The District Courts and Magistrate Courts hear both civil and criminal cases. The Family Court deals with maintenance summonses. For example, if a husband neglects to maintain his wife, she can apply to the Family Court for an order that her husband makes monthly contributions to maintain her.
Mediation is offered as an alternate form of resolving disputes.
As of 1 April 1996, the Family Court deals with divorce petitions and all ancillary matters as well as all matters related to the Guardianship of Infants Act. In aggravated circumstances, the Family Court can grant a Domestic Exclusion Order to prevent the abusive husband from entering the matrimonial home. The Coroner's Court holds inquiries to ascertain the cause of a person's death and whether any person is responsible criminally for the cause of death. Such inquiries are held if the cause of death is unnatural, i.e. not caused by illnesses or failings of the body's functions. For example, deaths caused by suicides, accidents or murder are considered unnatural.