| Name | Court Room | Time |
|---|---|---|
| C**, S** WATSON | Court 7 | TBA |
| J** T** v H** S** | Court 7 | TBA |
| Z**, L** ZANKER | Court 7 | TBA |
Last updated: 09 Sep 2026, 10:16 am. Names are partially masked for privacy. Details may change — always check with the Registry.
The Elizabeth Magistrates Court civil registry sits at 15 Frobisher Road, Elizabeth SA 5112, and it is one of only three suburban Magistrates Courts serving metropolitan Adelaide alongside Christies Beach and Port Adelaide. If you are trying to find the daily civil case list for Elizabeth, this page brings together the hearing information that self-represented litigants, lawyers, debt collectors and small business owners search for most often. The court handles the northern suburbs of Adelaide, a catchment that includes some of the fastest growing residential areas in the state, which is why the Elizabeth civil list is consistently one of the busier suburban lists in South Australia.
The Magistrates Court of South Australia was established in 1837, making it the oldest tier of the state court system, and its civil jurisdiction today operates under the Magistrates Court Act 1991 (SA) and the Magistrates Court (Civil) Rules 2013. Every civil matter listed at Elizabeth flows through this legislative framework, whether it is a $900 unpaid invoice or a $95,000 contract dispute. Understanding where your claim fits within that framework is the first step to reading the daily list correctly and knowing what to expect when you arrive at court.
What the Elizabeth civil list covers
The civil jurisdiction of the Elizabeth Magistrates Court is split into two divisions, and the daily list reflects both. The Civil (Minor Claims) Division deals with claims valued up to $12,000, while the Civil (General Claims) Division handles claims from $12,001 up to $100,000. Any civil claim above $100,000 must be commenced in the District Court or Supreme Court rather than the Magistrates Court, so those matters will not appear on the Elizabeth suburban list. This two-tier structure means a single day's list can move from an informal minor civil action, where lawyers generally cannot appear at trial, to a formal general claims directions hearing conducted under full court procedure.
Minor civil actions are designed to be accessible and low cost. The procedures are deliberately simplified so that individuals and small businesses can represent themselves, and legal representation at the trial of a minor civil action is generally not permitted except in special circumstances. Typical minor claims listed at Elizabeth include unpaid debts, small building disputes, consumer claims, fencing disputes under the Fences Act, and minor property damage arising from motor vehicle collisions. General claims between $12,001 and $100,000 cover larger contractual disputes, debt recovery, and personal injury matters, and these usually proceed through a directions hearing and a conciliation conference before any trial is listed.
Minor Civil Direction Hearings at Elizabeth
Elizabeth conducts its Minor Civil Direction Hearings on Thursdays. If your matter is a minor civil action, this is the day your directions hearing is most likely to be scheduled, and the Thursday civil list at Elizabeth is where you will find these entries grouped. Direction hearings are procedural rather than final: the magistrate or registrar uses them to identify the issues in dispute, set timeframes for the exchange of documents, and encourage the parties to resolve the claim without a trial. Many minor civil matters settle at or shortly after this stage, which is one reason the published list can change between the afternoon it is released and the morning of the hearing.
How to read the daily civil case list
Each entry on the Elizabeth civil list identifies the case, the parties, the hearing time, the courtroom, and the type of proceeding, whether that is a directions hearing, a conciliation conference, an assessment of damages, or a trial. Civil lists are published through the official CourtSA system and are typically released the afternoon before the hearing date. Across the South Australian court network, daily lists are generally updated by around 4:30pm for the following business day, so checking late in the afternoon gives you the most accurate picture of where and when your matter will be heard.
Because listings can shift after publication, it is worth checking the list again on the morning of your hearing. Matters settle, defendants file defences, and claims are adjourned, all of which move entries around. If you are appearing in a general claim, arriving early gives you time to locate your courtroom, check in with the registry, and speak to the other party about a possible resolution before your matter is called. For a broader view of every sitting location across the state, our SA court listings today hub links through to each metropolitan, suburban and country court on a single page.
Key details for the Elizabeth Magistrates Court
- Address: 15 Frobisher Road, Elizabeth SA 5112
- Postal address: The Registrar, Elizabeth Magistrates Court, PO Box 160, Elizabeth SA 5112
- Phone: (08) 8204 2444, or freecall 1800 571 191
- Registry hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
- Civil divisions heard: Minor Claims (up to $12,000) and General Claims ($12,001 to $100,000)
- Minor Civil Direction Hearings: Thursdays
- Parking: Free off-street car parking is available nearby
- Public transport: Elizabeth train station is roughly one kilometre away, with buses and a taxi rank at the Elizabeth City Centre
Where Elizabeth sits in the South Australian court system
South Australia runs a court system that is administered by the Courts Administration Authority, an independent body through which the judiciary controls its own administration rather than the executive government. The Magistrates Court is the entry point for the overwhelming majority of civil disputes in the state, and Elizabeth is one of its highest volume suburban registries because of the population it serves in Adelaide's north. Matters that outgrow the Magistrates Court threshold move up to the District Court, and civil appeals from the Magistrates Court are heard in the District Court and, in some cases, the Supreme Court.
If your dispute involves a criminal charge rather than a money claim, it will appear on a separate list. The Elizabeth Magistrates Court criminal listings cover summary offences, first appearances, pleas and sentencing at the same Frobisher Road location, and they are published separately from the civil list. Keeping the two lists distinct matters, because the courtrooms, the sitting days and the procedures are different even though the building is the same.
Neighbouring courts and where claims can be commenced
Residents and businesses in the north and north-west of Adelaide sometimes have a choice about where to file, and understanding the nearby registries helps. The Port Adelaide court listings serve the western suburbs from 260 St Vincent Street, while Christies Beach covers the southern metropolitan area. For larger civil claims that exceed the Magistrates Court ceiling, matters are commenced in the higher courts, and the Adelaide Magistrates Court civil list in Victoria Square is the busiest civil registry in the state. Choosing the right court at the outset avoids the delay and cost of having a claim transferred later.
Starting or defending a civil claim at Elizabeth
Most civil claims in South Australia now begin online through the CourtSA portal, where an applicant lodges the claim, pays the filing fee, and selects a method of service on the respondent. A minor civil claim is usually preceded by a Notice of Intended Claim sent to the other party, giving them an opportunity to pay or respond before formal proceedings begin. Once a claim is filed and served, the respondent generally has 28 days to file a defence. If no defence is filed within that period, the applicant may be able to apply for judgment by default without the matter needing to be listed for a contested hearing.
When a defence is filed, the registry lists the matter for a directions hearing, and for minor civil actions at Elizabeth that hearing will typically fall on the Thursday list. The court will also convene a conciliation conference, the express purpose of which is to try to resolve the claim without a trial. This emphasis on early resolution is deliberate: it keeps costs down for self-represented parties and clears the list for matters that genuinely need to be adjudicated. If a matter does proceed to trial, a listing fee applies, and the court rules contain important provisions about how legal costs are dealt with, which is something both applicants and respondents should read carefully before deciding to run a case to judgment.
Enforcing a civil judgment
Obtaining a judgment is not always the end of the process. Where a debtor does not pay after an order is made, the successful party can pursue enforcement through the Magistrates Court, including investigation summonses to examine the debtor's financial position, garnishee orders against wages or bank accounts, and warrants for the seizure and sale of property. Elizabeth runs an Investigation and Examination Summons list, which sits on Tuesdays, and these enforcement steps are a routine part of the civil workload at the court. For creditors and small businesses, understanding the enforcement pathway before filing helps set realistic expectations about how long recovery may take.
Frequently asked questions
What time are the Elizabeth civil listings published?
Civil case lists for South Australian courts are generally published the afternoon before the hearing date and updated by around 4:30pm for the following business day. Checking again on the morning of your hearing is sensible because entries can change after the list is first posted.
What is the maximum amount I can claim in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court?
The Magistrates Court civil jurisdiction covers claims up to $100,000. Claims up to $12,000 are dealt with in the Minor Claims Division, and claims from $12,001 to $100,000 are dealt with in the General Claims Division. Anything above $100,000 must be commenced in the District Court or Supreme Court.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor civil claim at Elizabeth?
Minor civil actions are designed for self-represented parties, and lawyers generally cannot appear at the trial of a minor civil action except in special circumstances. Legal advice can still be valuable when preparing your claim or defence, and lawyers can assist with the preliminary steps leading up to the trial.
Which day are civil direction hearings held at Elizabeth?
Minor Civil Direction Hearings at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court are held on Thursdays. Your directions hearing entry will usually appear on the Thursday civil list.
How do I find my case if it is not on the Elizabeth civil list?
If your matter does not appear on the Elizabeth civil list, check whether it is a criminal matter listed separately, whether it has been adjourned to another date, or whether it is listed at a different registry such as Adelaide, Port Adelaide or Christies Beach. You can also contact the Elizabeth registry on (08) 8204 2444 to confirm the current status of your hearing.
Is there parking at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court?
Yes. There is free off-street car parking available nearby. The court is also close to the Elizabeth City Centre, which is served by buses and a taxi rank, and Elizabeth train station is about one kilometre away.
