The High Court: Changes to the Divisions
The names of the divisions of the High Court of England and Wales have changed in recent years. These changes reflect the way that the court system is developing and aim to make it easier for people to understand which courts deal with different types of legal disputes.
The most recent change took place on 1 October 2026, when the Chancery Division was renamed the Business and Property Division.
This followed an earlier change in September 2022, when the Queen's Bench Division became the King's Bench Division following the accession of King Charles III to the throne.
Although the names have changed, the High Court continues to deal with serious and complex civil cases. It is divided into three main divisions, each with responsibility for different areas of law.
The High Court Divisions are now:
The Business and Property Division
The King's Bench Division
The Family Division
Within this blog we will explain the name changes and the jurisdiction of each division.
The Business and Property Division (formerly the Chancery Division) CHANGE EFFECTIVE: 1 OCTOBER 2026
The Chancery Division was renamed the Business and Property Division as part of a major modernisation of the High Court. The change was introduced through the Senior Courts (Transfer, Amendment and Consequential Provision) Order 2026 (SI 2026/723), which came into force on 1 October 2026. The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026 also introduced changes to court procedures and terminology.
The previous name, Chancery Division, had been used for hundreds of years. However, it was not particularly clear to members of the public what types of cases the division dealt with. The new name makes its purpose much easier to understand because it clearly identifies its focus on business and property disputes.
Another important reason for the change was to bring specialist business courts together under one division. Previously, business and property cases were dealt with across both the Chancery Division and the King's Bench Division. The reforms brought the relevant specialist courts together, creating a more unified structure with clearer leadership and allowing judges to be allocated more flexibly.
The changes are also intended to strengthen London's reputation as an international centre for resolving business disputes. Businesses from around the world use English courts to resolve complex commercial disagreements, and having a clearly identified division helps make the court system easier to navigate.
Jurisdiction of the Business and Property Division
The Business and Property Division deals with complex cases involving businesses, property, finance and commercial relationships. It hears disputes involving company ownership, partnerships, insolvency (when a person or business cannot pay their debts), trusts, wills and inheritance.
It also deals with intellectual property disputes, such as disagreements about patents, trademarks and copyright. These cases can be particularly important for businesses because they involve protecting ideas, inventions and products.
As part of the October 2026 reforms, several specialist courts were brought together under the Business and Property Division. These include
The Commercial Court, which deals with complex business and financial disputes,
The Technology and Construction Court, which deals with disputes involving construction projects, engineering and technology,
The Admiralty Court, which deals with legal disputes involving ships, shipping and collisions at sea.
The Patents Court also forms part of the division.
Overall, the Business and Property Division provides a specialist court service for complicated disputes involving commercial activity and property rights.
The King's Bench Division (formerly the Queen's Bench Division)
The Queen's Bench Division was renamed the King's Bench Division in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III. The change reflected the fact that the monarch had changed from a Queen to a King. As a result, references to the Queen's Bench Division in court documents, rules and forms were updated to King's Bench Division.
Unlike the 2026 changes, this was not a major restructuring of the High Court. It was primarily a change of name to reflect the new monarch. The division continued to deal with the same areas of law and retained its existing responsibilities.
Jurisdiction of the King's Bench Division
The King's Bench Division deals mainly with civil cases involving contract law and tort law, including cases involving personal injury, breach of contract, defamation, non-payment of debt and possession of land or property.
The King's Bench Division also deals with judicial review. This is where a judge examines whether a public body, such as a local authority or government department, has acted lawfully when making a decision. Judicial review is important because it allows the courts to check that public bodies are using their powers correctly.
The division also contains specialist courts, including the Administrative Court and Planning Court. These deal with particular types of legal disputes and appeals. The judges of the King's Bench Division also hear some of the most serious and complex criminal cases when sitting in the Crown Court and hear appeals in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
The Family Division
The Family Division is the third division of the High Court. Unlike the other two divisions, which deal mainly with business, property and general civil disputes, the Family Division specialises in family law.
The Family Division deals with some of the most complex and important family cases. These often involve difficult decisions about children, relationships and the rights of individuals within a family.
Jurisdiction of the Family Division
The Family Division deals with a wide range of family law matters, including divorce and disputes about financial arrangements following the breakdown of a marriage. For example, where a couple cannot agree how their property, savings or other assets should be divided, the court may need to make a decision.
It also deals with cases involving children, including adoption, child protection and disputes about where children should live and who they should spend time with. Some cases involve local authorities applying for care orders where there are concerns about a child's safety or welfare.
The division also deals with cases involving wardship. This is where a child is placed under the protection of the High Court, giving the court significant responsibility for decisions about their welfare. Other cases include disputes about medical treatment, surrogacy and international family law.
The Family Division also deals with certain probate matters. Probate is the legal process of recognising the validity of a will and dealing with the administration of a deceased person's estate.
The division plays an important role in protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that decisions involving families and children are made in their best interests.
Summary: The three divisions of the High Court
The High Court is divided into three divisions, each with its own specialist area of responsibility.
Division | Main area of jurisdiction |
Business and Property Division | Business disputes, company law, property, land, insolvency, intellectual property and commercial disputes. |
King's Bench Division | Contract law, tort law, judicial review and other complex civil claims. |
Family Division | Divorce, disputes involving children, adoption, care proceedings and other family law matters. |
It is important to remember that the changes to the names of the divisions have not created a completely new court system. The High Court continues to deal with complex and important legal disputes, but its structure has been updated to make its responsibilities clearer and its specialist services more accessible.
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