Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear
civil cases between private
litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and go by different names in different jurisdictions. For example, it may be known as a county or
magistrate's court. These courts can be found in
Australia,
Brazil,
Canada,
England and Wales,
Ireland,
Israel,
New Zealand,
Singapore,
Scotland,
South Africa,
Hong Kong, and the
United States.