F. A. Q.

Information available from the Clerks' office and Court Employees

Court staff can:

• Tell you the status of a specific case, unless the case or information in the case is confidential. Confidential information is not available to the public because of state law or a judge’s decision.
• Provide the court file on a specific case for you to review. If the case is confidential, you will need a court order to see the file.
• Give you general information on court rules, procedures and practices.
• Provide court approved or required forms or tell you where you can find forms. There may be a charge for some forms. Forms are not available for all legal proceedings.
• Offer guidance on how to compute some deadline and due dates.
• Provide court schedules and information on how to get matters scheduled.
• Provide the telephone number of the local attorney referral service or information about other agencies that may assist you.

PLEASE NOTE:
Court Staff do not know the answers to all questions about court rules, procedures and practices.

Court Staff cannot:

• Advise you about whether you should file a case or whether you should take any particular action in a case.
• Tell you what words to put in a form.
• Tell you what to say in court.
• Tell you what decision the judge will make or what sentence the judge will impose.
• Comment about specific persons you may name in a petition or pleading.
• Apply the law nor give directions about how to respond in any aspect of the legal process.
• Change an order signed by the judge.
• Let you talk to a judge outside of court.

LEGAL ADVICE:
Court staff provides information, not legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney.

REMEMBER:
The court, including the judge and all staff, must remain impartial. They do not take sides in any matter coming before the court.