Civil cases are lawsuits filed to enforce, redress, or protect private rights or to gain payment for a wrong done to a person or party by another person or party, including private citizens, governmental bodies, or other organizations.

Criminal cases involves prosecution by the government of a person for an act that has been classified as a crime. In a criminal case, the state initiates the suit through a prosecutor. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both.

Family cases deal with the legal regulation of the family and its members, including the formation and dissolution of families as seen with marriage, divorce, custody, child support, family violence, adoption, reproductive technology, custody, support, and visitation issues.

Probate and mental health cases deal neither with crimes (criminal cases) nor damages (civil cases). Instead, it protects the want, rights, and obligations of persons regarding their property when these persons cannot as a result of death or incapacitating illness, either physical or mental.