| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| A** and a Alice H** v C** J** | Court 1 | TBA |
Last updated: 03 Jun 2026, 3:34 pm. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Berri Civil Court list is the most reliable way to track civil matters listed before the Berri Magistrates Court, the principal justice venue for the Riverland region of South Australia. Located at 4 Kay Avenue, Berri SA 5343, roughly 238 kilometres north-east of Adelaide along the Sturt Highway, this regional courthouse hears debt claims, minor civil disputes, and fencing matters for a catchment of around 35,000 residents spread across the wider Riverland. If you are a litigant, a legal practitioner, or simply checking a hearing date, this page brings together the daily civil law list, sitting information, and registry contact details in one place so you can confirm exactly when and where your matter will be heard.
Civil listings at Berri are published each sitting day by the Courts Administration Authority of South Australia under the Country Courts section of the official Courts SA case lists. On a typical civil sitting day the Berri courthouse lists a small number of matters, reflecting its role as a regional registry rather than a metropolitan one. Because listings can change at short notice due to adjournments, settlements, or magistrate availability, we recommend confirming your listing time and courtroom on the morning of your hearing rather than relying on an earlier printout.
What the Berri Civil Court list covers
The Berri Magistrates Court operates within the civil jurisdiction established under the Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA). In practical terms, the civil list at Berri deals with money disputes and related claims that fall within the court's monetary limits. The most common categories you will see on a Berri civil cause list include unpaid debt recovery, breach of contract disputes, minor civil claims between individuals or small businesses, and statutory proceedings such as fencing disputes under the Fences Act 1975 (SA).
South Australia divides Magistrates Court civil work into two streams. The Civil (Minor Claims) Division handles claims valued up to $12,000, using a deliberately simplified and informal procedure. The Civil (General Claims) Division hears larger disputes up to $100,000, including more substantial contractual, debt, and personal injury claims. Understanding which stream your matter falls into is important, because the procedure, the paperwork, and your ability to be legally represented differ between the two.
Minor civil claims up to $12,000
Minor civil actions are designed to be accessible to people without legal training. In this division, disputes are decided according to equity, good conscience, and the substantial merits of the case, without strict regard to legal technicalities. Lawyers are usually not permitted to represent parties at the trial itself, although they can assist with the preliminary steps beforehand. This makes the minor claims process a practical option for Riverland residents and local businesses recovering small debts or resolving everyday disputes without significant legal cost.
General civil claims up to $100,000
Claims above $12,000 and up to $100,000 are commenced in the General Claims Division. The procedure here is more formal, with defined time limits, a directions hearing, and a conciliation conference aimed at resolving the matter before it reaches trial. A defendant generally has 28 days to file a defence after being served. For higher-value civil disputes that exceed $100,000, the matter falls to the District Court of South Australia, and the District Court also conducts civil circuit sittings that touch regional centres, so parties with larger claims should confirm the correct jurisdiction before attending the Berri courthouse.
Berri Magistrates Court at a glance
The Berri Magistrates Court is one of a network of country Magistrates Courts across South Australia, sitting alongside registries at Ceduna, Kadina, Mount Barker, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Tanunda, and Whyalla. As part of a state-wide court system that traces its origins to the Court of Petty Sessions established in 1837, the Berri registry brings the same jurisdiction and procedures found in Adelaide to a regional community that would otherwise face a long journey to the capital for routine legal matters.
- Court name: Berri Magistrates Court (Magistrates Court of South Australia)
- Address: 4 Kay Avenue, Berri SA 5343
- Postal address: The Registrar, PO Box 235, Berri SA 5343
- Phone: (08) 8595 2060
- Email: berri@courts.sa.gov.au
- Region served: Riverland, South Australia
- Distance from Adelaide: approximately 238 km via the Sturt Highway
- Governing legislation: Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA)
- Administered by: Courts Administration Authority of South Australia
On-site services at Berri include interview rooms, in-court amplification systems for accessibility, and Aboriginal Justice Officers who attend on scheduled days to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander court users. These features reflect the court's role as a genuine community justice hub rather than a simple listing office.
Understanding the Riverland catchment
Berri sits in the central Riverland, on the north bank of the Murray River and only a short drive from the South Australia–Victoria border. The town itself had a population of 4,143 at the 2021 Census, while the broader Berri Barmera Council area recorded 10,484 residents across 508 square kilometres. The Riverland region as a whole spans roughly 9,386 square kilometres and supports a population of around 35,000, taking in major centres such as Renmark, Loxton, Waikerie, Barmera, and Monash.
This geography matters for the civil list. Because the Riverland is an agricultural and viticultural district built around the river, many civil disputes heard at Berri arise from local commerce: unpaid invoices between suppliers and growers, small business debt recovery, contractor payment disputes, and neighbourhood fencing disagreements. The Berri courthouse gives these matters a local forum, sparing parties the 240-kilometre trip to Adelaide for a straightforward hearing.
How to check the Berri civil list and prepare for your hearing
The daily civil list for Berri is updated before proceedings begin each sitting day. Because a regional court may sit for civil matters only on certain days, checking the current list is the surest way to confirm whether your matter is proceeding and in which courtroom. If you are appearing in a matter that is closely connected to a criminal or traffic proceeding, you may also need to review the separate Berri criminal court listings, since some parties have overlapping matters listed on different days.
Steps to confirm your civil matter
- Locate your matter on the daily Berri civil list, checking the party names and case number.
- Note the listed courtroom and the scheduled time, and arrive early to clear building entry.
- Bring all supporting documents, including contracts, invoices, correspondence, and records of payments requested or made.
- If your matter is not appearing on the list, contact the Berri registry on (08) 8595 2060 to confirm its status.
For litigants weighing whether their claim belongs in the local Magistrates Court or a higher court, it can help to review how the state's South Australia court listings are organised across jurisdictions before you file. Getting the venue right at the outset avoids delay, wasted filing fees, and the frustration of having a claim transferred after lodgement.
Berri civil matters in the wider South Australian court system
The Magistrates Court is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of civil disputes in South Australia and the busiest court in the state by volume. Berri is one node in that system, connected to metropolitan registries in Adelaide and suburban courts at Christies Beach, Elizabeth, and Port Adelaide, as well as the other regional courts along the river and coast. Appeals from Magistrates Court civil decisions may proceed to the District Court or the Supreme Court, depending on the nature of the matter.
If you are comparing sitting patterns across regional South Australia, the nearby Murray Bridge court listings follow a similar structure to Berri, as both serve river-region communities under the same Magistrates Court framework. For a complete overview of every registry, circuit location, and case-list category in the state, the daily court list SA hub brings the entire South Australian network together in one directory.
Frequently asked questions about the Berri civil court list
What types of cases appear on the Berri civil court list?
The Berri civil list covers debt recovery claims, breach of contract disputes, minor civil claims, small claims matters, and statutory proceedings such as fencing disputes. Criminal, traffic, and intervention order matters are listed separately on the court's criminal list rather than the civil list.
How much can I claim in a civil case at Berri?
Minor civil claims can be brought for amounts up to $12,000, and general civil claims for amounts up to $100,000. Disputes exceeding $100,000 are dealt with by the District Court of South Australia rather than the Magistrates Court at Berri.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor civil claim?
In the minor claims division, parties are generally expected to represent themselves, and lawyers are usually not permitted to appear at the trial. You may still obtain legal advice to prepare your case, and legal representation is more commonly involved in general claims above $12,000.
How often does the Berri Magistrates Court sit for civil matters?
As a regional registry, Berri sits for civil matters on scheduled days rather than every business day, and civil sitting days typically list only a small number of cases. Always check the current daily list or contact the registry to confirm your hearing date.
Where is the Berri Magistrates Court located?
The court is at 4 Kay Avenue, Berri SA 5343, in the Riverland region, approximately 238 kilometres north-east of Adelaide via the Sturt Highway. The registry can be reached on (08) 8595 2060 or by email at berri@courts.sa.gov.au.
Can higher-value civil claims be heard at Berri?
The District Court conducts civil circuit sittings that reach regional South Australia from time to time, so some higher-value civil matters may be heard locally. Parties with claims above the Magistrates Court limit should confirm with the Berri registry whether their matter falls within Magistrates Court or District Court civil jurisdiction before attending.
