VIC Magistrates Court List Today

The Magistrates' Court of Victoria is the busiest court in the state and the first point of contact for the overwhelming majority of Victorians who ever step inside a courtroom. It handles the largest share of criminal, civil and intervention order matters filed each year across the Victorian justice system, sitting at more than 50 venues that stretch from Melbourne's central business district to regional centres such as Mildura, Bairnsdale and Warrnambool. If you are trying to find a hearing, confirm a listing date or check where a matter is being heard, this page brings the daily lists together in one place so you do not have to move between multiple official portals.

Every working day the court publishes a fresh daily list for each venue. These lists name the parties, the courtroom, the presiding magistrate and the scheduled start time, and they are the single most reliable way to confirm when and where a matter will be called. Because listings can change late in the afternoon before a sitting day, or early on the morning of the hearing, it is worth checking the vic magistrates court list again shortly before you travel. A matter shown at 10am can be moved, adjourned or reallocated to a different courtroom within the same complex, and the published list is updated to reflect those movements.

What the Magistrates' Court of Victoria deals with

The Magistrates' Court exercises a broad summary jurisdiction. In criminal matters it hears summary offences and many indictable offences that can be dealt with summarily, along with committal proceedings that decide whether more serious charges proceed to the County Court or the Supreme Court. In civil matters it can determine disputes up to a monetary limit of $100,000, covering contract claims, debt recovery, property damage and personal injury claims that fall within that threshold. It also manages a very large volume of family violence intervention order and personal safety intervention order applications, which for many people are the reason they attend court in the first place.

Beyond these core streams, the court operates a network of specialist lists and divisions. These include the Family Violence Court Division, the Assessment and Referral Court list for people with mental health conditions or cognitive impairment, the Drug Court, the Koori Court for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander accused, and a dedicated Children's Court stream in many locations. Each of these has its own listing practices, which is why the daily list for a single venue can contain several distinct court rooms running in parallel.

Criminal, civil and intervention order streams at a glance

• Criminal summary matters: pleas, contested hearings, mentions and sentencing for offences dealt with summarily.
• Committals: preliminary hearings for indictable charges heading to a higher court.
• Civil disputes: claims up to $100,000, including the Industrial Division for specific statutory matters.
• Intervention orders: family violence and personal safety applications, interim orders and contested hearings.
• Specialist lists: Drug Court, Assessment and Referral Court, Koori Court and diversion programs.

How to read a Victorian daily court list

A daily list is organised by venue first, then by courtroom, then by sitting time. Under each courtroom you will see individual matters, usually identified by the surname of the accused or the applicant, a case reference and the type of hearing, such as a mention, a contest mention, a summary case conference or a contested hearing. When you search the magistrates court list victoria for a specific name, keep in mind that common surnames may appear more than once, so the case reference and the venue are what confirm you have found the correct matter.

The list also shows the hearing type, which tells you a great deal about what will happen on the day. A mention is typically short and administrative, often used to set future dates or confirm plea. A contested hearing is a full hearing where evidence is heard and a decision is made. Intervention order matters may show as first returns, adjourned returns or contested applications. Understanding these labels helps you plan how long you are likely to be at court, since a mention may take minutes while a contest can occupy most of a sitting day.

Timing, adjournments and last-minute changes

Most Magistrates' Court sitting days begin at 9.30am or 10am, but a listed start time is the time the courtroom opens, not a personal appointment. Matters within a courtroom are generally called in an order set by the magistrate and the court staff on the day, so parties are expected to arrive early and wait to be called. Adjournments are common, and a matter can be stood down, relisted to another date or transferred to a different room. This is precisely why the published list is refreshed throughout the day and why checking it again before you leave home can save a wasted trip.

Finding lists by court location

Victoria's Magistrates' Court venues are spread across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The flagship city venue is the Melbourne Magistrates' Court daily list at 233 William Street, which runs one of the highest matter volumes in the country and hosts several specialist divisions. Suburban and outer-metropolitan courts carry very heavy caseloads of their own. The Dandenong court list today and the Ringwood Magistrates' Court daily list are among the busiest in the eastern and south-eastern growth corridors, reflecting the population served by those regions.

If you are not sure which venue is hearing your matter, start from the Victorian courts hub, which brings together Magistrates', County, Supreme and specialist court listings for the state in one place. From there you can move directly to the venue you need. Regional courts such as Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Latrobe Valley, Wodonga and Mildura each publish their own daily lists, and circuit sittings mean that some smaller towns are served on set days of the week rather than daily.

Which venue hears my matter?

The venue is determined by where the alleged offence occurred, where the parties live or where the application was filed, depending on the type of case. For criminal matters, charges are usually listed at the court closest to where the incident took place. For intervention orders, the applicant can often file at a convenient venue. Because a single matter can be transferred between venues as it progresses, always rely on the most recent listing rather than an older notice, and confirm the venue name in full, since several suburbs share similar court names.

Access, attendance and remote hearings

The Magistrates' Court has retained a significant volume of remote and hybrid hearings, particularly for mentions and administrative matters, using online hearing platforms alongside in-person sittings. If your listing indicates an online or telephone appearance, the daily list or the notice you received will usually set out how to connect. For in-person attendance, allow time for security screening at the entrance to each complex, and note that phones and recording devices are subject to strict rules inside courtrooms.

Members of the public are generally entitled to observe most hearings, since open justice is a core principle of the Victorian courts. There are exceptions, including many family violence, children's and some sensitive matters, which may be closed or subject to reporting restrictions. If you are attending only to observe, check whether the specific list is open before you plan your visit.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find today's Magistrates' Court list in Victoria?

Select the venue you need and open its daily list. The list shows the parties, courtroom, magistrate and start time for that day. Because listings update during the day, check again shortly before you travel to confirm nothing has moved or been adjourned.

Can I search the court list by name?

Yes. Daily lists are searchable by the surname of the accused, applicant or party. If a common surname returns more than one result, use the case reference and the venue to confirm you have the right matter.

What is the difference between a mention and a contested hearing?

A mention is a short, mostly administrative appearance used to set dates or confirm a plea. A contested hearing is a full hearing where evidence is presented and the magistrate makes a decision, and it usually takes much longer.

What monetary limit applies to civil claims?

The Magistrates' Court hears civil claims up to $100,000. Larger claims are generally dealt with in the County Court or the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Are Magistrates' Court hearings open to the public?

Most are, in line with the principle of open justice. Some matters, such as many family violence, children's and sensitive cases, may be closed or restricted, so confirm before attending as an observer.

What should I do if my matter is not on the list?

First confirm you are viewing the correct venue and date. If the matter still does not appear, it may have been adjourned, transferred or listed under a slightly different name or reference. Contact the relevant registry to confirm the current listing before the sitting day.