Courts and Legal System

Information about Bermuda's court system, legal processes, and access to justice services.

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Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is divided into criminal, civil, commercial, divorce and probate jurisdictions. For a list of the cases to be heard in The Supreme Court, view the Supreme Court Weekly Schedule under 'Resources'. This schedule is subject to change without notice. See recent Supreme Court Judgments and Rulings The Supreme Court Registry The Supreme Court Registry is responsible for the administration of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. It is established by the Supreme Court Act 1905...

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The Official Gazette

Quick links Government Notices (GN) , Statutory Instruments or Bermuda Regulations (BR) , Legal Notices (LN) Welcome to The Official Gazette As from November 1, 2018, the Government of Bermuda has ceased publishing Official Government Notices in the Royal Gazette newspaper and has instead created a dedicated website for the publication of Government Notices. This website has been appointed as the Gazette in accordance with section 7A of the Interpretation Act 1951. Types of Notices published in.

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Magistrates’ Court

All cases in Magistrates’ Court are heard by a Magistrate sitting alone, except in the Family Court, where the Magistrate sits with two lay members chosen from a special panel. The Magistrates’ Court is where Small Claims Court is held. File Small Claims Procedures (3.84 MB) Cases are settled here when the disputed amount is less than $25,000. Appeals from Magistrates’ Court judgments are heard by the Supreme Court. The Magistrates' Court Weekly Schedule shows the name of the case, the assigned.

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Matrimonial Causes Rules 2023

The Matrimonial Causes Rules 2023 are a set of regulations that govern the process of handling matrimonial cases in Bermuda. These rules are designed to ensure that cases involving marriage and family disputes are dealt with efficiently and fairly. On 2 March 2022, the Senate passed legislation aimed at reducing the stress and cost of obtaining a divorce by introducing “no-fault divorce” to Bermuda.

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Domestic Partnership Licence Application

To have your domestic partnership formalised in Bermuda, you must meet the following criteria: The parties are both 18 years and older Neither party is currently married, or already in another domestic partnership (locally or overseas) The relationship is not within the prohibited degrees of domestic partnership as set out in Schedule 1 of the Act; for example, a relationship between parent and child or between siblings If the couple is in compliance with the conditions outlined in the Act,...

Cannabis Conviction Expungement Application

The Expungement Order online application can be made to obtain an expungement order further to section 6 of the Expungement of Convictions Act 2020 . Successful applicants will obtain expungement for an offence of simple possession of cannabis (7 grams or less) committed before 20 December 2017. After that date, simple possession was decriminalised by the Misuse of Drugs (Decriminalisation of Cannabis) Amendment Act 2017 . Steps to make an Expungement application are as follows: Complete the...

Request for Access to Court Records

There are three ways for getting automatic access to court records if you are not part of the proceedings: When a case is no longer pending or active because it is finished, you can apply to the Registry for copies of documents; When a case is pending, you can apply to the Registry for copies of any originating process (e.g. a writ, petition or originating summons) or orders made in the case; and When reference is made in the course of a public hearing or in a public judgment to any documents...

Occasional Liquor Licence Application

Occasional Liquor Licences shall only be granted for social, charitable or benevolent purposes as per Section 22 of the Liquor Licence Act 1974. All applications are to be submitted a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the date of the event. Requirements to apply for a license Applications for Occasional Liquor Licenses must be made online via the Liquor License Portal at https://lla.gov.bm/ Applicants should apply at least 3 weeks in advance of the requested event. Plans, certificates, etc.,...

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2024 Supreme Court Practice Directions

2024 Supreme Court Practice Directions File Circular No. 1 of 2024 - Acting Puisne Judge & Acting Registrars - 3 Jan - 9 Feb 2024 (281.78 KB) File Circular No. 2 of 2024 - Special Sitting - 26 January 2024 (45.24 KB) File Circular No. 3 of 2024 - Chief Justice - 8 February 2024 (39.58 KB) File Circular No. 4 of 2024 - Acting Puisne Judge & Acting Registrars - 12 February - 1 March 2024 (49.55 KB) File Circular No. 5 of 2024 - Acting Chief Justice - Feb 13 - Feb 16 2024 (39.21 KB) File Circular..

Supreme Court Hearings 2022

November Appellate Jurisdiction: Fiona Miller (Police Sergeant) v Koree Britton 2022: No. 8 app. Shae Butterfield vs. Fiona Miller (Police Sergeant) - 2022: No. 3 Fiona Miller (Police Sergeant) v Damon Edwards - 2022: No. 2 2022/11 app. Patrick Francis v The Queen; April 2019/029 app. Jeffrey Stirling v Minister of Home Affairs 2021 No.32app. Lamont Marshall v The Queen AO 2016/183civ In the Matter of Up Energy Delelopment Group Limited March 2016 No. 183 In the Matter of Up Energy Development..

Domestic Partnerships in Bermuda

To have a Domestic Partnership formalised in Bermuda please note the following: The Domestic Partnership Act 2018 defines a domestic partnership as being between two persons who meet the following criteria: The parties are both 18 years and older Neither party is currently married, or already in another domestic partnership (locally or overseas) The relationship is not within the prohibited degrees of domestic partnership as set out in Schedule 1 of the Act; for example, a relationship between..

International Sanctions 2017

The NAMLC provides important and current information related to sanctions to assist you with Bermuda’s Sanctions Regime compliance. Every effort is made to ensure that this information is current but in order to ensure compliance with the most up-to-date sanctions measures, you are encouraged to refer directly to the relevant legislation and laws and to seek legal advice where necessary. The primary Bermuda law that gives effect to international sanctions is the International Sanctions...

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Update on the Establishment of the Office of the Public Guardian
Ministerial Statement

Update on the Establishment of the Office of the Public Guardian

Senator the Hon Kim R. Wilkerson, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice provides an update to the Senate on the Government’s progress in establishing the Office of the Public Guardian, a commitment first made in the 2020 Throne Speech.

Statement from the Ministry of Justice
Press Release

Statement from the Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice can confirm that a threatening telephone call was received earlier in the day on Thursday, 4 June at the Westgate Correctional Facility. The threat relates to the safety of staff at the facility. The matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness and was immediately reported to the Bermuda Police Service. A formal statement has also been provided to assist with the Police investigation. In response to the incident, appropriate precautionary measures have been put in.

Government Announces New Director of Court Services
Press Release

Government Announces New Director of Court Services

The Head of the Public Service, Cherie Whitter, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Zina-Dawn Trott to the post of Director of Court Services. As Director, Dr. Trott will oversee the management and administration of programmes and services designed to provide alternatives to incarceration, reduce recidivism and protect the community by assessing and addressing offending behaviours of offenders on community supervision orders; submitting reports to the Courts and the Parole Board on...

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