Court officials are preparing for more jurisdiction changes that take effect January 1, when most appeals from county court will be heard by district courts of appeal.

Recommended by the Supreme Court and approved by the Legislature, the pending changes are part of broader reforms that at the beginning of this year expanded county court jurisdiction from $15,000 for cases in controversy to $30,000. (The jurisdiction increases again to $50,000 in 2023.) Small claims rose to $8,000.

Beginning January 1, all parties appealing county court decisions will have to file in district courts of appeal for applicable cases.