The Coordinated Family Law Project announces the availability of a series of Powerpoint presentations on family law issues aimed at helping people who are ‘pro se’ or representing themselves in family law actions in Pierce County Superior Court. The information is designed to be simple, clear, current and specific to local Pierce County court procedures. It can be used by anyone who has a family law question.
“These presentations are not intended to substitue for legal representation or advice, but we hope that they will be a good information source which can help the large number of people who are representing themselves in family law cases avoid common problems and have a more successful result in court,” said Laurie Davenport of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association. For those who do not have Internet access, the presentations are available on the computers in the Pierce County Law Library and the Tacoma Public Library.
The project is a cooperative effort of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services Program, Northwest Justice Project Tacoma office, TPCBA Family Law Section, Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office Family Support Division, Pierce County Law Library, Pierce County Clerk’s Office, Pierce County Family Law Facilitators, Family Justice Center, YWCA Legal Department and Northwest Justice Project CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education Advice & Referral).
Topics include dissolution, temporary orders, community property, service, parenting plans, modifying parenting plans, establishing paternity, domestic violence protection orders and finalizing an uncontested divorce. Nonparental custody will be added soon and other topics are in the works.
The presentations are available on the Internet at http://www.tacomaprobono.org under ‘Coordinated Family Law Project.’ The direct link is http://www.tacomaprobono.org/CFLIP.
Contact Volunteer Legal Services at vls@tacomaprobono.org if you don’t have internet access and would like the material provided in another manner.
Volunteer Legal Services also announces a new Pro Se Family Law Clinic, which began in October as a part of the Coordinated Family Law Project. The clinic is held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at the Access to Civil Justice Center, 715 Tacoma Ave. S. It is for low-income clients representing themselves in family law cases and will provide eligible clients a one-on-one appointment with a family law attorney for advice or review of paperwork. Clinic services are by appointment and can be arranged by calling (253) 572-5134.
