Finding your courthouse

Filing in the wrong court can cause delays or require you to start over. Our guided interviews often help you identify the correct court based on your situation, but you can also use the information below to find your court.

Why the right court matters

Different courts handle different types of cases, and each court only has authority (called "jurisdiction") over certain geographic areas and subject matters. There may also be other requirements, like a minimum or maximum dollar amount for certain courts.

• Geographic jurisdiction: Depends on where you live, where the other party lives, or where something happened.
• Subject matter jurisdiction: Different courts handle family matters, cases about someone who died, housing disagreements, criminal cases, small claims, criminal cases involving children, and cases about ownership of land.
• Monetary limits: Some courts only handle cases involving amounts below or above a certain dollar value.

How to determine which court

Consider these factors:

1. Type of case: Is it a family matter, housing issue, small claim, or something else?
2. Amount involved: Small claims courts have dollar limits; larger amounts may require a different court.
3. Location: Courts are typically organized by county or district.
4. Existing case: If you already have a case, you must file in the same court where it's pending.

Find courts in your state

Select your jurisdiction for specific court finder tools and information:

Information you'll need

When looking for your court, you'll likely need to know:

• Your address or the location related to your case
• The type of legal issue you're dealing with
• Your case number (if you have an existing case)

Learn more about what information court forms need.