Courts of Australia
The High Court sits at the top of both the federal courts and the state courts, which run side by side.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
High Court of AustraliaFinal court; also decides constitutional questions
Federal courts
Federal Court of AustraliaIncludes the Full Court on appeal
Federal Circuit and Family CourtFamily law and other federal matters
State and territory courts
Supreme Court (Court of Appeal)Each state has one
Supreme Court (trial division)
District or County Court
Magistrates' or Local CourtMost cases begin here
Worth knowing
- State courts can also hear some federal matters, a system called 'cross-vesting'.
- There is no separate constitutional court.
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Read the Australia profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Sources
Other systems
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s court-structure diagrams are simplified on purpose and are not legal advice. Report a mistake.
