1. Prepare your trial record
Question & Answer
How do I prepare for a family law trial?You can not use your continuing record for your trial. Instead, Rule 23: Evidence and trial says you must use a trial record for your trial.
If you're starting a court case, you're called the . Your partner is called the . You're both known as the in your family court case.
At least 20 days before your trial date, the applicant has to the respondent with a trial record. It has to have:
- a Table of Contents
- Form 8: Application, Form 10: Answer, and Form 10A: Reply
- any Agreed Statement of Facts that lists the facts you and your partner agree on
- Form 13: Financial Statement or Form 13.1: Financial Statement, if there are support or property issues
- Form 13A: Certificate of Financial Disclosure, if there are support or property issues
- Form 13B: Net Family Property Statement, if there are property issues
- any assessment reports that have been prepared by a mental health professional like a social worker or psychologist, or any report by the Office of the Children’s Lawyer
- Trial Scheduling Endorsement Form, if your case is at the Superior Court of Justice
- any temporary orders
- any orders related to the trial
- the relevant parts of any court transcript you want to use at trial
The respondent can add to the trial record by serving and filing documents at least 7 days before the trial starts.