Civil courts hear civil matters—which are generally lawsuits regarding disputes between persons or entities in which money, property, or personal rights under the law are at issue. Civil matters are distinguishable from criminal matters, which generally involve a city, state, or federal government prosecuting a person or entity for the commission of a crime.

In Massachusetts, civil courts handle a variety of non-criminal cases involving disputes between individuals or entities over issues such as contracts, property, personal injury, and family matters. The Massachusetts court system is structured with the Supreme Judicial Court at the top, followed by the Appeals Court, and then the Trial Court, which includes various departments like the Superior Court, District Court, Housing Court, Probate and Family Court, and others, each with its own jurisdiction over certain types of civil matters. Small claims matters are typically heard in District Court or Boston Municipal Court. Civil cases often involve lawsuits where the plaintiff seeks monetary damages, equitable relief, or other remedies provided by law. Unlike criminal cases, which are prosecuted by the government and can result in penalties like imprisonment, civil cases usually result in financial compensation or specific performance of a contractual obligation if the plaintiff prevails. The burden of proof in civil cases is 'preponderance of the evidence,' which is lower than the 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard used in criminal cases.