The Different Types of Courts

In this modern day and age it is ever more increasingly likely that we could need to settle a dispute in court. There are many different types of reasons for going to court, unpaid taxes, matrimonial disputes, robbery, murder, discrimination, fraud, the possibilities are endless. To make things easier there are several different types of courts in England and Wales that deal with specific types of claims for different types of people. These include;

• The County Court

They deal with small claims civil disputes like discrimination, employment disputes, family discrepancies, financial or housing disputes, and things like personal injury. Claims will involve from £5,000 up to £50,000.

• The Magistrates Court

Mainly deal with criminal cases and sometimes civil cases such as debts and child welfare. Every criminal case will start at the magistrate's court and if proven complex they will be automatically passed over to the Crown Court for a trial involving a jury. For cases that do not make it to the Crown Court the Magistrates Court will resolve matters by a maximum fine of £5,000 and/or maximum imprisonment of 6 months. Another branch of the Magistrates Court includes a Youth Court in which deals with criminal offenses by those aged between 10 and 17.

• The Crown Court

They will deal with the more serious criminal cases that will be judged through a trial, by a jury. The Court will also see to appeals made by the Magistrates Court and follow up on convictions that were made by the Magistrate's Court in order to sentence a convicted criminal. The sentences and fines are a lot more substantial than the Magistrates Court.

• The High Court

They deal with criminal hearing and civil cases. They are able to evaluate organisations or individuals ensuring that they abide by the law and act in a fair and legal manner. There are three divisions that make up the High Court;

• The Chancery Division

This division deals with bankruptcy, charities, contested wills and revenues, mortgages, trusts, winding up unfair companies, and other cases in this type of area.

• The Family Division

The Family Division deals with the breakdown of civil partnerships, adoption, domestic violence, divorce, and various other cases in this category. It will also deal with matrimony cases that are appealing against the Magistrates and County Courts decision.

• The Queens Bench Division

This division deals with huge compensation claims and evaluates libel and slander claims caused by organisations actions. It also deals with appeals from the Magistrates and County Courts.

• The Court of Appeal

In England and Wales the Court of Appeal deals with criminal appeals that are appealing against conviction decisions made by the Crown Court. Appeals are made by the Attorney General when criminals are acquitted in Crown Court or if a sentence given is seen as too lenient. The Court of Appeal also deals with civil appeals from the High Court and County Court.

• The House of Lords

The House of Lords mainly deal with civil appeals from the Court of Appeal, but occasional it will have to review some criminal appeals.

• The UK Supreme Court

Like the House of Lords, they deal with criminal and civil appeals from the Court of Appeal and sometimes the High Court.

• The European Court of Justice (ECJ)

In some occasions your case may be transferred to the ECJ). This will generally occur if national governments have not use the right European legislation. Once your case goes through a national court and is transferred to the ECJ for a suggested ruling, which will be relayed back to the national court where it will consider the ECJ ruling in order to make its own ruling based on the ECJ decision.

• The European Court of Human Rights

If you believe your human rights have been breached in such a way that there is no possible legal action within the national courts then the European Court of Human Rights will be able to help deal with your case.

Each court system has been set up to ensure that whatever dispute or claim you are trying to resolve, will be handled by the right court, with the right experience,so that the you get the right justice. There are professional solicitors that will be able to advise you in detail about which court would be best and what factors you will need to consider and help evaluate in your case.

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