You can go to the High Court, the District Court, or the Family Court for proceedings under the Family Proceedings Act 1980. This is subject to certain sections, such as sections 27, 29, 32, 37, and 48. You can go to these courts if you live in New Zealand when the proceedings start. You can also go to these courts for proceedings about a child. This is if you or the other party live in New Zealand when the proceedings start. It is also an option if the child lives in New Zealand when the proceedings start.

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This page was last updated on 26 November 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM40058.

Topics:

Family and relationships > Children and parentingFamily and relationships > Marriage and partnershipsCrime and justice > Courts and legal help

3: Act to bind the Crown, or

"The law applies to everyone, including the government."

5: Marriage or civil union guidance or counselling organisations, or

"Help for couples: marriage and civil union guidance"

Part 1Administration

4Jurisdiction of courts

Subject to sections 27, 29, 32, 37, and 48, the High Court, the District Court, and the Family Court shall have jurisdiction in proceedings under this Act, only—
where at the commencement of the proceedings, any party to the proceedings resides or is domiciled in New Zealand:
in the case of proceedings relating to a child, where at the commencement of the proceedings—
1. any party to the proceedings resides or is domiciled in New Zealand; or
2. the child resides in New Zealand.

Notes

Section 4: amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).