Lääne county court

Lääne county court is a court of first instance, where civil, criminal and misdemeanour matters shall be heard.  Lääne county court is unique by being situated both on the mainland and on an island at the same time – in Haapsalu and Kärdla. The territorial jurisdiction included the counties of Lääne and Hiiu. Therefore Lääne County Court has two postal addresses: Haapsalu Sadama 21 and Kärdla Põllu 17.

Lääne county court was established on the 1st of January 2003. Until then Hiiu county court operated separately in Hiiumaa. Four judges have been employed in Lääne county court since the 1st of January 2004. Since February 2004 the Chairman of the Court has been Piia Jaaksoo. In Haapsalu civil matters are heard by judge Aita Rajavere and criminal matters by judge Ilvi Mets. In Kärdla there is judge Mart Reino, who shall hear both, civil and criminal matters.

Since January 1996 there has been a land registry department in the structure of Lääne county court. In January 2003 two divisions were established in the land registry department of Lääne county court due to merger with Hiiu county court: Lääne land registry division and Hiiu land registry division.

In connection with the entry into force of the Probation Supervision Act on the 1st of May 1998 a probation supervision department was attached to the court with an aim to carry out supervision of convicted offenders on probation, also to check the performance of obligations imposed on them by a court and at the same time to assist them in social adjustment.