In a case involving child custody, which court has jurisdiction?

• A. District Court
• B. County Court
• C. Family Court
• D. Juvenile Court

Answer: (A)

Jurisdiction is about which court has the authority to hear and decide the case. For a child custody dispute, the court needs to have power over civil family-law matters and be able to issue a binding custody order. In many jurisdictions, the District Court serves as the general trial court for civil actions, including family-law issues like custody. It can hear the evidence, apply relevant state laws on parenting time and support, and issue a final order in the case.

Juvenile Court, on the other hand, typically focuses on welfare-related proceedings for minors—such as dependency, delinquency, or protective custody—rather than ordinary custody disputes between parents. Family Court (if it exists as a separate system) handles family-law issues but may operate under different procedures or special rules. Consequently, for a standard custody case, the District Court is the appropriate forum because of its broad authority over civil and family-law matters.