|
You are here: Free & Low-Cost Legal Help > Services at Your Courthouse
Most people think courts are just for trials. But courthouses offer many services. Here are some:
Court Clerk
Interpreters
Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinators
Domestic Violence Clinics
Courtrooms
What to Do With Your Kids While at the Courthouse
Court Clerk
The court clerk is the official record keeper of the courthouse.
The clerk will:
- File your papers with the court;
- Collect filing fees;
- Help you find court forms;
- Help you find the local court rules;
- Tell you about places where you can go to talk to a lawyer;
- Tell you about court schedules.
The clerk can also tell you how to find the courtrooms and the hours of the court. In many counties, courtrooms are called "departments."
The clerk can explain how your courthouse is set up.
To find out more about how clerks can help you, click here.
[ Top of Page ]
Interpreters
The court may be able to provide you with an interpreter if you don't speak English.
Ask someone who speaks English to call the court clerk at least a week before your hearing. Click here to find your local court. Ask for a court interpreter. You may have to pay a fee. If the court interpreter is not available, bring someone to interpret for you. Do not ask a child to interpret for you.
Click here for tips to help you work with a court interpreter.
[ Top of Page ]
Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinators
Each court has an Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator to help persons with disabilities. You can ask a court clerk to speak with your court's ADA coordinator.
Read Persons With Disabilities: Q&A on Rule of Court 1.100. to learn about the court's policy for accommodating persons with disabilities.
[ Top of Page ]
Domestic Violence Clinics
Many courts offer domestic violence programs at the courthouse. These programs (or clinics) help you to fill out the papers for a restraining order. Ask your court clerk if there is a program in your county. Click here to find your court's Web site.
[ Top of Page ]
Courtrooms
Many things happen in courtrooms:
- Trials take place.
- People ask for restraining orders.
- People meet with a judge to discuss settling their case without a trial.
- Judges tell defendants about crimes they are charged with.
- People have hearings on certain issues before their trial.
To find out what goes on in a courtroom, go and watch. Courtroom activities change from day to day and from one courtroom to another.
If you have a case with a particular judge, go watch how that judge handles cases like yours. That way you will have an idea of what to expect and how to prepare.
You can also learn something about what goes on in courtrooms by looking at Stanislaus county virtual courtroom online.
[ Top of Page ]
What to Do With Your Kids While at the Courthouse
Some courthouses have waiting rooms for children. Before you go, call your court clerk and ask if they have one. Click here to find your court's Web site.
| Try to NOT bring your child to court unless the judge orders the child to come to court. |
[ Top of Page ]
<< back
Last modified: 03/17/2008
About Us | Web Site Feedback
Web Policies | Public Access to Records | Accessibility
|
