If you are dealing with issues involving protective orders, child support, visitation, custody, or divorce, the chances are that you are going to appear in a family court. In order to maximize the chances of judgment in your favor, you must know how to represent yourself in such a court because otherwise things can be very difficult for you. Following is a brief rundown about the same.
Are You Sure You Want To Represent Yourself?
The first thing that you have to decide is whether you really want to represent yourself. Considering the very fact that laws pertaining to these issues are very complex ones, it is always recommended that you hire a family court lawyer to handle your case. The only reason why some people choose not to hire them is that they charge a very high amount of fee. However, there are still some people who choose to represent themselves in the court just because they feel that they understand their situation better a lawyer can. If you are representing yourself, it is said in legal terms that you are doing it “pro se” i.e. for yourself.
Organizing Your Case
Organizing your case is the next step. You are strongly recommended to do a thorough research about your situation before you appear in the family court. There are several online resources available that can help you with your research work. Write down everything that comes to your mind. Make sure that you are not forgetting any important issue pertaining to your case. For example, if it is a case of child support, you must know it beforehand that what types of information the court may ask you to provide, what is the maximum age at which the child support is prohibited in your state and how to calculate that maximum age. You don’t have to know everything – just having a good understanding of the basic things will be enough.
Gather Proof And Evidence
The next thing that you have to do is to obtain proof. Always remember “proof” is the name of the legal game that is played in the family court. Regardless of how honest you are, just stating the facts in a simple way is not going to help you win the trust of the judge. The court needs proofs and evidences. So, do not forget to bring some documentary proofs in support of your claims. For example, in the child support case, the documentary proofs may include proof of income and expenses, such as receipts, bills, pay stubs, 1099′s, W-2 forms, and tax return forms. Keep your objective in your mind (what you want to achieve) while you are trying to gather proof.
You must also be well aware of the procedure pertaining to filing your petition in the family court. You can consult the clerk at the courthouse to get accurate information about the same. These clerks may also help you fill out the petition forms. However, service can be a bit tricky. Therefore, make sure that you are well aware of the rules pertaining to the same in your state.
The first date with the family court is very important. If you are able to present your case efficiently during the first date, it will create a good ground of winning for you. However, if winning is the only thing that matters for you, you must consider hiring an experienced family court attorney to handle your case.
Article Source: Guide to Representing Yourself in a Family Court
