Self Help / Pro Se
Administered by Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
Thurston County Volunteer Legal Clinic
Website: https://tcvls.org
CLEAR’s toll-free line is open only from 9:15 to 12:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. **Because of staff cutbacks, it can be very difficult to get through to CLEAR so start calling early and often!**
Clear’s toll free number is 1-888-201-1014
If you are a Senior (over age 60), you can call CLEAR’s Senior Line at 1-888-387-7111
FORMS
Forms used statewide in Washington Courts:
http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms
WASHINGTON LAW HELP:
Washington LawHelp is a guide to free civil legal services. This site provides legal education materials and tools that give you basic information on a number of legal problems, and in some cases, detailed instruction and forms to help you represent yourself in court.
https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org
Forms/Process:
Court forms are available on-line at http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/. If you do not have a computer, the local libraries have computers for your use to download the necessary forms. The website provides detailed information, instructions for completing the forms, and check-lists to determine which forms are needed for your specific case.
Translated Forms:
Cambodian / Khmer Forms
ទម្រង់បែបបទChinese Forms
中文形式Korean Forms
한국어서류 양식Russian Forms
Формы на русском
Somali Forms
Foomam Af Soomaali AhSpanish Forms
Español FormulariosTagalog Forms
Tagalog Mga FormVietnamese Forms
Tiếng Việt các mẫu giấy
Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce):
Please visit WashingtonLawHelp.org for details and instructions.
*Mandatory co-parenting class required for matters involving children.
There may be additional orders required in for your specific situation. The instructions above DO NOT transfer title of real or personal property. If there is disagreement about division of debt, property, child support, custody and/or parenting plan, the dissolution/divorce cannot be finalized without a trial. If there are disagreements, in addition to seeking advice from an attorney, mandatory mediation through a third party, such as Dispute Resolution Center (http://www.drcghp.org) is required . If no agreement is reached in mandatory mediation, resolution is determined at trial.
Parenting Class Information - Children In Between
Children In Between has resumed in-person classes. Persons can still attend classes online with court approval.
Children In Between is a comprehensive parenting program that teaches parents how to manage the stress of divorce or separation, and to mitigate the negative effect it can have on their children. In our county, this course is a mandatory component of completing the divorce process, if children are involved. Parents will learn how to communicate more effectively, strategies for successful co-parenting, and ultimately how to create a more positive experience for children.
In-person classes are offered FREE OF CHARGE and will be held on the first Thursday of every month from 6-9 pm, alternating between north and south county every month. Course participants may attend either individually or as a pair, at their own discretion. Class sizes may be limited to what is allowable by Covid-19 protocol, and masks/social distancing will be required (subject to change as protocols change).
To schedule your course, please contact Carole Chase via phone at 360-642-9349 ext. 2640, or via email at cchase@co.pacific.wa.us.
Commonly Used Legal Terms Defined
The legal system is like any other professional field in that there has been, over centuries, a jargon developed by practitioners.
Many of the terms come from Merry old England and even from Rome. Some of the terms are Latin or Medieavel in their origins.
It can be a challenge to follow a discussion if you are not familiar with the terminology. We have tried to keep jargon to a minimum on the site, but it sometimes gets through. We will try to define some of those terms here.
Other Self Help Resources
The link below may help you find information on the Washington Courts Website, and on websites hosted by other agencies:
http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/index.cfm?fa=newsinfo.displayContent&theFile=content/selfhelp
Washington Law Help guide to free civil legal services for low-income persons and seniors in Washington:
https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org