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🇯🇲 Jamaica · first-instance court

Parish Courts

Reviewed· 2026-08-03Kingston

Renamed from the Resident Magistrate's Courts by the Judicature (Parish Courts) Act 2016, which was more than cosmetic: it accompanied an increase in civil jurisdiction and a restructuring into divisions including a Family Court, Traffic Court and Coroner's Court. There is a Parish Court in each of the 14 parishes.

How the court is constituted

Tier
first instance
Court type
Court of summary jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Summary criminal offences, civil claims up to the statutory limit, family and maintenance matters, traffic and petty sessions business.
Seat
Kingston
Established
2016
Composition
Parish Court Judges sitting alone.
Languages
English

Where an appeal goes next

Appeal to the Court of Appeal of Jamaica.

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