A Few More Thoughts About The Case Schedule As I have discussed in prior blog articles when you start a divorce or legal separation (and other family law types of cases, such as a petition to modify a parenting plan) in King County Superior Court, you will receive an Order Setting Domestic Case Schedule from the court clerk. In this blog article I will talk about a few thoughts when you are looking over this document. Serving the Case Schedule - In order to make sure the other side (normally the respondent) has a copy of the Case Schedule, the person who initiated the case (normally the petitioner) has to served a copy of the Case Schedule on the other party. Since the Case Schedule is received at the time the case is started, I normally include it with the various other papers that I have served initially (summons, petition, etc.). This document is very important for both sides to have, as it addresses important dates in the case and the various procedures that must be followed. Serving the Family Law Handbook - Depending on the type of case you have filed, you may also be required to provide the other party with a copy of the “Family Law Handbook”. This handbook has been written by the court clerks office (King County) and explains some of the more common questions regarding divorces, legal separations, parenting plans and child support. The book is approximately 35 pages long and can be helpful in giving a person unfamiliar with the process some basic information. Family Law Seminar (A.K.A. “Parenting Seminar”) - Many Superior Courts, in the state of Washington, are requiring the parties, in a divorce/legal separation action that involves children, to complete some form of parenting seminar. Some parents take offense that they should be required to take a class to teach them how to care for their children, but it is not intended to address that issue. Rather the class is designed to help parents understand the court process and explain how children are/can be affected by parental conflict. The more obvious things to avoid (like arguing in front of the child) are easy to figure out, but they also go over less obvious things as well. In King County Superior Court there is a fee to take this class, but, depending on your income, it can be waived (or less than the full amount). Also note, again in King County, if you do not take the seminar by the “due date” in the case schedule, the court clerk may tack on a “noncompliance fee” of $35.00. It is also important to note that if you do not take the seminar you may NOT be able to address parenting issues in a hearing (later, after the parenting plan is finalized) until you have taken it. Family Law Orientation Class - (A.K.A. “FLO”) - King County Superior Court, in the last few years, have started to require parties who are representing themselves in the case (also known as “pro-se’s”) to take a family law orientation class. I suspect that the class is designed to try and cut back on the many phone calls and in person requests the clerks get every day. Essentially the class will give you information on how the court system works (at least for a party involved in a family law matter) and address the local court rules that apply to these types of cases. Also, in the class, each participate is given a list of other resources to continue to help them address issues in the case. Similar to the parenting seminar, there is a fee to take this class and, depending on your income, it can be waived (or less than the full amount). ________________________________________________ This blog article is not intended to convey legal advice, but only address some of the general rules. Most legal issues, in family law cases, depend on the specific facts. Should you wish to discuss your particular situation with the Law Office of Thomas A. Chillquist, please call or email my office. I am a family law lawyer (divorce attorney) and I represent parties in family law, and divorce, matters in King and Pierce County, Washington, including Kent, Federal Way, Covington, Renton, SeaTac, Des Moines, Fife, Auburn, Seattle, Bellevue, Puyallup, Orting, Tacoma and Mercer Island. Copyright Thomas A. Chillquist
Posted on: Fri, 16 May 2014 22:11:35 +0000
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