The Family Court is not just a court for women. It is a court for ALL members of the family: children, women, men, aunts, uncles, grandparents – everybody!1

If you are a father and you feel it is in the best interest of your child that you take care of them, you can visit theFamily Court for information about custody.2

Fathers, mothers and any other guardian who is responsible for the daily care of a child can apply for maintenance to cover education, health and other basic needs of the child.3

The Family Court does not only deal with maintenance cases, it also deals with domestic violence, custody, access and visitation, separation, mediation and child protection cases brought by the Department of Human Services.4

The Family Court hears all cases of children up to the age of 17. The new Family Court will be child friendly and have a special waiting area set up for children, it will also have a video link system in a separate room to make sure that children don’t have to meet their offenders or talk about what happened over and over again.5

If you are a parent with a child who has a disability, your child has the right to continued maintenance even when they become an adult. 6

All children between 12 and 17 who come in conflict with the law are assigned a Community Rehabilitation Officer with specialized training, this helps to ensure that the child’s rights are protected throughout their contact with the court.7

If you feel that you are a victim of domestic violence, you can come straight to the Court to file an application for a Protection Order. The domestic violence law in Belize protects not only children and women, but also men, dependents or parents. 8

Many cases can be resolved with the help of the mediators in the Family Court building, they are trained to help people talk to each other and resolve quarrels - this way, you can save the time, cost and worry of having to take a family matter into the Court room.9

The new Family Court will be accessible for all people. For example, it will have a ramp that will allow people in wheelchairs to access the Court. It will also have new security systems to ensure your safety. The Family Courts also have a suggestion box for your feedback and opinions, so welcome in!10