Thursday, September 4, 2014


Divorce: Where You Will File Your Petition, And The People You'll Meet

The first place you will go when you file your divorce petition is the office of the court's clerk. The clerk's office is managed by an elected official who hires deputies to help her keep things running.
The clerk's most important duty is to keep the court's records.If someone needs a divorce decree or deed, they would be able to go to the clerk's office to get a copy. The clerk can certify that the copy is a true remediation of the original, so it can be used to prove the truth of the information it contains.
The clerk also collects user fees for the court, and keeps track of payments, such as alimony or child support, which are ordered by the judge.When you file your divorce, you will probably have to pay a filing fee. If you don't have enough money to start your divorce, you may be able to proceed as a pauper, which means that the filing fee can be suspended for later payment, or even waived altogether.
The court reporter records the court's proceedings. Nowadays, the reporter has access to advanced electronic equipment which allows him to easily record the testimony of the witnesses who come before the judge. The accuracy of the evidence is so important that the reporter is likely to keep a typewritten record as well. That way, the court's records will be easily available to anyone who needs to refer to them in the future.
The bailiff also plays an important role in the court's day to day function. She helps the court keep order. If people get rowdy, and need an escort out of the courtroom, the bailiff will be happy to oblige.
The bailiff also takes care of a jury when a trial is in progress. She makes sure its members don't talk to anyone on their way to the jury room from the jury box.She delivers meals to the jury room, or accompanies the jury's members to local restaurants to eat. She also carries messages between the jury and the judge.
The bailiff makes sure the jury is protected from outside influences while they are collecting evidence and reaching their verdict. She also announces the judge's entrance into the courtroom so that those present will stand and show the proper respect. She also runs errands for the judge, and escorts prisoners and their guards in and out of the courtroom.
In larger venues, there are others whose functions may need explanation. Sometimes, so many cases are filed in a certain court that the judge can't possibly hear them all. If your case happens to be one of them, it may be assigned to a magistrate or commissioner. These are people who can hear evidence and make recommendations to the court as to how it should rule. The judge has to approve their actions, and unless something unusual happens, will do so without much prompting.
You can insist that the judge personally hear your case, but to be honest with you, the magestrate or commissioner is as well qualified to make a ruling. If you insist on the judge's direct participation, your case will just take that much longer to resolve. After all, the judge's busy calendar is the reason that the commissioner or magistrate is there in the first place.
When you visit a courthouse, or a lawyer's office, you are bound to hear words that don't make any sense to you. Never fear! Just for visiting my website, http://www.darklifestory.weebly.com you'll get your very own "Pocket Divorce Dictionary" where all the terms such as venue, jurisdiction and filing fee are explained in layman's terms. My name is Lucille Uttermohlen, and I practiced law for 31 years. If you have a question about your own case,so pl z ask me...........


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