Other Pro Se University Services

We understand all family law issues.  We can help.

Pro Se University PS will take you step-by-step through the process of representing yourself in your King County Superior Court family law matter at either the Kent or Seattle courthouse.  If you need Attorney or Paralegal Support regarding one of these issues, email or call us to set up your appointment.

Over the next several months, we will expand our menu of Webinars and Seminars to help you work through the family law issues summarized below. If you are interested in attending a Webinar or Seminar on one of these issues, send us an email identifying your issues and general situation. Please do not disclose any personal information about yourself or your case in your email, to protect your confidentiality. This will help us to tailor our future Webinars and Seminars to what you need.

• Dissolution of Marriage - If you need to dissolve your marriage, learn the basics and the process first.  These Pro Se University PS services include the information you need to file an agreed petition, or to file or respond to a contested petition, with or without children.


• Dissolution of a Domestic Partnership - If you are in a registered domestic partnership that you need to dissolve either by agreement or on a contested basis, use this proceeding.  You can obtain a parenting plan and child support order if you have children with your domestic partner. These Pro Se University PS services provide the information you need to file an agreed petition, or to file or respond to a contested petition, with or without children.


• Petition to Modify a Parenting Plan - If your existing parenting plan no longer works for your family because of substantial changes in your circumstances, you can petition to modify it using this proceeding.  This petition can include a request to modify your child support order as well.  If you are served with a petition to modify your parenting plan, you must respond.  These Pro Se University PS services provide the information you need to file an agreed petition to modify your parenting plan, or to file or respond to a contested petition.


• Drafting a Parenting Plan - Use these Pro Se University services to learn about the tricks and traps in drafting a comprehensive parenting plan, to include how to develop a residential schedule for the nontraditional worker.  Also learn how to draft effective restrictions for a parent with drug, alcohol or mental health problems, domestic violence issues, or other issues that require limitations on that parent’s time with and decision-making about the children.  Many other aspects of the parenting plan are addressed.


• Petition for Establishment of Parentage (Paternity) - If you have a child with someone you are not married to and need to establish that you are or the other parent is the father, you need to file a Petition for Establishment of Parentage.  You can file a petition that only establishes parentage, you can file to establish parentage and a parenting plan, or you can file to establish parentage, a parenting plan, and a child support order.  If you are served with a petition to establish parentage of a child, you must respond.  These Pro Se University PS services provide the information you need to file an agreed petition to establish parentage, or to file or respond to a contested petition.


• Petition for Establishment of a Parenting Plan - If you have a child with someone you are not married to and have already established that you are or the other parent is the father and you want to establish a parenting plan, then you need to file a Petition for Establishment of a Parenting Plan.  You can also obtain a child support order as part of your petition.  If you are served with a petition to establish parentage of a child, you must respond.  These Pro Se University PS services provide the information you need to file an agreed petition to establish a parenting plan, or to file or respond to a contested petition.


• Property Division - These Pro Se University services provide ideas and strategies for dividing your property, including real estate, pension and retirement plans, vehicles, personal property, intellectual property, investment and other financial institution accounts.


• Debt Division - Use these Pro Se University PS services to learn about dividing your debts, including mortgages, car payments, credit card debts, and other financial obligations.


• Notice of Relocation of Children - If you intend or the other parent intends to relocate with your children, use these Pro Se University PS services to learn how the relocation process works.  Also, learn about how to challenge a notice of relocation or defend against a parent’s objection to your relocation.


• Petition for Nonparental Custody - Use these Pro Se University PS services if you need to take custody of someone else’s children due to the parents’ illness, drug or alcohol addiction, incarceration, etc.  Learn how the nonparental custody petition process works.  Also, learn how to draft, file and serve the other parties with your petition.  If you have been served with a nonparental custody petition, use these Pro Se University PS services to learn about your rights and responsibilities in the process, and how to respond to the petition.


• Petition for a Domestic Violence Protection Order - These orders are available to anyone who is the victim of domestic violence, regardless of marital status, gender, or age. If you or your children are victims of domestic violence, learn how to file a petition for a protection order and how to take it through the court system to obtain a permanent order.  If you have been served with a protection order petition, use these Pro Se University PS services to learn about your rights and responsibilities in the process, and how to respond to the petition.


• Motion for Ex Parte Restraining Orders - Anyone with a pending family law petition may apply to the ex parte court for restraining orders until final orders in the pending action have been entered.  If an emergency arises while your case is pending that requires an immediate order to prevent imminent harm, such as domestic violence, child abuse, or improper use or wasting of community assets or funds, you can ask the court for emergency ex parte relief.  Pro Se University PS can show you how to bring a motion for an ex parte order and take it through the court system to obtain a temporary order that will remain in place until final orders are entered in your case.  If you have been served with a motion for an ex parte restraining order, learn about your rights and responsibilities in the process, and how to respond to the motion.


• Motion for Temporary Orders - If you have a pending family law petition and you cannot wait until your case is over to deal with an issue that is not an emergency, such as a parenting plan or child support order for your children, or payment of debts or use of assets, you can ask the court for temporary orders.  These Pro Se University PS services will show you how to bring a motion for temporary orders that will remain in place until final orders are entered in your case.  If you have been served with a motion for temporary orders, learn about your rights and responsibilities in the process, and how to respond to the motion.


• Process Service on the Other Party - For the court to hear your case, it must have personal jurisdiction over both you and the other party.  This happens when all parties to the case have been served with the original summons and petition.  This is called “service of process.” Learn through these Pro Se University PS services about the three ways to serve the other party or parties with your summons and petition so that the court may enter orders enforceable against them.  If you have received a summons and petition, learn whether you were properly served and if so, what this means and what your rights and responsibilities are in the case.


• Motion for Default - Use these Pro Se University PS services to learn how to finish your case with an order of default if you have properly served the other party and he or she has failed to respond within the time allowed.  If you have received a summons and petition and are concerned that you may have defaulted, learn what this means and what your rights and responsibilities are in the case. motion.


• The Family Law Hearing - Use these Pro Se University PS services to learn about how the family law clerk’s office and courtroom work, how to conduct yourself, how to argue your case before the commissioner, and what to do after the court has decided your case.  If you are responding to a family law motion brought by the other party, learn how to represent yourself at the hearing.  If the other party is represented, learn how to communicate with and act toward the attorney.


• The Family Law Settlement Conference - Before you may go to trial, you must participate in a settlement conference to try to resolve your case yourself.  Pro Se University PS will show you how to schedule, prepare for, and participate in a settlement conference.  Learn how to prepare the agreed order memorializing your agreement and how to prepare the final orders based on that agreement.  Learn how to interact with your mediator.  If the other party is represented, learn how to communicate with and act toward the attorney for the settlement conference.


• The Family Law Trial - If you cannot resolve all issues in your family law case, you will have to go to trial.  These Pro Se University PS services will show you how to prepare your trial brief, exhibit binders and proposed final orders.  Learn how the trial courtroom works and how to clearly present your case to your judge, how to conduct yourself at trial, and what to do after the court has decided your case.  If the other party is represented, learn how to communicate with and act toward the attorney at trial.


• Actions to Enforce Family Law Orders - If the other party will not obey the orders entered in your case, you can ask the court to enforce them.  Pro Se University PS will explain several of your enforcement options, including a variety of motions to enforce, depending on the type of order involved.  You can also bring a motion for contempt in certain cases.  If you have a judgment against the other party, learn how to collect that judgment.  Learn about these enforcement options and which one might best work for you.  If you are defending against an enforcement action, learn what this means and what your rights and responsibilities are in the case.


• Motions to Vacate Family Law Orders - If you discover that the other party obtained default orders against you, or if you agreed to orders that you now believe are unfair or improper, you can ask the court to vacate the orders.   Pro Se University PS will show you how to ask the court to vacate your orders.  If you have been served with a motion to vacate, learn how to defend the orders.


• Working With a Guardian Ad Litem or Parenting Evaluator - If the court has appointed Family Court Services or a private guardian ad litem or parenting evaluator in your case, Pro Se University PS can show you how to communicate with this expert.  Learn what a GAL does and does not do and how the process works, including the GAL’s appointment, the interview and parent-child observation process, the GAL report, and the GAL’s role at your ex parte hearing, family law motion hearing, settlement conference and trial.


• Working With a Real Estate Appraiser or a Pension Evaluator - Pro Se University PS can help if you must decide who will be awarded real estate, pensions or retirement plans, and do not know how to value them.  Real estate is valued by an appraiser.  Pensions and retirement plans are valued by an actuary who calculates the “present value” of the plan based on many factors, including the monthly payment, the age and gender of the person receiving the pension, whether the pension is vested, and whether the person is already in retirement.  Learn how to hire and work with these experts, including at settlement or trial of your case.  Learn how to read, understand, and use their reports in your case.


• Working With the Opposing Party’s Attorney - It is not uncommon for one person in a family law case to be represented and for the other person to be self-represented.  If you find yourself in this situation, Pro Se University PS can give you some “rules of engagement” for dealing with opposing counsel.  Learn how to communicate with the attorney and his or her law office without compromising your case.  Learn what the attorney’s role is, and what it is not.  Learn how to negotiate with the attorney to settle your case and how to work with the attorney during hearings and at trial.


• What is Unified Family Court (UFC)? - Unified Family Court (UFC) is judicial management of your case.  It is used when there are multiple cases involving the same family.  The court either links or consolidates the cases, and assigns one judge to all of them.  This is done to minimize potential for inconsistent, duplicative or conflicting orders, coordinate investigations and evaluations, make early referrals to appropriate services, identify and resolve procedural problems early, focus on settlement, and provide ongoing case management.   UFC cases often have several review hearings as the case moves to conclusion.  The court enters orders at these hearings that can include orders to get a drug or alcohol evaluation, appointment of a parenting evaluator, referrals to services, or other appropriate orders as the case requires.  If you have been referred to UFC for case management, Pro Se University PS can show you how to represent yourself at UFC hearings, how ask the court for an order, and if the other party is represented, how to communicate with and act toward the attorney at UFC hearings.