Prepare For Court – First Appearance Hearings
Prepare For Court – Your First Appearance Hearing
Preparing four your court appearance may be a very stressful matter.
Whether you have a lawyer or not, it may be helpful to do some work in advance of your court hearing.
To prepare yourself, do the following:
- Re-read all documents that were filed at the court registry as part of the application process. Avoid doing this a day or a week prior to your hearing because you’re just going to bring on unnecessary stress. Re-read documents well in advance and get any errors sorted out immediately.
- Organize all documents into a binder or file folder. Keep in mind why you are going to appear in court and the outcome you desire. Ask yourself how you are related to each issue. What is your position in the issue of this hearing?
- Prepare a detailed outline for yourself. Prepare all of your evidence so that the judge can come to a favourable decision. Collect documents you think you may need in court. Remember that hearsay evidence is not going to help you. For example, if you are in a hearing for settling a child custody matter, telling the judge that you simply are a good parent is just not enough. Where is the proof that you spend time with your child(ren)? For instance, you may gather entertainment and sporting events’ receipts to show the judge you always took your child(ren) to favourite events and places.
- Make three (3) copies of documents. One copy will be for you and your attorney, one copy for the opposing legal counsel or opposing party, and one copy will be for the judge.
- Always arrive early for your court appearance. It is recommended that you arrive 20 to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled hearing time. This allows you to ensure everything is in correct order and that any questions are answered beforehand. You may also need to discuss an issue with your legal counsel, so your early arrival will eliminate the feeling of being rushed. At the courthouse, there will be a daily hearing list that indicates which courtroom will hear your case. Quietly wait outside of the doors to the courtroom you will enter.
- During your hearing, you will need a note pad and a pen. This way, if a question comes up, you can write them down, because when the opposing party or legal counsel is talking to the judge, there will be no interruptions. Both sides to the case will have a turn to talk.
- Turn off all electronic devices before you enter the court. Don’t even put your cellular phone on vibrate. Turn your phone off. Do not chew gum or have a candy in your mouth during your court hearing.
- Dress good and make sure your clothes are free of stains, tears, and/or bad odors. You want to look and feel confident, even if you have hired a lawyer.
Remember, this is only a basic guideline to prepare you for your first court hearing.
If you hired legal counsel, you will be given instructions on what to do.
