You can find help at the Clerk's Office at any courthouse. But workers in the Clerk's Office can't take sides or give legal advice.
How can a court clerk help?
Court clerks can:
- Explain court rules and procedures.
- Explain available options for your case or problem.
- Provide past case rulings.
- Provide cites to, or copies of, the law.
- Explain public court operations and jobs.
- Describe court records and their availability.
- Provide public case information.
- Tell you how to make a complaint.
- Refer you to other offices or persons.
- Provide forms with instructions.
Court clerks can't:
- Suggest the procedures you should follow.
- Provide opinions about which option to chose.
- Predict what the court will do.
- Analyze the law based on the specifics of your case.
- Provide information derived from the decision-making process.
- Provide access to sealed or confidential case records.
- Provide confidential case information.
- Give opinions about your complaint.
- Make referrals based on personal preference.
- Provide or suggest the information to enter on forms.
If you need help and don't know if you can get it: Please ask. Court staff will be happy to try and help.
Some courts and community organizations have special offices for helping people who don't have a lawyer.