Each state’s constitution and laws establish the state’s courts, which interpret state laws (and generally not federal laws). A court of last resort, often known as a supreme court, is usually the highest court in the state. Some states also have an intermediate court of appeals. Below these intermediate courts of appeal are the state trial courts, where most lawsuits begin. State trial courts are referred to differently in different states—often as district courts, circuit courts, or superior courts.
State courts are often courts of general jurisdiction—meaning they hear all types of cases—involving criminal law, family law, probate law, and general disputes involving money and property. But more populated counties often have courts of specific jurisdiction, such as family courts that only hear family law matters (divorce, child custody, child support); criminal courts that only hear criminal matters; and probate courts that only handle the probate of estates and related litigation.
In Tennessee, the court system is structured with the Tennessee Supreme Court as the highest court, serving as the court of last resort. Below the Supreme Court is the Tennessee Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, which serve as intermediate appellate courts. The state trial courts, where most cases originate, are known as Circuit Courts, Chancery Courts, and Criminal Courts. Circuit Courts generally have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, Chancery Courts handle matters of equity, such as divorces and adoptions, and Criminal Courts deal exclusively with criminal cases. Additionally, Tennessee has specialized courts such as Probate Courts for handling wills and estates, and Juvenile Courts for matters involving minors. Some larger counties may have more specialized divisions to handle specific types of cases, reflecting the state's approach to managing legal matters based on the nature of the case and the volume of cases in the area.