Family and Children Division

With the proclamation of the Family and Children Division Act, No. 6 of 2016, on February 28, 2018, the Family and Children Division (FCD) of the High Court was established to oversee family and children court matters. In so doing, the FCD facilitates problem-solving court systems to address the underlying factors that contribute to family conflict and offensive behaviour among children. The Division consists of the Family Court, the Children Court and the FCD Court Administration Department, which is headed by the Deputy Court Executive Administrator.

The FCD Court Administration Department

The FCD Court Administration Department is the administrative arm of the Division and provides strategic and operational support for the Family and Children Courts. This Department is responsible for planning, budgeting, financial planning and management, staff management and development, case flow management, and performance management. It also develops and implements the necessary policies, processes and systems to ensure that the Division operates effectively. Administrative units under this Department include: 

• Social Services;
• Human Resource Management;
• Communications and Information;
• Records Management, Court and Law Reporting;
• Information Technology;
• Finance, Accounts and Investment;
• Statistical and Evaluation; and
• Court Systems Audit and Quality Compliance.

The Family Court

The Family Court focuses on resolving family conflict and in so doing, provides psycho-social support in family matters including divorce, legal custody, property issues, maintenance and access among others. This is done through psychological assessments, programme delivery, counselling and mediation services. Programmes offered by the Family Court target a range of issues including parenting and domestic violence. 

Until further notice, all Family Court applications must be filed online ateservices.ttlawcourts.org. To pay maintenance payments, visit courtpay.ttlawcorts.org. Members of the public may contact the Court via email or via telephone at: 

• Family Court, Port of Spain -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | (868) 223-1060 ext. 1254-1258
• Family Court, Princes Town -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | (868) 223-1060 ext. 6400
• Family Court, Tobago -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | (868) 223-1060 ext. 1259 – 1261 / 1265
• Convert2CourtPay Hotline -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | 866-CPAY (2729)
• CourtPay Help Desk -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | (868) 628-8529 ext. 3619
•  Domestic Violence Hotline -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | 866-DVCT (3828) 

Click to download the Family Court Fact Sheet

The Children Court

The Children Court deals with children (under 18) who are charged with offences, children in need of supervision (CHINS) and child care and protection matters. The Children Court also hears children drug and mental health matters. In so doing, the Court uses rehabilitative interventions to encourage positive behaviour change and accountability on the part of child offenders. Such interventions include psychological assessments, counselling and in-house Court programmes such as Court-annexed Peer Resolution and the Children Drug Treatment Court Programme among others.

Until further notice, all Children Court applications must be filed online at eservices.ttlawcourts.org. To pay traffic tickets issued before May 26, 2020 and mask fines, visit courtpay.ttlawcorts.org. Members of the public may contact the Court via email or via telephone at:

• Children Court, Port of Spain - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (868) 223-1060 ext. 1250/1251, 1444/1445
• Children Court, Fyzabad - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (868) 223-1060 ext. 1252/1253, 1343
• Children Court, Tobago - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (868) 223-1060 ext. 6040/6002

Click to download the Children Court Fact Sheet

Modern Court Environments

Multiple Court Locations

To facilitate greater access to justice by all citizens, the Family and Children Division (FCD) has established multiple court locations across Trinidad and Tobago. The Children Court has opened its doors in two locations in Trinidad – St. Clair, Port of Spain and Fyzabad, and one location at the Supreme Court, Tobago. There are two Family Court locations in Trinidad – Port of Spain and Princes Town and one location in Scarborough, Tobago. Plans are underway to open another location in south Trinidad.

Specially Designed Court Environments

The Courts of the FCD were designed to provide a more comfortable and less intimidating environment for all parties involved. Certain matters are heard in Hearing Rooms which create an atmosphere for greater discussion and leaves parties with a sense that their voices can and have been heard. Child and Youth Waiting Rooms provide a safe and youth-friendly environment for children who are waiting for their matters to be heard, and children whose parents are at Court. 

One-Stop-Shop Court Systems

The FCD has brought together a team of qualified professionals, including judicial officers, social workers, psychologists, family mediators, programme facilitators, court administration personnel and other experts from multiple fields into a single unified Division. Each Court also accommodates organisations providing wrap-around services including Police Officers, Children’s Authority personnel, Child Probations Officers and Duty Counsel attached to the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority. These professionals all work together to provide Court customers with the help they need to resolve conflict and improve their social functioning.

Automated Court Services

Court hearings are conducted by telephone, video conference and other electronic means and court applications are filed online using the Judiciary’s e-services platform at eservices.ttlawcourts.org. The payment of court-ordered maintenance, lawyers’ practising fees and court fines are facilitated through CourtPay, the Judiciary’s online platform for payments into and out of court. For more information on CourtPay, visit courtpay.ttlawcourts.org.

Automated and Timely Court Processes

Each court is fully computerized. Automated case management information systems improve the speed and efficiency of dealing with routine operations associated with filing, processing and retrieving case information. Digital voice writing using voice transcription software increases efficiency in the creation of electronic court records.

Fair and Reliable Judicial Process

There are numerous court orders which can be issued to help customers resolve conflict and improve their social functioning. These include psychological assessments, family and individual counselling, mediation and a range of programmes targeting issues such as domestic violence, parenting and drug abuse.

Specialised Staff

To cater to the unique needs of families and children in Trinidad and Tobago, the FCD is fully staff with over 500 qualified professionals who are specially trained to operate in a child and family sensitive, rehabilitative environment.

Responsive Customer Education and Service

For some, coming to Court for the first time may seem stressful and, in some cases, confusing. For this reason, the importance of proactive customer education and customer service cannot be overstated. To foster cooperation between the Court and its customers, and to build public trust and confidence in the court process, the FCD works to ensure that each person coming to Court fully understands the process. Upon entering Court, customers are greeted by Court Services Officers who provide the information and support needed for easy navigation through the court system. Once a court matter begins, customers are also guided to an ‘Intake Conference’ where a court representative explains the court process and provides guidance on the next steps in the case.