Orientation Program for Pro Se Parties Required in King County

Effective January 1, 2011, the King County Superior Court passed an emergency rule that requires all self-represented parties to attend an Orientation Program.

The goal of the orientation is to effectively explain the court process to pro se parties in person instead of just handing out forms with instructions.

Attendance is mandatory and the rule is as follows:

LFLR 20. ORIENTATION PROGRAM IN FAMILY LAW MATTERS
Adopted on an Emergency Basis; effective January 1, 2011

(a) Description and Applicability. To assist self-represented parties involved in family law matters and improve the efficiency of the court, King County Superior Court Family Court shall conduct an Orientation Program for parties in all cases filed under Chapter 26.09 RCW, including dissolutions of marriage, legal separations and major parenting plan modifications.

(b) Mandatory Attendance. In all cases referred to in Section (a) above, all self-represented parties shall successfully complete the Orientation Program within thirty (30) days of filing or service of the summons and petition. Successful completion shall be evidenced by a certificate of attendance filed with the court by Family Court Operations staff. Any party attending the Orientation Program prior to obtaining a King County Superior Court cause number shall be responsible for filing his or her certificate of attendance in the court file when the cause number is obtained.

You can read details about the rule here, on the King County Superior Court website. The orientation will require a small fee that the pro se party is responsible for.

What does this rule mean for me, a pro se party?

We all know that the legal process can be confusing – which is why Pro Se University offers a number of workshops and services to help you navigate the process. So it’s a good sign that the King County Court is starting this program. What the orientation will look like in implementation is still to be seen.

The details about this program and how Family Court Services will notify pro se parties that file after January 1, 2011 are yet to be determined. If you are one of these people, you can contact Family Court Services for more information.

Why are Divorce Rates Declining?

Divorce rates have been declining for fifteen to twenty years, and there are plenty of theories as to why this is happening. In an article published on NPR, Stephanie Coontz, a professor of history and family studies at Evergreen State College, offers two theories. She says either:

1. “Men and women have come to terms about gender roles,” making more stable marriages, or
2. “The recent economic downturn has made it too expensive for unhappy couples who want to split up to make the break.”

If divorce rates are declining because the process is too expensive, there are options.

• You can act as your own lawyer.
• You can sign up for a free Attorney Appointment or attend a workshop and learn where to start.
• You can hire a lawyer for limited legal services, such as help with document drafting or with coaching you about how to manage your case.

There’s no reason for you to stay in a marriage that is no longer working for you. And there’s no reason for you to go through it alone.

We can help. Sign up for a free 30-minute Attorney Appointment on Tuesday, November 16th or call Xenia at 877-776-7310 for a free consultation.

How does the changing role of men and women lead to divorce?

The recession is affecting the job market in America and also changing the role of men and women at home and in the workplace. In a recent story on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, The Atlantic’s Hanna Rosin and author Guy Garcia sat down to explore “The End of the Macho Man.” You can listen to the full story here. 

They started off the conversation with some interesting statistics:

• For the first time ever, the number of women workers outnumbers the men.
• Women are working at better and better jobs these days.
• Women under 30 are - in 147 out of 150 cities - making more money than men under 30.

While women still earn “77 cents on the dollar” to men in salary, their changing roles in the workplace impact their relationships at home. With change comes a lot of uncertainty. One caller, Patrick, shared his own experience:

PATRICK (Caller): Hi. I have two degrees. My wife has three degrees. She's always made more than I. And after being laid off in 2007, I went into my own business and have not made nearly the same kind of wages, and I think now I'm faced with divorce because she can't see that I'm carrying my weight, or she feels as though she's carrying the load of the entire family on her wages and that I don't measure up to her model of male in the relationship, as did her father.

Patrick’s story is very familiar to us – men and women enter into marriages with expectations of what their roles should be.  When life changes that plan, they’re left wondering what to do next.  And when divorce is the next step, there are an infinite number of decisions to make and ways to get there.

Our philosophy is to help you navigate through your family law issues by offering  support when you need it. We offer a variety of services and workshops to help you get control of your case so that you can move forward with your life. Everyone needs help and guidance.  Let us be there for you.

Social Hours at Pro Se University

Enjoy free food and beverages, meet other people going through the same process, and get a huge discount on a Pro Se University seminar all in one night!  We are introducing Social Hours at Pro Se University tomorrow night.  Sign up today.

Wednesday, February 3
5:30 - 6:30pm

Pro Se University has a Social Hour before most Wednesday seminars.  This is a great opportunity to meet other people who are going through the same process, meet our staff, and enjoy some free food and beverages. Social Hour attendees are welcome to stay for the seminar we are offering that night for $35.  That's $30 off the regular price.  Be sure to check out our Class Schedule for more information.