Can I speak to the judge about my case?
Judicial ethics prohibit judges from speaking directly with parties about their cases.
Judicial ethics prohibit judges from speaking directly with parties about their cases.
You may wish to consult an attorney on any action you file or that is filed against you. In small claims court, an attorney cannot represent you, unless an individual, who is an attorney, is suing you. For more information, call the Access to Justice Advice Line at 1-800-675-5860.
You can call the Access to Justice Advice Line at 1-800-675-5860. You also may want to consider Limited Scope Representation.
You should fill out the Notice to Defendant (Earnings or Non-earnings) that accompanies the Order of Garnishment sent to your employer and/or bank and file it in the District Court division your case is assigned to. If you did not receive the Notice to Defendant from your employer or your bank, you should contact the plaintiff's attorney to obtain one. Once the Notice to Defendant is filed, a judge will determine if a hearing date should be set. You may want to consult an attorney on how to contest a garnishment.
Small claims cases are filed in the Clerk's office, using forms available in the lobby and online at Small Claims. An instruction booklet, which details filing and post-judgment procedures, can be obtained in the Clerk's office. The maximum dollar value that can be requested in a small claims case is $4000, and the amount of the filing fee depends on the amount of damages for which you are suing. For damages up to $500, the filing fee is $49. For damages of $500.01 - $4000, the filing fee is $69.
You may fill out a Records Request Form by visiting the Clerk's office in person, or by submitting an Online Records Request Form. To submit your Records Request Form, you can mail it to Clerk of the District Court's Office - Records Dept., 111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, Kansas 66044.