Petty sessional division
A petty sessional division was, in England and Wales, the area that a magistrates' court had jurisdiction over. Petty sessional divisions were gradually consolidated in the 20th century, and were replaced by local justice areas in 2005.
Petty sessional divisions were formalised under the Division of Counties Act 1828, but they had existed informally for centuries as arrangements within the counties themselves.
The areas were restated by the .
