Supreme Court registry
Supreme Court registries are located in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane, with additional regional registries throughout Queensland.
These registries are open for general business on weekdays (except public and court holidays). Check with your local courthouse for specific opening times.
You can file documents in Supreme Court registries from Monday to Friday during business hours (excluding public and court holidays), or mail them to the registrar of the Supreme Court in your local area.
Once a proceeding commences, you must file all further documents in that registry. However, an exception to this is where an order has been made transferring a proceeding to another registry location, in that circumstance, all further documents shall be filed in the registry where the proceeding has been transferred to.
The Brisbane registry can be opened after hours in urgent situations, but a registrar must authorise the opening. You need to pay the relevant fee, as prescribed by regulation, at the time of opening.
If you wish to have the registry opened out of hours, contact the security console of the QEII Courts of Law, George Street, Brisbane on (07) 3738 7744.
Civil and criminal matters
Generally, each court has a criminal and civil jurisdiction:
- A civil matter involves a party (an entity such as a person, company or government agency) who is in dispute with another party and seeks compensation or some other remedy. To start a civil action, generally a claim or originating application is filed in the registry of the court with the relevant jurisdiction.
- A criminal matter involves the prosecution of a defendant for a criminal offence. Criminal matters are commenced in the Supreme and District court with the presentation of an indictment (see below), and may lead to trials conducted by a judge and the empanelment of a jury.
What the registry does
The Supreme Court’s registry:
- receives documents for filing and seals documents for service
- maintains the court's records, including responding to requests to search and copy court records
- performs all necessary administrative work associated with the civil and jurisdictions of the Supreme Court
- has Registrars who exercise quasi-judicial decision making within legislative parameters
- is responsible for all criminal indictments and associated paperwork for the Supreme Court
- deals with warrants issued for criminal matters
- coordinates the referral of warrants to the Queensland Police Service for execution
- deals with other matters, including sureties for bail
Accessing files and documents
In the Supreme Court, you can do a limited search of many civil files online, including wills and estates matters.
Anyone can apply to search and copy certain documents used in civil and criminal cases in Queensland. They can complete an online form, or alternatively, ask at the counter of the registry where the civil action was initiated, or write to the registry, requesting copies of a file or document filed in an action.
Fees may be applicable and are applied in accordance with the relevant regulation. If applicable, we contact you with the total fee and your payment options.
Certificate of indictment
An indictment is a document that sets out the offence that the Crown alleges the defendant has committed.
A certificate of indictment contains details of the indictment, including date presented, the court that heard the matter, the defendant, plea dates, sentence date and sentence (if any).
To apply for a certificate of indictment, use our online form or send a letter to the deputy registrar of the registry. Include the reasons for your request and as much information as possible about the defendant and their matter.
There is a fee for a certificate of indictment. The registry will contact you with the total fee and your payment options.
More information
- For all enquiries about transcripts and recordings visit Transcripts and recordings.
- See the fees for registry matters.