In most Member States, the ordinary courts deal with two main types of proceedings:
- Proceedings in criminal matters, i.e. regarding punishable (criminal) offences (such as theft, vandalism, fraud, etc.); these courts can impose penalties and are often referred to as "criminal courts",
- Proceedings in civil matters, i.e. disputes between citizens and/or businesses (for instance, problems with rent, a service contract or a divorce, etc.); these courts are often referred to as "civil courts".
Please select the relevant country's flag to obtain detailed national information.
Last update:
17/11/2021
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