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Chapter 1
The court system
The main English civil courts
The following diagram shows the main civil courts. The term ‘first instance’ refers to
the court in which the case is first heard. Appeals are heard in a different court. The
arrows show the way a case will progress through the court system.
Supreme Court (previously House of Lords)
Court of Appeal (civil division)
High Court of Justice
3 divisions:
Queen’s Bench Division
Chancery Division
Family Division
Magistrates’ court County court
Jurisdiction is mainly First instance civil
criminal but does have civil claims in contract, tort,
jurisdiction in family landlord and tenant,
matters such as contact probate and
orders, adoption and insolvency.
maintenance.
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