw.gov.au
• Registry hours: 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday
• Region: Central West New South Wales, on the Newell Highway between Parkes and West Wyalong
• Distance from Sydney: about 374 kilometres west
• Courthouse built: 1880, designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet

How to Read the Forbes Local Court Daily List

The daily list is organised by name, courtroom and time. If a matter shows as "Unassigned" under courtroom, the registry has not yet allocated a specific room, which is common at smaller regional courthouses that run a single main courtroom. Times such as 9:00am or 9:30am usually indicate when the list is called rather than the exact minute a matter will be reached, so allow for waiting.

Understanding the Listing Format

A few conventions help you locate your matter quickly:

• A single name generally indicates a defendant appearing on a police or agency prosecution, or a person listed for mention, sentence or a defended hearing.
• The word "for" identifies the solicitor or agent appearing on behalf of a party, followed by the party they represent.
• The letter "v" (versus) separates the two sides in a matter, such as a prosecutor and a defendant, or an applicant and a respondent in a civil or apprehended violence application.
• "Police" or "N Police" indicates a NSW Police prosecution.

Why Names Are Masked

Names on this page are partially masked to protect privacy while still allowing you to recognise your own matter. The full, official listing is maintained by the NSW Online Registry, which lets parties and practitioners search by name, case number, date, jurisdiction, listing type and presiding officer. If you cannot see a matter you expected, it may have been finalised, adjourned to another date, or transferred to another location, and the registry can confirm the current status.

What Types of Matters Are Heard at Forbes Local Court

Forbes Local Court exercises the standard jurisdiction of a New South Wales Local Court. Matters are decided by a magistrate sitting without a jury, which keeps proceedings faster and more accessible than the higher courts.

Criminal and Traffic Matters

The court hears summary offences and less serious indictable offences, including drink driving, drug driving, speeding and licence offences, common assault, larceny, drug possession, property damage and public order matters. More serious indictable charges begin here as committal proceedings before being sent to the District Court. Appeals against a Local Court conviction or sentence are heard in the District Court, and appeals against certain administrative decisions, such as a licence suspension, can also be lodged.

Apprehended Violence Orders and Domestic Violence

The Local Court is the primary venue in New South Wales for apprehended violence orders, covering both Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and Apprehended Personal Violence Orders. These protective applications, along with related domestic and family violence charges, make up a substantial share of the modern Local Court workload across the state.

Civil Claims and Small Claims

In its civil jurisdiction, the Local Court determines money and property disputes up to $100,000. The Small Claims Division hears claims up to $20,000 through a simplified, lower cost process where the formal rules of evidence generally do not apply, while the General Division hears claims above $20,000 and up to $100,000. Civil matters are decided on the balance of probabilities, meaning the court must be satisfied that a claim is more likely than not to be true.

Forbes Children's Court

The courthouse also sits as the Forbes Children's Court for accused persons under 18 years of age. These hearings are conducted by a Local Court magistrate and are closed to unrelated members of the public to protect the young people involved.

Forbes Local Court Within the NSW Justice System

The Local Court is the busiest court in the state, and understanding the scale helps put a regional list like Forbes in context. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), the Local Court handles about 94 per cent of all criminal court finalisations in New South Wales, and all criminal cases along with more than 90 per cent of civil cases begin in the Local Court. In 2025, Local Court finalisations rose 9.1 per cent to 146,977 matters, up from 134,735 the previous year.

The composition of that work has shifted over time. BOCSAR reports that domestic violence related matters now account for more than one in four Local Court finalisations, while traffic and vehicle offences remain the single largest offence category by volume. Around 86 per cent of finalised defendants had a proven charge, and the proportion receiving a custodial penalty rose to about 10 per cent in the year to June 2025. Defended hearings in the Local Court took a median of roughly 247 days to finalise in 2025. The Local Court reaches communities right across the state, sitting at more than 150 locations, of which Forbes is one.

Forbes sits on the same Central West circuit as several nearby registries, and matters are sometimes moved between them or listed alongside a magistrate's regional run. If your matter has shifted, the daily Parkes local court list and the Cowra court list are worth checking, as both towns share circuit sittings with Forbes. West Wyalong, further south along the Newell Highway, runs its own list on separate days.

The Forbes and Central West Community It Serves

Forbes sits on the banks of the Lachlan River in the Central West of New South Wales. At the 2021 Census, the Forbes Shire local government area recorded a population of 9,319, with a median age of 42, spread across roughly 4,720 square kilometres, which makes it a large but sparsely settled rural district. The town of Forbes itself recorded a population of 8,157 at the same Census. The original custodians of the area are the Wiradjuri people, and the district was established as a township during the gold rush of the early 1860s. Forbes is named after Sir Francis Forbes, the first Chief Justice of New South Wales, which gives the local courthouse a fitting namesake.

A Short History of Forbes Court House

The present Forbes Court House was completed in 1880 and designed by the Colonial Architect James Barnet, whose office also produced the nearby Forbes Post Office and many other public buildings across regional New South Wales. Built in the Victorian Classical Revival style, the building replaced two earlier courthouses on the site and has seen no major structural change since a public gallery was added in 1884. The National Trust classified the courthouse in 1975 in recognition of its heritage value. The building also carries a link to colonial history, with early records noting the bushranger Ben Hall, who was charged locally in 1862 and later shot near the town, and whose grave lies in Forbes Cemetery.

Attending Forbes Local Court: Practical Information

If you have a matter listed, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to allow for security screening and to find your name on the list. Parking is available on nearby streets around the town centre, and coach and bus services connect Forbes with regional centres such as Parkes and Orange. Legal Aid NSW services are available for eligible people, and a duty solicitor may be able to assist on the day for some matters. If you are unsure whether your matter is proceeding, or you need to arrange an audio visual appearance or an adjournment, contact the registry on (02) 6852 5100 or 1300 679 272 before your court date.

Committals sent up from Forbes are usually heard at the nearest District Court venue rather than in town. Most trials and sentences for this district are listed at the Orange District Court, while some matters travel to the Dubbo court list depending on the sitting calendar. If you are chasing an appeal or a jury trial date, confirm which registry holds your file before you plan the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Forbes Local Court start?

Most matters are listed from 9:00am or 9:30am. The listed time is when the list is called, not a guaranteed hearing time, so arrive early and be prepared to wait until your matter is reached.

Why can I only see partial names on the list?

Names are partially masked on this page for privacy. You can still identify your own matter, and the complete official listing is available through the NSW Online Registry or by contacting the Forbes registry directly.

What if my matter is not on the list?

A matter may be missing because it has been adjourned, finalised, or moved to another courthouse or date. Contact the registry on (02) 6852 5100 to confirm the current listing before attending.

Are serious criminal matters finalised at Forbes?

Serious indictable matters usually begin at Forbes as committal proceedings and are then sent to the District Court for trial or sentence. Appeals from the Local Court are also heard in the District Court.

Do I need a lawyer to appear at Forbes Local Court?

You are entitled to represent yourself, but many people seek legal advice, especially for criminal, traffic and domestic violence matters. Legal Aid NSW and a duty solicitor may be able to help eligible people. This page provides general information only and is not legal advice.