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Columbus Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Families Throughout West Georgia and East Alabama
If you've been injured by the negligence of another person, you are suddenly faced with many unexpected problems. These problems can include payment for medical bills, lost wages, ongoing medical needs, lost employment or educational opportunities and even difficulties in family relationships. If your life has been changed by an accident, put one of "the good guys" on your side.

We have been serving Columbus, Ft. Benning and the valley area for over 20 years. We hope our blog can help shed some light on issues we see in our practice on a daily basis. If you have any questions, want to discuss your personal situation or just need information, please do not hesitate to contact us - via email, phone or by an in person appointment.

We hope you never need our services, but if you do, we promise to do all we can to help resolve the matter in the most effective manner possible for your family.

Monday, October 22, 2012

What is Magistrate Court?



Georgia has four trial courts created by the Georgia Constitution of 1983 that may try purely civil claims: Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court, and Municipal Court. These Courts are the workhorses of Georgia’s trial court system. 

The Magistrate Court is Georgia’s small claims court.  It has a jurisdictional limit of $15,000.00. So, a Magistrate Court may not  hear a civil claim that exceeds that amount.  (Although the Magistrate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over landlord-tenant dispossessory proceedings).

One of the benefits of filing a claim in Magistrate Court is that the Court engages in summary proceedings, meaning that the Court simply has a hearing and makes a decision. 

There are no jury trials in Magistrate Court.  The judge hears the case and renders a verdict on the case.  There is no civil discovery in Magistrate Court, although the Court does possess the subpoena power.

Magistrate Court is an excellent Court for small claims that may not warrant the time and expense associated with full blown litigation.  Litigation takes substantial time to bring the case to resolution due to the civil discovery process and motion practice.

If you are agreeable to the jurisdictional limit and foregoing the right to a jury trial in exchange for a relatively quick resolution of your case, the Magistrate Court may be for you.