29A. Oral hearing not needed generally

Subject to subsection (2), a Family Court may decide any matter in its civil or quasi-criminal jurisdiction without hearing oral arguments, other than a matter prescribed by the Family Justice Rules.

Subsection (1) does not allow any part of a proceeding where oral evidence is given (including any part of a trial of an action) to be conducted without an oral hearing, unless all the parties consent.

Subject to subsection (4), a Family Court may, in any matter that the court may decide without hearing oral arguments, direct that the matter be heard in an asynchronous manner by exchange of written correspondence with the party or parties using such means of communications as directed by the court.

A Family Court must not hear a matter in an asynchronous manner if to do so would be inconsistent with the court’s duty to ensure that the proceedings are conducted fairly to all parties.

To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the power of a Family Court to hear oral arguments before deciding any matter that may be decided without hearing oral arguments.