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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 Washington State, civil courts handle a variety of non-criminal cases involving disputes between individuals or entities. These disputes can be about contracts, property ownership, personal injury, family law issues such as divorce and custody, and many other matters where the parties seek monetary damages or specific performance rather than criminal sanctions. The civil court system in Washington includes District Courts for smaller claims (typically up to $100,000), Superior Courts for larger and more complex cases, and specialized courts like Family Courts for domestic matters. Appeals from these courts can be taken to the Washington Court of Appeals and, in some cases, to the Washington Supreme Court. Unlike criminal cases, where the government prosecutes violations of law, civil cases are initiated by a plaintiff seeking redress for a harm caused by the defendant, and the standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, which is lower than the 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard used in criminal cases.

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Courts

civil courts

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Courts

civil courts

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