The Magistrates Court of Western Australia deals with adults, aged 18 or over, required to appear in court after being charged with a criminal offence.
Some criminal offences are known as ‘simple offences’ and will be dealt with in the Magistrates Court.
More serious criminal offenses, known as ‘indictable offenses’, commence in the Magistrates Court. While some of these offenses (known as ‘either way’ offenses) may be dealt with in the Magistrates Court, the most serious offenses must be sent on to be heard in the District or Supreme Courts.
The Magistrates Court deals with civil matters involving claims up to $75,000. For minor cases, the jurisdictional limit of the Magistrates Court is $10,000.
The Magistrates Court also deals with consumer/trader claims of $75,000 or less and minor case consumer/trader claims of $10,000 or less.