The civil courts of England and Wales handle disputes between individuals, organisations, and government bodies. Here's an overview of the main civil courts in England and Wales:
County Court: This court deals with lower-value civil claims such as breach of contract, debt recovery, and housing disputes. It also has a small claims track for claims of up to £10,000, fast track for claims with a value of between £10,000 and £25,000, and multi-track for very complicated claims with a value of £25,000 or more.
High Court: This court handles more complex and higher-value claims such as personal injury, contract disputes, and property disputes. It has three divisions: the Queen's Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Family Division.
King's Bench Division: This division of the High Court deals with contract disputes, personal injury claims, defamation cases, and judicial reviews.
Chancery Division: This division of the High Court deals with disputes relating to business, property, wills, and trusts.
Family Division: This division of the High Court deals with family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and adoption.
Court of Appeal: This court hears appeals from the High Court and the County Court. It has two divisions: the Civil Division and the Criminal Division.
Supreme Court: This is the final court of appeal in all civil and criminal cases in the UK. It also handles cases relating to devolution and human rights.
In addition to these main civil courts, there are also specialised tribunals that deal with specific areas of law, such as employment law, immigration law, and social security law. These include the Employment Tribunal, the First-tier Tribunal, and the Upper Tribunal.
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