Magistrates court rather than county/family court?

[Greatt84]

Our adoption hearing for my son (my husband is adopting him) is being heard in the magistrates court rather than the other courts.

Why is this? Is it because it's simple? (there is no one to contest it)

Thanks

The magistrates court has a little publicised jurisdiction in family matters - in fact all care proceedings start in the mags.

The simple fact is, it's cheaper, and probably quicker, to have a hearing before the justices rather than a family judge. They are all family law trained (it's a specialist role requiring additional training) and their legal advisor is a lawyer so it should be very straightforward in an uncontested matter.