Facilitator Services

Betty J. Gould, Thurston County Clerk

FAMILY COURT FACILITATOR

APPOINTMENTS

HOW TO CONTACT THE FACILITATOR

EX-PARTE/EMERGENCY MATTERS

FORM PACKETS

FAMILY COURT FACILITATOR

Parties representing themselves are called pro se litigants. The Clerk’s Office has a Family Court Facilitator available to assist pro se litigants involved in domestic relations cases such as dissolution, legal separation, support/custody modification, contempt, non-parental custody and parentage actions.

The facilitator is available to assist litigants with court processes, understanding procedures, scheduling hearings and processing paperwork.

APPOINTMENTS

All meetings with the facilitator are by appointment only. If you have children, please do not bring them with you to your appointment. Appointments are 30 minutes and there is a $20 fee for the appointment. Please arrive 10 minutes early for your appointment in order to complete the required paperwork.

Stop first at the Family Law Division of the Clerk's Office to verify your appointment and to pay the $20.00 fee.

Please complete your forms to the best of your ability PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT to make the most of your appointment time. Bring your completed paperwork and a list of written questions you want to ask the Facilitator.

The Family Court Facilitator CAN:

The Family Court Facilitator CANNOT:

	Explain Court protocol
	Assist in identifying and selecting forms for family law cases only
	Assist in scheduling hearings
	Check paperwork as to completeness prior to court
	Arrange for interpreter or other special services for court appearances
	Refer to other agencies for special needs or legal advice

	Give legal advice
	Represent party in court
	Complete the forms for any party
	Tell any party what to say
	Provide assistance in any other case types
	Verify the accuracy of information provided
	Answer questions about the meaning or effect of forms or terms thereof
	Establish an attorney-client relationship with you or provide you with legal representation

HOW TO CONTACT THE FACILITATOR

Location:

Thurston County Clerk's Office

Family and Juvenile Court

2801 32nd Avenue SW

Tumwater, WA 98512

See General Information for directions to the Family and Juvenile Court facility.

Making Appointments:

~ (360) 709-3269 - Scheduling Only (No case-specific information will be provided over the telephone.)

Office Hours:

8:00 a.m. noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays

Fee:

$20.00 per appointment. (RCW 26.12.240)

The Facilitator is available to assist you in processing your paperwork, understanding procedures and scheduling court hearings.

Ex Parte Matters

If you need an emergency order because of an urgent situation (such as a restraining or custody order), need a fee waiver to file your case, or have an agreed order that does not require a hearing, you may present your order on the ex parte calendar. All ex parte matters presented to the court by self-represented parties are reviewed by a Court Facilitator for completeness prior to presentation. Form packets are available for certain ex parte matters.

Please check in and bring your completed paperwork to the Facilitator for review by 8:00 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Ex parte is heard twice daily at 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. It is recommended that you have copies of your documents made prior to meeting with the Facilitator. There is a $30 ex parte fee due when you check in for ex parte. If your case is not ready or you have to come back back at another time, there is another $30 ex parte fee due for handling your case again when you return.

Depending on your situation, you may need to notify the other party in advance of your intention to seek an order to be signed ex parte. The Facilitator will advise you in this regard. In that event, you should have the other party's phone number available where you can reach him or her during the day.

When meeting with the Facilitator for ex parte matters, only those documents being presented ex parte are reviewed. If you are filing a new case or want the facilitator to review other documents prior to seeing the Court Commissioner, you will need to make an appointment.

fORM pACKETS

for information on form packets available through our self-help center.

Last updated: 10/15/2009

Mailing Address for all case types and the Location of Civil/Criminal Office:	Location of Family Law, Probate/Guardianship and Juvenile Office:
Thurston County Clerk's Office 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Bldg. 2 Olympia, WA 98502	Thurston County Clerk's Office 2801 32nd Avenue SW Tumwater, WA 98512
(360) 786-5430	(360) 709-3260

General Information About Us

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Last modified: 01/22/2010

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