Going to court can be a stressful experience. It seems like a world of its own with its own rules and expectations. It’s normal to feel worried about what to expect.
You don’t have to walk into court completely unprepared. There are things you can do ahead of time so that you feel ready and confident for your day in court.
Know How Much Your Lawyer Charges
Make sure you’re clear and upfront about how much your lawyer charges before you head into the courtroom. If they charge by the hour, ask them to estimate how long they expect the process to take and how many hours they think they will log.
Make sure you’re crystal clear about payments too. Will you be billed throughout the process, or will you pay in one lump sum at the completion of your trial?
You should also clarify payments if you’re paying on a contingency basis. In Pennsylvania, for example, an attorney may charge up to 20% of the compensation awarded in a workers’ compensation case. It’s important to be aware so you aren’t unpleasantly surprised when you win your case and see how much they earned from your settlement.
Ask Your Attorney About Possible Fees and Fines You May Be Responsible For
You have more costs to worry about than just what you have to pay your lawyer. Depending on your case and whether you win or lose, you may have to pay for a variety of fines. Know what fines you may be responsible for paying and how much they cost.
Make sure you ask your attorney about fees too. Courtrooms can charge a variety of fees, from prosecution fees to court costs fees and more. If you worry about your ability to pay these fees, tell your attorney and they may be able to get some of these fees waived for you.
Ask What You Should Expect in the Courtroom
Not knowing what to expect when you show up to court can be nerve-racking. Don’t be afraid to ask your attorney what to expect. That might include what kinds of lingo you may hear, how the courtroom will be set up, and who will be there.
You should also ask your attorney how you should behave in the courtroom. It includes things like:
- Knowing what to wear
- Going through security
- Controlling your body language
- Knowing when to stand up and speak
- How to address others in the courtroom
Practice ahead of time if you’re worried about it. You may be able to practice with your lawyer, or you can ask friends or family members to practice with you so you feel more prepared.
Get Organized
Chances are, there are things you will need to bring with you to the courtroom. It’s important for you to talk with your attorney so you know exactly what you need.
They will go through the different types of evidence that you will present in your case and tell you exactly what you need to bring, whether it’s a check stub, a photograph, or a printed chain of text messages.
There are things you’ll want to get organized for yourself too. For example, you may want to bring a notebook and something to write with. You might also want to bring a water bottle, your checkbook, and a snack. Ask your attorney if you aren’t sure what to bring.
Know Where You’re Going
Courthouses aren’t usually very accessible. You may have to park in a lot blocks away, and when you finally get to the courthouse, you may struggle to find where you need to go.
Take some time ahead of your court date to know exactly where you’re going. GPS the distance from your house to the courthouse. Look up the route you are going to take from the parking garage to the courtroom and know how long that’s going to take.
Go to the courthouse before your trial, if you’re able. You can also ask your attorney to meet you ahead of your trial and show you where to go. They may be willing to show you around the courthouse so you can get familiar with the rooms and locations you need to know.
Get Ready Early
The last thing you want to do when you’re on trial is to be late, but you shouldn’t plan to be on time either.
Get ready early so you can arrive early. You never know if you might run into traffic or if you’ll struggle to find a parking spot. By giving yourself an extra 15 or 20 minutes, you can stress less if something doesn’t go quite according to plan and you find yourself running a little behind.
Leave Your Schedule Wide Open
Court cases are notorious for taking a long time. You might find yourself waiting outside the courtroom for longer than you expected, there might be breaks that eat into your time in the courtroom, or you may get stuck waiting while attorneys talk together with the judge before returning to the courtroom.
Do yourself a favor and leave your schedule wide open. Don’t take a half day and expect you’ll be able to return to work in the afternoon, and make sure you have daycare for your children for the entire day, just in case. That way you aren’t panicking because your court date is taking longer than you expected, but you had other things planned for the rest of your day.
No one wants to go to court. It can be an extremely stressful experience, and it ends up being even more stressful when you don’t know what to expect.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare ahead of time. From figuring out what you’re going to wear to checking out the courthouse ahead of time and leaving your house earlier than you need to the day of, when you follow the tips on this list, you can get some peace of mind knowing you’re as prepared as possible for your court date.
