What is Chancery Court?

The Chancery Court was a court of equity that existed in England between the 14th and 19th centuries. The court formed as an alternative to courts of law.

Common law courts in England had established rules to grant relief. Many of these rules were very technical and the relief granted litigants was generally in the form of monetary damages. Chancery Courts, by contrast, were able to grant injunctions and specific performance in addition to damages. By the late 19th century, Chancery Courts had become a recognized part of the law of England, and the distinction between the Common Law Courts and the Chancery Courts led to a unified court system.