INFORMAL TRIAL
Local Domestic Rule 8
(STATE GENERALRULE GR40 INFORMALFAMILYLAWTRIALS(IFLT))
- Informal Trial. Pursuant to General Rule 40, parties may mutually consent to an informal trial for some or all issues as permitted by the Rule.
- Consent Procedure. To mutually consent to an Informal Trial, the parties shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to the trial date:
- Sign, file in the case, and serve on the other party, a Family Law Informal Trial Selection Form.
- Once both parties have consented to an Informal Trial by complying with the requirements of this Rule, one or both of the parties may move for an Informal Trial on the motion docket, or they may make the request during the scheduled settlement conference.
- Modifying Procedures of an Informal Trial. If one or more of the parties who have mutually consented to an Informal Trial desire that the procedures set forth in General Rule 40 be modified (including but not limited to limitations on declarations and witnesses) they shall specially set a hearing (scheduled through Court Administration) to commence at least twenty-eight (28) days prior to the date for the Informal Trial. It may be heard by any judicial officer, but, if possible, it shall be set with the same judicial officer who will preside over the trial. If the parties begin an informal trial without moving to modify the procedures in General Rule 40, it is presumed that by doing so the parties are expressing an intent to follow General Rule 40 without modification.
- Exhibits and Trial Declarations. Both parties shall provide a list of their exhibits and a copy of each exhibit (in organized fashion) that they intend the Court to consider at least fourteen (14) days prior to trial. The list shall be filed with the Court; copies of the exhibits shall not be filed with the Court. All issues related to rebuttal evidence and exhibits, if any, shall be resolved by the trial judge within their discretion.
[Updated September 1, 2024; Updated format only April 18, 2025]