Their powers of jurisdiction were transferred to the "Ämter" as the latter became established. Thereafter the "Ämter" were responsible for the initial handling of civil law matters for the majority of subjects in the principality. More serious crimes would be investigated by the "Ämter" and the sentence pronounced by the chancery court in Celle, once the case had been referred. Where towns had lesser or higher jurisdictions, the townsfolk would be dealt with in the civic courts. Cases for subjects that came under the jurisdiction of the 'closed aristocratic courts' in Wathlingen and Gartow were heard by the respective lords of the manor ("Gutsherren"). The chancery court handled all civil and criminal cases involving the nobility and the majority of senior officials.