Civil law is a body of rules that defines and protects the private rights of citizens, offers legal remedies that may be sought in a dispute, and covers areas of law such as contracts, torts, property and family law. Civil law is derived from the laws of ancient Rome which used doctrines to develop a code that determined how legal issues would be decided. To explore this concept, consider the following civil law definition.

Civil courts handle a wide variety of cases involving numerous legal issues. Very broadly, civil cases may involve such things as, for example, Tort claims. ... Cases involving claims for such things as personal injury, battery, negligence, defamation, medical malpractice, fraud, and many others

The vital role of the civil law today is to provide the foundations for legal institutions, doctrines and transactions at the basis of civil society and commercial law while balancing private rights with legal obligations and responsibilities.

All of these cases go to a Civil Court. The judges in criminal and civil court have different powers. Criminal Court judges can punish you for breaking the law by sending you to jail. Civil Court judges can order you to pay money or a fine, or make decisions about your family or your home.