07/14/2026
Next up in our series Understanding Our Courts: State Court vs. Federal Court: What's the difference?
Many people assume all courts handle the same types of cases—but that's not the case. The United States has two separate court systems, each with its own role.
State Courts
State courts hear the vast majority of legal disputes. These include:
• Personal injury cases
• Family law matters (divorce, child custody, adoption)
• Probate and estate cases
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Most criminal cases
• Contract and property disputes
Federal Courts
Federal courts have more limited jurisdiction and hear cases involving:
• Federal laws and the U.S. Constitution
• Civil rights claims
• Bankruptcy
• Federal criminal offenses
• Disputes between citizens of different states that meet certain legal requirements
• Cases involving the United States government
The differences don't stop with the types of cases each court hears. State and federal courts each have their own procedural rules, filing requirements, scheduling practices, and body of case law that govern how cases move through the system. Attorneys practicing in both courts must understand these distinctions to effectively advocate for their clients.
Understanding which court has jurisdiction—and the unique rules that apply there—is one of the first and most important steps in any legal case.
Stay tuned for more posts in our Understanding Our Courts series as we continue breaking down the judicial system and explaining how our courts work.
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