What kinds of cases do common pleas courts hear?
Each Common Pleas court has a number of divisions to hear various types of cases. The general division handles a wide variety of civil and criminal matters. The domestic relations division generally handles issues involving legal separation and divorce, including child support and custody matters that arise in context of the divorce or separation. The probate division handles matters involving wills, adoptions, guardianships and civil commitments of the mentally ill. The juvenile court handles matters of child neglect, dependency, delinquency, and matters involving custody and child support where the parents are not married.
