Each inhabited island has an Island Court for minor matters and a Lands Court for customary land, applying custom under the Native Lands Act. With no register of customary title, these courts are the only record of who holds what, and their decisions are effectively the land system for the whole country.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- specialised
- Court type
- Customary and local courts
- Jurisdiction
- Minor civil and criminal matters on each island, and customary land and fishing rights before the Lands Courts.
- Seat
- Island centres across the nine islands
- Composition
- Local magistrates and land court members appointed from the island community.
- Appointment
- Appointed under the Island Courts Act and the Native Lands Act.
- Languages
- Tuvaluan, English
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to the High Court of Tuvalu, via the Lands Courts Appeal Panel for land matters.
Filing at this court
- Land claim
- Filed with the island Lands Court clerk
- Appeal
- Within 60 days to the appeal panel or the High Court
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