Court Divisions
Learn about the different court divisions within the Sixth Judicial Circuit and the types of cases each handles.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit is organized into divisions based on case type. Each division is designed to handle specific legal matters efficiently and ensure cases are heard by judges with relevant experience.
Circuit Court Divisions
Circuit Civil
Handles civil disputes involving more than $50,000, including:
Also includes civil commitment cases such as Jimmy Ryce proceedings.
Circuit Criminal
Handles felony criminal cases and related matters.
Examples include:
Family Division
Handles legal matters involving families and domestic relationships, including:
Unified Family Court
A coordinated approach where one judge may oversee all related family cases. This helps:
Probate and Guardianship
Handles matters involving:
Also addresses issues such as elder abuse and healthcare directives.
County Court Division
County Court handles less complex legal matters and is often the first point of contact for many residents.
County Civil
Handles civil disputes under $50,000, including:
County Criminal
Handles misdemeanor criminal cases, including:
Traffic (Civil & Criminal)
Handles traffic violations.
Some cases are handled by hearing officers, while others may go before a judge. View more information about traffic citations based on your county:
Small Claims
Handles disputes of $8,000 or less.
Designed to be:
Cases may involve individuals or businesses. Additional information, including self-help centers for persons representing themselves, is available the clerks of court websites:
Additional Information
Detailed procedures and rules for each division are available in the court’s Local Rules.