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The Chancery Court handles cases involving domestic relations, worker’s compensation, estates, trusts, contracts, review of administrative action of governmental agencies and boards, collection of delinquent taxes, guardianships, and conservatorships, dissolution of partnerships and corporations, enforcement of liens, boundary lines, breach of contract, fraud, election contests, and other matters of a civil nature. The Clerk and Master handles the paperwork and fees associated with this court, and is sometimes called upon to act as a Chancellor to the court.

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The General Sessions Court has a Civil and a Criminal Division. Both of which operate on the same Local Rules of Civil Practice Effective 09/01/2017 (PDF). The Civil Sessions Division is a court of limited jurisdiction. There are no jury trials in Sessions Court. It is not a court of record and all judgments are rendered by the Judge. A person may represent herself/himself without an attorney. A corporation filing suit must have an attorney.

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The General Sessions Court has a Civil and a Criminal Division. The Criminal Division of General Sessions Courts only issue judgments for Misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic offenses. They have jurisdiction for Felony cases on a preliminary hearing basis to determine if there is sufficient cause for the case to be bound over to the Grand Jury. There are generally no juries in these Courts.

To pay in Sessions Criminal, you may either: pay by phone 877-728-8945 or pay online (Online Form).

For a Lump-Sum Payment print and send in this payment application (PDF Format) or pay online (Online Form).

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The Criminal Courts handle both Felony and Misdemeanor cases. Cases are scheduled in Criminal Court after an Indictment is issued by the Grand Jury, after an original Presentment or Information is issued, or after an appeal is granted from a lower court judgment. Criminal Court trials are usually juried trials, although a Criminal Court Judge may hear a case without a jury.

To pay you may either: pay by phone 877-728-8945 or pay online (Online Form).

For a Lump-Sum Payment print and send in this payment application (PDF Format) or pay online (Online Form).

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The Circuit Court hears cases such as appeals from lower courts, contract disputes, civil torts, condemnations, worker’s compensation claims, joint petition minor settlements, name changes, adoptions and domestic matters like divorce to name a few. The Circuit Court Clerk handles the paperwork and fees associated with this court.

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The Juvenile Court handles all cases in which a minor is involved. Children are referred to the Juvenile Court for reasons of delinquency, status offenses, and dependency and neglect issues. The court is now involved in much more serious cases, the seriousness of offenses is escalating and the age of the offender is dropping often to below the age of ten. Because of this, the court has developed operations to insure that procedures represent the best interest of the child, family and community. Habilitation and rehabilitation of youth and preservation of the family unit remain the philosophical goal of the Hamilton County Juvenile Court.

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The Mental Health Court is a "one stop shop" for justice-involved mental health consumers in Hamilton County, linking them to diagnostic help, treatment and necessary supports while in custody and upon reentry to our community. We work with consumers at multiple intercept points within the criminal justice system: pre-arrest, on bond, in custody and on probation. Mental Health Court helps the most vulnerable citizens of our community, many of whom have cycled in and out of the justice system, homelessness, emergency rooms, and mental health and substance treatment systems without ever getting the sustained treatment and support they need for recovery. Mental Health Court transforms lives so that individuals, families and our community can flourish and thrive while enhancing public safety and reducing the cost to our County.

Mental Health Court is led by Director Anna Protano-Biggs. We operate a Criminal Court run by Judge Don W Poole and a General Sessions Court run by Judge Lila Statom. We also operate a track focused on Sexual Trauma. For further information, call the Mental Health Court main line at: 423-209-6195.

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The mission of the Hamilton County Drug Recovery Court is to reduce recidivism through breaking the cycle of addiction and by enhancing the offenders’ likelihood of success in our community. The goal of the Hamilton County Drug Recovery Court is to promote public safety and individual responsibility, to reduce crime, and to improve the quality of life for its participants and their families.