Boca Raton Divorce Lawyers

Criminal Courts vs. Civil Courts

Courts are crucial to society in the United States. They are one of the pillars upon which society in the U.S. is founded and created. Unfortunately many people do not have enough knowledge about the courts. The judicial branch of the United States is very large, arguably larger than the other two branches, and it affects millions of people. Although there are many things that people can learn about the judicial branch, one of the most basic things that people need to know is the differences between criminal courts and civil courts.

As their name implies, criminal courts deal with crimes. If people commit a murder, rob a bank, embezzle money from their workplace, commit arson, or carry out any other crime, then they face trial in a criminal court. In criminal cases, the people who are accused of a crime are always the defendants. The prosecutors in criminal cases are always representatives of either a state of the federal government. This is because the government is suing a criminal on behalf of the public good.

Civil cases, on the other hand, deal with private relationships between individuals or organizations as well as with offenses that are not considered crimes as per the law. For example, a landlord sues a tenant for rent due, or an employee sues his employer for discrimination. Or, a stockbroker is sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission for violating a rule. Consequently, in civil cases the government is not involved, except when it is a defendant being sued by a private individual or organization.

Divorce cases are civil cases, for they involve relationships betweens private individuals. Because civil cases and criminal cases involve different rules and procedures, understanding those differences is crucial.

Speak with a Boca Raton Divorce Attorney

If you are seeking divorce, having an attorney who strongly understands civil courts and civil cases is important. For expertise and experience in divorce case legal representation, contact the Boca Raton divorce lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. by calling 561-353-2800.