Navigating Kitsap County Court Without a Lawyer

Lawyers are expensive. I grew up poor. I understand what it means to face a legal situation without the resources to hire someone who knows the system inside out. It’s one of the core reasons I decided to run for this office.

So let me be honest with you about what we can and can’t do — and what resources are actually available.

What the clerk’s office cannot do

By law, clerks cannot give legal advice. We are not lawyers. We can’t tell you if your forms are filled out correctly, we can’t help you build your case, and we can’t tell you whether your legal strategy will work.

What we can do: point out obvious errors or sections you’ve missed. That’s it. The line is clear and it’s there for a reason.

What you need to bring

Come prepared with multiple copies of everything you file. Here’s the breakdown: we keep the original, you must serve a copy to the opposing party (this cannot be you — it must be an adult third party; county sheriffs can sometimes assist with service for a fee), one copy goes to the bench, and you keep one for yourself to reference when presenting.

Label everything clearly. A loose stack of papers without cover sheets or labels makes the clerk’s job significantly harder and slows everything down.

Resources that can actually help

Courthouse Facilitators — This is the one most people don’t know about. We have two staff members whose entire job is helping self-represented litigants prepare their documents for court. They can help with basic legal strategy. Appointments only, scheduled directly through the clerk’s office. The fee is $40, or $25 for lower-income residents. Use this.

NW Justice Project — Low or no-cost legal assistance for qualifying low-income residents. If you think you might qualify, look them up before your case goes any further.

Washington State Courts Website — Most case types have standardized pattern forms you can download and print for free, or at the library for less than coming to our office. Make sure you label them with Kitsap County — or whichever county your case is being heard in.

WA State Digital Archives — If you need to reference previous versions of forms or prior orders from earlier hearings in your case, everything is filed there. If you need physical copies, our office can prepare them at $0.25 per page (soon to be $.50/pg).

The most important thing I can tell you

Look up the informal trial process. Seriously — before you spend months preparing for a formal trial, understand this option: if both parties agree to an informal trial, the judge takes over. They ask the questions, review the evidence, and make the decision. You don’t have to cross-examine witnesses. You don’t have to navigate evidentiary rules.

This process has saved litigants months of preparation and waiting — especially in family law matters like child support, parenting plans, and relocation cases. I’ve watched people spend months preparing for formal trials, then struggle because they didn’t know how to object to testimony or get their evidence admitted. We have to do better at helping people understand this option.

If I’m elected, one of my first commitments is a series of plain-language videos to help self-represented litigants be more prepared — ideally produced with the help of lawyers and judges.

You deserve access to justice regardless of what’s in your bank account.