Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) was an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and was responsible for the administration of the civil, family and criminal courts in England and Wales.

When established court services were administered by seven regions responsible for 42 local areas.

They work in partnership with courts boards to ensure that the Agency is focussed on its customers and is meeting local needs.

The Government White Paper "Justice for all", published in 2002, recommended that a single agency should be developed to support the delivery of justice in all courts in England and Wales, instead of the magistrates' courts and the Court Service being administered separately.

The Courts Act 2003 created the legal framework required to make the changes.