The UK civil court system deals with legal disputes between individuals, businesses, and other organizations that are not of a criminal nature. These disputes may include issues related to contract disputes, negligence claims, personal injury claims, property disputes, family law matters, and more.
Civil cases are usually heard in either the county court or the High Court. The county court deals with lower value cases and less complex matters, while the High Court deals with higher value cases and more complex matters. In some cases, appeals from the county court or the High Court may be heard by the Court of Appeal Civil Division.
In civil cases, the burden of proof is on the claimant, who must prove their case on the balance of probabilities. This means that they must convince the court that it is more likely than not that their version of events is true. The defendant is then given an opportunity to refute the claimant's case.
The court process in civil cases typically involves the exchange of written evidence and witness statements, followed by a court hearing where both parties can present their case and any witnesses can be cross-examined. The judge will then make a decision based on the evidence presented to them.
If one party is dissatisfied with the outcome of the case, they may have the option to appeal to a higher court. However, as previously mentioned, there must be proper grounds for making an appeal and there are strict time limits within which to do so. Legal advice should be sought before lodging an appeal.
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