County court

• local court
• jurisdiction to hear almost all civil cases
• max claim usually less then £100,000 but can hear cases more than this if both parties agree to county court trail
• many cases do not make it to trial, parties settle dispute before case is heard
• depending on value of case either heard by

  circuit judges

  district judges

  recorders - part time judges
• judges decide who wins, compensation, remedies, who pays most of the case
• can hear civil cases involving contract, tort, land disputes, wills (up to £30,000) and family cases
• rarely can use a jury of 8 people to decide verdict in case