Scheduling Trials-Family and Juvenile Court
A trial is a fact-finding process before a Judge and where the final decisions are made in your case. There is no jury in a family law trial. The reason a trial is held is because you and the other party cannot agree on important issues.
Trials are open to the public.
In Thurston County there are two kinds of trials, Informal and a Traditional Trial. The parties will need to select what kind of trial they will choose to have by filing a Family Law Trial Selection Form Family Law Trial Brochure. Click here for more information about the two kinds of trials. Family Law Trial Selection
Trial Confirmations are generally held the Thursday before the week of your scheduled trial at 8:30 am. The court will determine at this time if your trial can go forward as scheduled, and if so you will find out what date and time your trial will start. For more details on trial confirmations and what you should have prepared for this hearing, click here.
The pre-trial report is mandatory and provides the court and the parties with necessary information for trial. The pre-trial report must be prepared on this form here, filed and served on all parties, and a copy given to Court Administration no later than 30 days before the trial.
Click here for more detailed information on what to expect at your trial.
After your trial is completed, you will need to present final orders to the court to finalize your case. These court forms can be purchased at the Clerk's office or you may download them for free at the Washington Courts page found here. Washington State Courts - Court Forms - List of All Forms
Once you have the forms completed, they must be reviewed and approved by an attorney or the Court Facilitator located in the Clerk's Office. Click here for a list of final orders and more detailed information.