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What civil cases does the district court handle?

On Behalf of | Nov 23, 2021 | Firm News

Civil litigation is between two individuals or entities. It typically involves private issues where the state does not have an interest like in a criminal case. In addition, the outcome of a case is not punishment but rather damages, which may often be monetary.

The North Carolina Judicial Branch explains cases will go through small claims court or district court. Small claims court has strict limits for cases valued at only $10,000 or less. Everything else would go to the district court.

Family cases

One of the major types of cases the district court hears is family law cases. These cases include divorces, child custody hearings and child support claims. The court will also handle adoptions.

Monetary claims

The district court can also hear all types of cases seeking monetary rewards. It can hear small claims cases if you prefer to go to district court rather than small claims court. The court will take cases involving landlords and tenants, including evictions. It handles personal injury cases, as well, such as car accidents or premises liability claims.

Other cases

The district court may also hear matters such as boundary disputes. It can help make legal decisions in a situation and determine who has legal standing. In these cases, the court may not award damages but rather issue a ruling to bind the parties to some type of agreement.

Important notes

You should note that district courts will also handle criminal cases. It handles juvenile cases as well. These do not fall under the civil law category, though.

You can have a jury in a district court case if you request one. However, child custody cases are the one type that cannot have a jury even if by request.