The High Court

The High Court is divided into 3 divisions:

1. Chancery - The Chancery Division deals with matters affecting land, trusts, bankruptcy, administration of estates, companies, rectification and patents. There is a separate patents court.

2. Queens Bench - In its civil jurisdiction the Queens Bench Division deals mainly with disputes founded in tort or contract. In its criminal jurisdiction it acts as an appellate court. It also has separate courts such as the Commercial Court, Admiralty and Divisional Courts. The Commercial Court deals with causes arising out of the transactions of traders such as export, insurance and banking. The Admiralty Court deals with matters such as collisions between ships. The Divisional Court deals with criminal matters and judicial review.

3. Family - As its name suggests, the Family Division deals with matrimonial matters and matters affecting the welfare of children.

In addition to the 3 divisions the Technology and Construction Court which deals with matters of technical complexity such as those relating to engineering disputes, is a part of both the Chancery and Queens Bench Divisions.

Cases are usually heard by High Court Judges but certain matters are dealt with at a lower level by Masters. The High Court sits in the Royal Courts of Justice and also District Registries which are located in certain major cities in England and Wales.