Other Types of Court

The High Court of Justice Family Division

Generally the most complicated cases are dealt with at the High Court in London such as, cases that involve difficult questions of law such as child abduction, jurisdiction and high end financial disputes.

Appeals against County Court decisions are made to the High Court in the first instance.

Court of Appeal

Generally if a judgment in the High Court is disputed it will go to the Court of appeal where a panel of senior judges will hear the reasons why the High Courts decision was felt to be wrong in law and make a decision.

The House of Lords

House of Lords emblem
The Law Lords as they are known are the most senior Judges in England & Wales and hear appeals from the Court of Appeal. They are the final authority in English law.


European Court of Justice

Some cases are referred to European Court of Justice where the matter is also a question of European law but generally most cases are dealt with in the home Courts.

The Court is based in Strasbourg in France.

European Court of Human Rights

Cases that involve a question of Human Rights have had to go to this Court for those rights to be enforced, however in October 2000 The Human Rights Act is implemented which will mean the Courts of England & Wales will have a duty to consider Human Rights Act questions and claims. This is an extremely complicated area of law and would need expert legal advice.

The Court is based in The Hague in the Netherlands. 



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Information on this page is current and last updated: 12/03/2008

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