FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers for the Cairns Regional Bailiff

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some process servers on the street to impersonate an officer of the Court. There are also out-of-date websites that mislead the public away from accurate relevant information. Any appointed officer of the Court, when requested, must be able to provide Court issued photo identification. You can also contact the local Registry to confirm who holds the current appointment.

For more information please visit: https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/contacts/courthouses

Under the Magistrates Court Act 1921, and the Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991, the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 and the Public Service Act 2008, the Bailiff/Enforcement Officer is under direction of the principal registrar to enforce warrants issued by the Court.

The Bailiff/Enforcement Officer provides an additional service to the general public to assist in the service of Supreme and District Court Documents, Peace and Good Behaviour Complaints, Magistrate Court and Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal documents (QCAT)

The Queensland Court provides a fee schedule under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999. Each jurisdiction has a fee guide for that area and service required.

The Cairns Regional Bailiff/Enforcement Officer will use this fee structure to provide you with a quote.

For more information please visit: https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/about/fees/fees-in-the-courts/magistrates-court-fees

The Cairns Regional Bailiff/Enforcement Officer is not an employee of the Court. The appointment requires that the Bailiff/Enforcement Officer is independently contracted by the Court to complete this role and works from a private office not open to the general public. However, you can contact the Bailiff/Enforcement Officer via the contact page

  1. Please use the contact form to contact the office.
  2. Once we receive your enquiry, we will provide you with an email quote on service fees and further instructions as required.
  3. Once payment and documents are received, our team will process your service documents and issue the file to the Bailiff for service. 
  4. Attendance will be made in a timely manner. Urgent service is not available, and regional files will be prioritised to workload requirements. You will be provided with an email report advising the outcome of attendance.
  5. Once service has been effected, you will be provided with an affidavit of service, and this will be forwarded to your nominated address provided. 

A Bailiff/Enforcement Officer is appointed by the Court to serve and enforce process judgements and orders. 

The Bailiff/Enforcement Officer provides an additional service to the general public to assist in the service of Supreme and District Court Documents, Peace and Good Behaviour Complaints, Magistrate Court and Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal documents (QCAT)

The Cairns Regional Bailiff office can provide you with assistance/guidance on how to have other matters served. 

Please contact the Bailiff’s office for more information 

No, it is not a requirement of the Bailiff/Enforcement officer role to undertake service of documents as requested by the general public. 

The Bailiff/Enforcement Officer is only obligated under the appointment to complete work that is directed by the principal registrar. 

The Bailiff/Enforcement Officer offers ‘process service of documents’ as an additional service to the Magistrates Court and Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)

The Court hierarchy in Queensland:

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) – deals with a variety of matters including guardianship, building disputes, consumer/trader disputes, dividing fences, tree disputes, residential tenancy disputes and other civil matters. They also handle debt disputes up to $25,000.

Magistrates Court – The first level of the QLD Courts system. Most criminal cases are first heard in this court in some form. The magistrate also makes all decisions on civil cases, including an order that one side pay the other money or perform certain actions to rectify a problem if the amount in dispute is $150,000 or less.  

District Court – Deals with serious crimes, including armed robbery, rape, dangerous driving , and money disputes of $150,000 to $750,000.

Supreme Court – The highest court in QLD, and includes the trial division and the Court of Appeal. The trial division hears the most serious criminal cases, including murder, manslaughter and serious drug offences. The division also hears all civil matters involving amounts over $750,000.

The Bailiff/Enforcement Officer is not able to offer legal advice. Please contact your local registry to seek clarification on which Court jurisdiction you need.