Preparing for Your Court Hearing

 

When it comes to preparing for your family law hearing, there are a few things you should do before the case. The following information will help you with getting ready for your hearing. It is extremely important to make sure that all your ducks are in a row, so to speak before going in front of the family law judge who is handling your case.

 

What Should You Have Prepared for Your Court Hearing?

 

It can be an overwhelming time for you when getting ready for your hearing. The following list is everything you should consider including when preparing your defense:

  1. Witnesses. The witnesses can make or break your case. Witnesses who have firsthand knowledge of what happened with the specific incident in question. You want to have them all written down, along with contact information, and presented to the other attorney at least 48 hours before the hearing if the other attorney wants to reach out. Now, keep in mind that there are things to consider when choosing witnesses. You want someone who can do each of the following:

  • Have vital information that will assist the judge in making a final decision.

  • Can provide solid evidence that supports what you would like the judge to do.

  • Have important information that goes against what your partner is claiming. 

  1. Exhibits. Exhibits include any information that you want to have presented to the court in your defense. Listed below are the most commonly submitted exhibits:

  2. Expert Witnesses. Expert witnesses are individuals who specialize in something that is happening in your particular case. The expert witness will often write a report about what happened in extreme detail and it must be submitted 90 days before the trial. Most people include financial reviews, which determine the value of your assets, or child assessment reports, which determine the overall well-being of the child. 


Tips to Ensure a Smooth and Successful Hearing

 

It can be an overwhelming and expensive process to handle family matters in courts after all other options have been exhausted to come to a peaceful conclusion. The following 5 tips will help you to ensure that you are fully prepared for your upcoming hearing:

  • Bring a pen and paper. You want to take notes on what is going on in the courtroom and regardless of how good your memory may be, it will always be in your best interest to write it down.

  • Get organized well in advance. Regardless of your organizational skills, it can be overwhelming when preparing for a court hearing so the earlier you can have everything organized the better. Depending on how organized you are, it may be in your best interest to invest in file folders and keep everything separated and labeled, so it all makes it to the hearing and you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything.

  • File and serve any documents you wish to rely on. This is vital because it gives the judge some background on what exactly is going on in your case with hard, factual evidence that is documented. 

  • Find out where your hearing is happening and the best way to get there, whether it be by public transit or your vehicle. If using public transportation, account for traffic and if using your vehicle, account for parking and whether the court offers free parking or if it is paid. 

  • Copy any notes for your advocate. If you decide that having someone advocate for you, it is important for them to have a copy of any notes, exhibits, or just general paperwork as well. It is always in your best interest to provide them to them several days before your hearing. 

We here at Genus Law Group know that it is an overwhelming time for you when going through court. We are here to make it as easy as possible for you to get the best outcome.

 
Anthony Spratley
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Experienced Divorce, Child Custody, and Guardianship Lawyer Serving Albuquerque and Beyond