JOSEPHINE TOWNSEND ATTORNEY AT LAW

JOSEPHINE C. TOWNSEND

ATTORNEY AT LAW

PLLC

Practice Areas Experienced Trial Attorney Criminal Law Former Prosecutor Retired Trooper Expert in DOL Hearings DUI Law Experienced Mediator and Arbitrator Appeals Personal Injury on 25% Contingency

Josephine Townsend of Vancouver, Washington is licensed to serve clients in both Oregon and Washington.

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JOSEPHINE TOWNSEND ATTORNEY VANCOUVER WA - LAWYER PORTLAND OR - INJURY

Josephine C. Townsend Attorney At Law 211 E. 11th Street, Suite 104 Vancouver, WA 98660 (360) 694-7601 (360) 694-7602 Fax E-Mail:

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Court Day: • Figure out where you are going Family Court Annex – 601 W. Evergreen Juvenile Building – 2nd floor 500 W. 11th Street Main Court House – 1200 Franklin Street • Arrive Early, and go to your assigned courtroom • Check in with the Court Clerk with your name, and if you know it, the number your case is assigned on the docket. • Bring with you – Pen and Paper so that you can write down what the judge or commissioner decides and tells you. You or the other side will be responsible for drafting an order, which writes out the ruling of the court. Do not try to rely on your memory. • Only one side talks at a time. • Talk to the judge not to the other side. • The moving party (party who brought the action or motion) talks first. • When they are done, the other side gets to talk • The moving party gets one more opportunity to speak (rebuttal) • The judge issues a ruling. You may get another court date to come back and enter an order about what the judge has said. What you should NOT do: • DON’T send letters to the Judge or Commissioner, unless you have filed the document with the clerk, given a copy to the other side and you file a certificate of mailing/service so that the Judge or Commissioner knows that they can read the document. • DON’T just show up without having filed documents and expecting the court to take them from you at the hearing. • DON’T interrupt the other side. • DON’T interrupt the judge or commissioner. • DON’T forget to bring a pen and paper to court. • DON’T forget to read the court rules. • DON’T be a “no-show”. Show up for your court date; Court is not school – you cannot just not go – the court can sanction you, issue orders in your absence or sometimes dismiss your case. The court rules can tell you how to get your court date moved if you need to do that; again, read the court rules. Not every case requires a lawyer; not everyone can afford counsel. There is a volunteer lawyers program in Clark County that may help, if you qualify. They are located at 1409 Franklin St # 101, Vancouver, WA 98660; Phone: (360) 695-5313

Court Rules • Dress Business Casual • No cut offs, halters, hats, shorts – Court is a place of importance to you. Your case, nor anything about court, should suggest to you that you should dress like you are going to the beach. • No food or drink (including coffee) in the court room • Check Rolling Display – there are 2 of them. One for Superior Court; One for District Court. Your case is listed by your last name. Family Court is held both at the main Court house – 1200 Franklin Street, and at the Family Court Annex at 601 W. Evergreen, which is two blocks south of the courthouse at Franklin and Evergreen. District Court is for Misdemeanors, Traffic and some civil including small claims. Superior Court is Family Court, Civil and Felony Criminal Rules on Documents Read the local court rules on filing papers BEFORE you file so you can follow the time-lines, page length and other requirements. District Court rules can be found here: DISTRICT COURT LOCAL RULES (.pdf file) Superior Court rules can be found here: SUPERIOR COURT LOCAL RULES (.pdf file) You CANNOT communicate with the judge or commissioner unless you are in court or unless it is what is called a BENCH COPY. A judge cannot read what you give them as a Bench Copy unless you have given it to the person on the other side of the case as well. When you want to file something in court, you need a total of 4 Copies of your documents: • The Original ALWAYS goes to the Court Clerk. • A copy goes to the other side (Opposing). • A copy goes to the judge or Commissioner (bench copy). • You will keep a copy to refer to in court. Every time you file something, at the end, you must have a certificate of mailing/service which says: “On X Date, I served a copy of this document on”: • Name of Opposing • Court Clerk • Bench copy to Judge or Commissioner X. This certification has to be attached to every document (pleading) you file. You cannot leave out anyone in your distribution list. File your documents. Most papers for family court are due 2 weeks prior to any hearing. A response, generally 1 week prior to hearing. Rules have some changes, so READ THE RULES for your documents. The law library is open weekdays, at the main courthouse, across from the snack bar. Here you can find forms, books on every legal subject, and the ability to research on computer or order books from other libraries. The librarians are helpful, but they are NOT attorneys and cannot give you legal advice. There is a family court help center at the Courthouse. There is a fee ($20.00) to use the court facilitator. If you need help with family court forms, consider using this service.

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Josephine Townsend Attorney at Law Vancouver, Washington Portland, Oregon.

Reasonable Attorney Services. Justice is important to everyone. Personal Injury on 25% contingency. Experienced Hearing Examiner and Lawyer. Skilled Mediator and Arbitrator.

Affordable lawyer for Mediation of Divorce Cases, Arbitration of Civil Cases, Guardian Ad Litem, Family Law, Same Sex Consent Adoptions, Pre and Post Placement Reports, Dissolution, Child Custody, Parenting Plans, Modification of existing orders, Small Claims, criminal law.