In our legal system, there are only two courts: the criminal court, and the civil court. Most people have a pretty good idea what criminal court is. The police charge a citizen with a crime; the accused person hires a defence lawyer; the crown attorney prosecutes; the judge (or judge and jury) decides if the accused person is guilty, or not, followed by sentencing, or dismissal of the charge. In a nutshell, criminal law involves the state against the person. The result is either a criminal sanction – sentence, (or not).
Everything else that ends up in court, goes to civil court, which, also in a nutshell, involves a person bringing a claim against another person, (or organization), or vice versa.The result is either monetary damages (or not) or an order for specific performance of some sort (or not). Usually the successful party gets an order for legal costs against the other party. (You lost, so you should pay for my lawyer to be here, in addition to your own!). That gets expensive. All of these disputes are collectively known as “civil litigation” and in the vast majority of cases, involve claims for money.
Family Court has evolved from the civil court system to have its own set of rules and forms, but it is still technically under the general umbrella of civil court, given that the nature of the dispute involved is between individuals. Its other major distinguishing point is the jurisdiction it holds to make orders relating to children, including custody, child protection and adoption.
Blog
- The Timeline and Process for Divorce in Ottawa/Kanata: How Long Does it Really Take?
- Navigating Divorce Mediation: Tips for Success in Ottawa / Kanata
- What is a Separation Agreement?
- Is the “Termination Clause” in my employment contract binding?
- Family Mediation: An Alternative Approach to Resolving Family Disputes
- The Best Way to Come Up With a Marriage Contract or Cohabitation Agreement
- What is “Constructive Dismissal”?
- What does being fired for “Cause” mean?
- Have You Been Terminated?
- Do I need a Living Will
- What is a Will?
- Types of Personal Injury
- What Is A Personal Injury Lawyer?
- Legally Separated?
- Is Getting Laid Off Like Being Fired?