What is family court and how does it relate to juvenile court?

Family court and juvenile court are both forms of courts under the umbrella of the California Court System. Family court mainly deals with all issues related to families and minor children such as child custody, child support, visitation, alimony, division of property, etc. Juvenile court, on the other hand, deals with cases involving minors or juveniles (persons who are under 18 years of age). This court has specific jurisdiction over cases related to delinquency, dependency, and truancy, including crimes committed by minors. Family court can be involved in cases that overlap with juvenile court, such as when there is a need to decide custody of a minor or determine whether a minor needs to be placed in the custody of a parent or other guardian. In cases where a minor has violated the law or is accused of a crime, the case may be heard in juvenile court instead of family court. The main difference between family court and juvenile court is that juvenile court has the power to hold status hearings, adjudicate delinquency cases, and commit juveniles to detention facilities, depending on the severity of their crime. Furthermore, juvenile court has jurisdiction over certain cases that family court does not, such as cases involving the emancipation of minors. In conclusion, family court and juvenile court are related in that they both deal with issues related to minors, but the main difference between them is that family court mainly deals with family law cases whereas juvenile court has jurisdiction over certain cases that family court does not.

Related FAQs

What types of programs are available for juvenile offenders?
What is the difference between juvenile probation and adult probation?
What types of services do juvenile probation officers provide?
What are the factors considered when assigning a juvenile to a probation program?
What steps can parents take to protect their juvenile's legal rights?
How is a juvenile offender's future affected by a criminal record?
What is the process for filing a petition for juvenile delinquency?
What is the difference between a juvenile delinquent and a juvenile offender?
What are the primary goals of juvenile law?
What is the difference between a transfer hearing and an adjudicatory hearing?

Related Blog Posts

Understanding the Basics of Juvenile Law - July 31, 2023
Explaining Juvenile Law – A Comprehensive Guide - July 31, 2023
How Juvenile Law Affects Young Offenders - August 7, 2023
Juvenile Rights: What You Need to Know - August 7, 2023
The Difference Between Juvenile and Adult Court - August 14, 2023