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The different types of court - magistrates' court, Crown Court and youth court - the crimes they deal with and the level of sentences they can give.
All criminal cases start in a magistrates’ court. Cases are heard by…
A Crown Court: normally has a jury which decides if you’re guilty or not…
A youth court is a special type of magistrates’ court for people aged…
Use court finder to find a court in England and Wales or a tribunal in England, Wales and Scotland
How to observe a hearing as a journalist, researcher or member of the public.
How to volunteer as a magistrate, who can and cannot apply, the application form, and what magistrates do in court.
How to challenge a decision by a magistrates' court. Including how to get a fine reviewed, if you did not know about your case, how to appeal to the Crown Court.
Scammers may use these numbers to call you claiming to be from HMCTS and demanding payment. We’ll not call you from these numbers or request payment. If you think you’ve been a victim of a scam, report it to Action...
Professional and public user groups working with us on aspects of the HMCTS Reform Programme, including collaboration on new development proposals.
We review decisions made by people or bodies with a public law function, eg local authorities and regulatory bodies. We can: carry out a judicial review of decisions made by other courts, tribunals and public bodies hear challenges to decisions...
The cases we most commonly handle are disputes relating to: personal injury negligence breach of contract breach of a statutory duty breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 libel, slander and other torts non-payment of a debt and ‘enforcement orders’...
Guidance to help court and tribunal users reduce the risk of catching an infectious disease like COVID-19 and passing it on to others.
What is the Financial Remedies Court (FRC) The FRC is a specialist part of the Family Court. Following the breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership there are often financial issues that need to be resolved. Financial support for children...
The Insolvency and Companies List was formerly known as the Bankruptcy Court. We handle petitions to bankrupt individuals living in London where a creditor has made the petition and is owed £50,000 or more. If the petition is less than...
This bulletin presents National Statistics on activity in the county, family, magistrates’ and Crown courts of England and Wales.
An explanation of the people who may be present in a magistrates' court hearing.
A list of additional courtrooms set up to support the justice system.
We handle disputes about buildings, engineering and surveying. Cases that we hear include: claims about services provided by engineers, architects, surveyors and other professionals in this sector claims about local authority duties relating to land and buildings environmental claims (eg...
How to start a case in the King’s Bench, part of the High Court which deals with claims such as personal injury, libel and contract law.
Court and tribunal capacity in Leeds is set to be boosted by the opening of new state-of-the art courts and tribunals in the city centre, giving victims, defendants and claimants quicker access to justice.
List of regional financial remedy courts and local family hearing venues.
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