What are civil matters?

Civil matters are cases that relate to complaints of a non-criminal nature. These types of matters often involve lawsuits or court cases where one party believes he is owed money by another.

Civil court cases can arise from situations such as evictions, unpaid loans and breach of contract. Although often decided by a judge or jury, civil cases generally do not result in criminal charges or penalties. Instead, monetary amounts are awarded based on the severity of the case. During the course of a civil case, both parties present evidence to justify their actions, and a decision is made based on that evidence.