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Home > About Us > Administrative Office of the Trial Court >


REPRESENTING YOURSELF

IN A CIVIL CASE:

Things to Consider When Going to Court


DISCLAIMER

This book provides a general description of some of the important steps involved in a civil case. It is not intended to be a complete description of the process and is not a substitute for legal advice or independent research about your specific case, issue, or legal question. References to websites and other resources, including legal services organizations, do not constitute an endorsement of the content, nor a guarantee of the accuracy, or availability of those resources.

 

(also available in PDF) pdf



 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


(also available in PDF) pdf
  


INTRODUCTION  |   in PDF pdf

 

I.

ACCESS AND FAIRNESS   |   in PDF pdf

 

A.   Will stereotypes or bias play a role in how I am treated in court?

 

B.   If I have a disability, will accommodations be made for me? 

 

C.   If I need an interpreter, will one be provided? 

 

 

II.

DECIDING WHETHER TO REPRESENT YOURSELF   |   in PDF pdf

 

A.   Do I have to have a lawyer or can I represent myself? 

 

B.   What should I consider before deciding to represent myself?

 

C.   What if the other side has a lawyer and I don’t?  

 

D.   Can I hire a lawyer to handle part of my case?

 

 

III.

IF YOU DECIDE TO HIRE A LAWYER…    |   in PDF pdf

A.   How do I find a lawyer? 

 

B.   How much will it cost to hire a lawyer?

 

C.   What if I’d like to hire a lawyer but can’t afford one?

 

D.   Can I hire a lawyer to handle part of my case?

 

 

IV.

WHO’S WHO IN THE COURTHOUSE    |   in PDF pdf

A.   What is a “clerk?”?

B.   What is the role of the judge?

 

C.   What does a lawyer do?

 

D.   Who is responsible for court security?

 

E.   Who records proceedings in court?

 

F.   What is the role of the probation officer in a civil case?

 

G.   What does a court interpreter do?

 

H.   Are there other people involved in the court process?


V.

GETTING READY FOR YOUR DAY IN COURT   |   in PDF pdf

 

A.  How should I prepare for court?

 

B.  How should I conduct myself in court? 

 

 

VI.

STARTING A CIVIL CASE     |   in PDF pdf

 

A.   What is a civil case?

 

B.   How do I start a civil case?

 

C.   How much does it cost to file a civil case? 

 

D.   How do I “serve” the complaint?

 

E.   If I get served with a complaint, what do I do?  

 

 

VII.

PROCEEDING WITH A CIVIL CASE   |   in PDF pdf

 

A.   What is a case management conference?  

 

B.   What is discovery?  

 

C.   After discovery, what’s next?

 

D.   Do most civil cases go to trial?  

 

E.   What is a pre-trial conference? 

 

 

VIII.

GOING TO TRIAL IN A CIVIL CASE   |   in PDF pdf

 

A. What is evidence?

 

B. What is testimony and how do I present it?

 

C. How can I get documents into evidence?

 

D. What kinds of decisions might the court make in my case?

 

E. How long will my case take?

 

F. What if my case is an emergency?

 

 

IX.

AFTER THE COURT’S DECISION   |   in PDF pdf

 

A. How will the court’s decision be enforced?

 

B. What if I am dissatisfied with court’s decision?

 

C. How do I appeal the lower court’s decision?

 

D. Will the appeal affect the judgment of the lower court?

 

E. Where can I get more information?

 

F. What if I want to appeal and the time has expired?

 

 

X.

SETTLING YOUR CASE   |   in PDF pdf

 

A. Do some cases settle without going to trial?

 

B. What is alternative dispute resolution (ADR)?

 

C. Do I have to pay for alternative dispute resolution services?

 

D. Is court-connected dispute resolution a confidential process?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

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Last Updated on August 19, 2006 11:18 AM