Civil law in the Bahamas

For specific cases, special laws apply alongside common law, including laws on the sale of goods, land, leases, mortgages, marriage, children, estates and damages. Relevant authorities and courts include the Supreme Court, the Magistrates Court, the Court of Appeal, the Probate Registry, the Registrar General’s Department, the Registry of Records and the Land Registry. The Supreme Court has comprehensive jurisdiction over civil matters; the Magistrates Court handles many civil cases within its limited jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal is the highest court permanently based in the Bahamas; depending on the applicable law, a further appeal to the Privy Council may also be available. Civil proceedings are governed in particular by the Supreme Court Civil Procedure Rules 2022 and may involve a claim, service, a response, the presentation of evidence, representation of minors or persons lacking legal capacity, and subsequent enforcement. The E-Filing Portal and the relevant registries support filing and scheduling, although accessibility and scheduling may differ between Nassau and the Family Islands. For land, ownership, registration, deed searches, stamp or tax issues and, where applicable, the rules on foreign land ownership must be examined separately; according to the factsheet, a search at the Registrar General’s Department costs 10 US dollars per hour. The Registered Land Act 2025, the Appointed Day Notice 2026 and amendments to land law in 2026 may affect transitional and transactional matters and must be checked for the specific transaction. Marriage, divorce, child protection and adoption are subject to their own jurisdictions and procedures; a person affected by domestic violence applies for protection orders at the Magistrates Court, while divorce and other matrimonial proceedings generally fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Probate Registry and the Supreme Court are among the authorities responsible for wills and estates; depending on the case, the matter may concern probate, Letters of Administration or intestate succession. Claims for damages are often based on the common law of torts; in cases of contributory negligence, a claim may remain valid while the court reduces the damages according to the fair share of responsibility. Limitation or filing periods depend on the type of claim and should be checked before filing. Contractual performance, payment, possession, ownership, estate obligations and court orders may create legally enforceable duties. Negotiations, private settlements or mediation may resolve a dispute, but they do not automatically have the same effect as a judgment, registration or probate. Court fees under the Supreme Court (Civil Procedure Fees) Rules 2023 and the Supreme Court (Fees) Rules 2025, legal fees, registration fees, stamp duties and estate costs are charged separately; the duration and total effort depend, among other things, on the dispute, evidence, service, type of proceeding and the capacity of the relevant island registry. This overview reflects the state of the law based on research conducted on 6 September 2026. Consumer, employment and criminal law may affect a civil-law case but are not treated here as separate areas.