Canada’s Legal System: Difference between revisions

*Provincial Court,

*Supreme Court, and

*Court of Appeal.

The Provincial Court is the first level of court. The Provincial Court hears most cases about [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/types-of-cases/criminal-and-youth criminal law matters]. It also hears cases involving ''young offenders'' who have been ''charged'' with committing a crime.

 

The Provincial Court also has several parts that hear cases about civil law matters:

*Family law cases are heard in [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/types-of-cases/family-matters Family Court] (but not divorce or division of property used by the family; those are heard in Supreme Court).

*Cases about smaller amounts of money (up to $25,000) are heard in [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/types-of-cases/small-claims-matters Small Claims Court].

*Cases that involve traffic offences are heard in Traffic Court.

The BC Supreme Court has jurisdiction over most legal cases. It hears:  

*serious criminal cases,

*civil cases involving large amounts of money,

*family cases that are about divorce or dividing property owned by the family, and

*appeals of cases from the Provincial Court.

If someone does not agree with the decision from their trial in the BC Supreme Court, they may be able to appeal their case to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia. Usually, three judges from the Court of Appeal will hear the appeal.