courts

• county court

  majority of civil cases

  areas: all contract and tort claims, trespass of land, personal injury, housing, bankruptcy, probate
• high court - kings bench

  contract and tort over £100k, smaller cases with important point of law, some criminal appeals/judicial review

  tried by a single judge- rare cases entitled to jury
• high court - chancery

  business disputes over £100k, insolvency (debts), trusts, copyright, patents and intellectual property, probate

  companies court - deals with winding up of company

  always a single judge, never a jury
• high court - family

  vast majority never come to court

  international disputes under the hague convention

  extremely difficult cases