Queen’s Bench Division

The Queen’s Bench is the superior court in several jurisdictions within some Commonwealth countries. It is known as the King’s Bench when there is a reigning male Monarch. The King’s Bench was established in 1215 and was named for the reigning Monarch King John of England. It is one of England’s ancient courts. Today, it is one of three of England and Wales’ High Court of Justice divisions along with the Family Division and the Chancery Division. The Queen’s Bench Division (QBD) handles libel cases, contract cases, and civil wrongs which cannot be held in the county courts because they are too complex or costly. The nature of cases that can be held there include negligence, breach of contract, personal injury, libel and slander, human rights breaches, enforcement orders, and more; though those kinds of cases may also be heard in the Chancery Division. The Queen’s Bench Division also handles deed poll applications, bail applications, the registration of judgments from overseas to be enforced in England and Wales, serving of documents abroad and obtaining evidence from other countries’ courts, and so on. These types of cases are heard by the Queen’s Bench Division only.