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The face of San Diego County's physical buildings has changed over the past 50 years.
The most recent development was the face change to the San Diego County Administration building. Located at Pacific Highway, the once dotted sea of parking lots was transformed into an underground parking structure and a park complete with playground, grassy areas and a water pool installed to decorate the top of the surrounding land.
The San Diego County Administration building houses the departments that oversee Birth, Death, Marriage and Notary Certificates. It also contains the architectural maps of the buildings throughout San Diego County. The real property tax collector also has an office there along with the County Council member offices.
Its stately halls hold a lot of history with its wooden banister stairwells and tilted floors. The building itself is an ancient architectural landmark.
The main Courthouse for the State of California is located at 220 W Broadway. This building is currently destined for demolition in the near future. It will be replaced with a park-like setting. For now, this building holds the current Small Claims courtrooms, criminal courtrooms and clerk's office. Personal Injury cases may be heard in Municipal court in this building.
With the amount of litigation occurring today, the courts have decided to expedite some proceedings that do not require a lot of time and expense to settle. Thus, Small Claims court was developed
Small Claims jurisdiction is available for cases with a value of $10,000 or less. The parties cannot be represented by attorneys during these proceedings. However, you may want to consult an attorney like The Law Offices of Allan S. Field in order to prepare your case presentation in court.
Small Claims is no longer available in El Cajon nor South Bay. Downtown San Diego and Vista are the only two courthouses that hear these matter.
Municipal Court for civil matter are filed when $10,000 to $25,000 is at stake. This is called limited jurisdiction.
In the Superior Court, civil matters over $25,000, criminal, probate and family matters are heard. The civil matters are unlimited when they are $25,000 or more in damages. The distribution of an estate when someone dies can get very complex if you do not have a will or trust to guide the family members after you are gone. Probate and Family law cases are filed at the Madge Bradly building located at Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. Family Law cases are heard at the 1555 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 location. Child custody and divorces are heard at this location
A new San Diego Superior Courthouse is almost ready to be opened to replace the 220 West Broadway building. It is adjacent to the 330 W Broadway newer courthouse built several years ago to accommodate the increasing amount of litigation and criminal actions that are occurring in this county.
There are many courthouses located in the North County at 325 S. Melrose, Vista Ca 92081 in South Bay 500 3rd Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910 and East County 250 E. Main, El Cajon, CA 92020. Depending upon where your legal issue occurred, the nature of the dispute and the amount involved, will determine what courthouse your case will be heard. This is called jurisdiction.
A lawsuit because a federal matter with the issues of the suit occur across state lines or the matter is federal in definition of the nature of the case, such as maritime and military disputes. The judges are called magistrates. These cases are heard at the Federal Building located at 333 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101. The courtrooms and chambers are very stately. You will find the Internal Revenue Service Department here. Most of the forms for filing IRS tax forms are now available on line.
Bankruptcy matters are heard at 325 W F Street. Bankruptcy court was developed to assist individual and companies to pay or remove debt in an effort to have a new start in life.
Regardless of the matter, consulting an attorney such as the Law Offices of Allan S. Field will assure your rights are protected.