What is the difference between small claims court and civil court?

Small Claims Court and Civil Court are two different legal systems in Utah. Small Claims Court is designed to help people resolve conflicts and disagreements quickly and inexpensively, while Civil Court is for serious disputes that need to be resolved with more in-depth analysis and consideration. Small Claims Court is set up to be fast and convenient for both parties. Cases in this court are heard by an administrative law judge and can be resolved in as little as a few weeks. They are also much less expensive than going to Civil Court, since attorney fees and court costs are typically lower. The decisions made in Small Claims Court are binding, but can be appealed in Civil Court. Civil Court is designed to settle more complex disputes, such as those involving large amounts of money or property. Unlike Small Claims Court cases, which do not involve lawyers and are heard by an administrative law judge, Civil Court cases require attorneys for both parties to argue their case before a judge or jury. These cases also take much longer to resolve than those heard in Small Claims Court and are much more expensive. The decision in Civil Court can also be appealed in a higher court. In short, Small Claims Court is for resolving smaller disagreements quickly and inexpensively, while Civil Court is for larger disputes that require more in-depth analysis and consideration.

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