Pro Se (Acting As Your Own Attorney)

The Montgomery County Juvenile Court is committed to providing our clients and the community with the best possible customer service. The information and the forms contained on this page are meant as a guide to assist you in filing certain types of cases “pro se”, or acting as your own attorney. While our office is here to assist you in preparing your pro se filings, please note, throughout the court process, you will be held to the same standards, rules, requirements, and procedures as an attorney who is properly licensed and registered to practice law in the State of Ohio. Please read the document “Information and Resources for Pro Se Filers” for more information.

• Information and Resources for Pro Se Filers
• Basic Form and Filing Instructions
• Pro Se Filing FAQ

Citizen Services

Citizen Services is located on the lower level of the Juvenile Justice building and is a complimentary service provided to the community to ensure filings are in compliance with both local and state rules.

Citizen Service Office Hours of Operations:

Monday & Tuesdays: Review and notary by WALK-IN ONLY
8:30am-11:30am & 1:00pm-3:00pm

Wednesday-Friday: Review and notary by APPOINTMENT ONLY
8:45am-11:45pm & 1:00 pm-3:30pm

Pro se Packets can be picked up Monday- Friday
8:30am-12:00pm & 1:00 pm-3:30pm

Call (937)224-3977 for appointment or schedule in person at time of packet pick up!

Some delays may occur during periods of high volume. We ask that you please plan accordingly and appreciate your patience.

History

Citizen Services is a small branch of the Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office which assists those who cannot afford an attorney or wish to represent themselves pro se in civil matters.  Citizen Services began in February 2014. At that time, pro se filings were being dismissed at a high rate due to inaccurate or incomplete filings. These dismissed cases were a drain on the time and resources of both the pro se litigants and the court.  Pro se litigants were paying unnecessary filing fees, clogging judicial dockets, and causing long lines at the clerks’ windows. Citizen Services was created to improve the way pro se filings were being initiated, reviewed, and filed, in order to reduce the number of dismissed pro se civil cases, streamline the pro se filing process, and conserve judicial time and resources.

Who Qualifies

Any person who wishes to proceed without an attorney, regardless of their financial situation

Assistance Provided

Pro Se litigants are provided with packets containing all of the paperwork required for filing, as well as general instructions for completing the forms. Upon completion, the forms are reviewed and corrections are made as needed. Each pro se litigant is then provided resources regarding information about where to seek legal advice and  other general information the pro se litigant may need in order to litigate his or her case.

Types of Issues / Cases

The vast majority of Citizen Services filings relate to civil matters, though there are occasionally filings in delinquency, or abuse, neglect, dependency cases. The main types of cases filed through Citizen Services are:

• Custody
• Parenting time / visitation
• Child Support matters
• Paternity
• Contempt of Court
• Objections
• Continuances
• Requests for In Camera interview, CASA, or GAL
• Service (reissue or publication)
• Grandparent Power of Attorney
• Grandparent Caretaker Authorization