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Lane Informal Domestic Relations Trials

At your Domestic Relations Status Check hearing you will be asked if you want to have a Traditional Trial or an Informal Domestic Relations Trial (also called IDRT).

Each type of trial has pros and cons. Please carefully review the following information about these two types of trials.

Both parties must agree to pursue an Informal Domestic Relations Trial.

What is an Informal Domestic Relations Trial?

Overview

In an Informal Domestic Relations Trial (IDRT), you and the other person speak directly to the judge about the issues that are disputed in your case. You are not questioning the other side and they are not questioning you. Only the judge asks questions of each person. This happens even if you or the other person has a lawyer. Usually, other witnesses are not allowed to testify. You can, however, ask the court to let an expert witness testify, such as a doctor, counselor, or custody evaluator.

Rules of Evidence

The Rules of Evidence do not apply in an IDRT. This means there is more flexibility on what you and the other person can tell the judge about your case. Both you and the other person can give the judge any documents or papers you want the judge to review. The judge will decide the importance of what you and the other person say and the importance of the papers you each give to the judge.

Attorneys

In an IDRT, lawyers are only allowed to: 

  • say what the issues in the case are, 
  • respond when the judge asks if there are other areas the person wants the court to ask about, and 
  • make short arguments about the law at the end of the case

What is a Traditional Trial?

Overview

In a Traditional Trial, lawyers or people who represent themselves usually present information to the judge about the issues that are disputed in your case by using a question and answer format. Each person may be a witness, and each person is allowed to have other witnesses testify. After one side asks questions of his or her witnesses, the other side gets to ask follow-up questions of the other person and their witnesses. Generally, the judge asks few, if any, questions.
Rules of Evidence

The Rules of Evidence do apply in a Traditional Trial. This means there are limits on what you, the other person, and your witnesses can tell the judge about your case. There are also limits on the documents and papers that you, the other person, and the witnesses can give the judge to review

Attorneys

If you or the other person has a lawyer in a Traditional Trial, the lawyer will make opening statements and closing arguments to the judge and will ask questions of you, the other person, and witnesses. 

If you represent yourself, you will be the one to make opening statements, closing arguments and questioning witnesses.

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