HOW DO I PREPARE FOR COURT?

1.) Ask for witnesses, people who saw what happened or have knowledge that might help your case, to arrive at Court on the hearing date.

If a witness will not agree to appear, tell the Clerk that you want to subpoena him/her. If the subpoenas are to be issued to witnesses, the defendant must be served first with a copy of the complaint.

You should call the Clerk's Office at least ten days prior to the hearing date to allow the subpoenas to be served upon the witnesses. Certified mail or special process server may make Service. There is a $40.00 fee, plus transportation costs, for each witness subpoenaed.

2.) Gather all the evidence that relates to your claim or your defense. This includes contracts, receipts, promissory notes, letters, canceled checks, or other written material. Bring this evidence to court with you.

3.) Go over the facts and organize them in your mind. You may want to write down the most important facts since you will need to give a clear statement of the facts in court.

4.) Call the Clerk's Office one busi­ness day prior to the hearing date to be sure your case is still sched­uled. Be sure the other party received notice of the hearing. If the defendant was not served with a copy of the Statement of Claim informing him/her of the hearing date, the case will not be heard on the scheduled date.