The County Court

The County Court in England and Wales handles most civil disputes — situations where someone is suing another person or organisation rather than being prosecuted for a crime. Common matters include unpaid debts, breach of contract, personal injury claims and disputes between landlords and tenants. There is no jury; cases are decided by a District Judge or a Circuit Judge.

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Smaller disputes (currently below £10,000) are dealt with under the small claims procedure, which is designed to be informal and accessible without a lawyer. Larger or more complex civil cases go to the High Court. Scotland has an equivalent Sheriff Court.

You may be asked which court hears small civil claims (the County Court), or what kinds of dispute it handles.

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These questions from the official-format question bank cover the same material. Tap any question to see the correct answer and a short explanation.

1. County Courts deal with
2. Who deal with a wide range of civil disputes?
3. Example of civil law is
4. An example of a criminal offence is
5. The ______ is an informal way of helping people to settle minor disputes without spending a lot of time and money using a lawyer
6. The hearing for the small claims procedure is held in front of a judge in an ordinary room, and people from both sides of the dispute sit around a table

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