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California Superior Courts Superior Courts have jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases.
Superior Courts are organized into court divisions based on case type. Divisions within a Superior Court may include Criminal, Civil, Small Claims, Family, Probate, Juvenile, Traffic and Drug Court.
Criminal Divisions generally handle felony and misdemeanor cases.
Civil Divisions may be split into divisions for "Unlimited" cases and "Limited" cases. Generally, "Limited" cases involve claims for less than $25,000, and "Unlimited" cases involve claims for more than $25,000.
Small Claims Divisions generally handle civil claims for less than $7500, if the case is eligible for the simplified Small Claims process. Additional restrictions on Small Claims jurisdiction exist, including financial and other limits on the use of the Small Claims process by businesses and organizations.
Family Divisions generally handle cases involving families and children, including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, child custody, child support, domestic violence, division of marital property and spousal support.
Probate Divisions generally handle cases related to estate administration, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts and wills.
Juvenile Divisions generally handle cases involving juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and children in need of supervision.
Traffic Divisions generally handle traffic-related citations, including parking and other offenses punishable by fines. Some juvenile traffic cases may be heard by this division.
Drug Courts are specialized court divisions that focus on rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration for certain types of criminal cases.
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