Ratanda residents will have an opportunity to engage directly with court officials and seek guidance on a range of legal matters when the Heidelberg Court hosts an outreach programme at Ratanda Hall on October 28.

Court manager Ivy Myen said the initiative would provide information on key court services, including small claims, maintenance and domestic violence matters, while giving residents an opportunity to raise questions about other legal issues.

“The community will be allowed to ask any questions regarding all the services we are rendering. The magistrate, commissioners, prosecutor and Legal Aid representatives will be present to answer questions and provide clarity on matters affecting residents, including criminal cases, children’s court, divorce, civil matters and deceased estates,” she said.

Myen added that residents would not need to bring any documents to attend the programme, and Ratanda was selected as the venue because of its large community population.

“We chose Ratanda because that is where most community members reside and the Department of Justice is organising the outreach to improve public awareness of court services and help residents better understand the legal assistance available to them,” she said.