Will the judge explain the law to me?

Judges must remain impartial. They may explain procedure, but they cannot give you legal advice or argue your case for you.

Can my friend or relative speak for me in court?

Generally no. Non-attorneys cannot represent another person in court, though limited exceptions exist in certain informal parts.

What should I wear and bring?

Dress as you would for a serious appointment, arrive early for security screening, and bring three copies of every document you plan to use.

Getting started · For the both

Representing Yourself in Kings County Court

Thousands of Brooklyn litigants appear without counsel every year, and many succeed. Courts provide help centers and self-help resources, and judges generally give self-represented parties latitude on form. What they cannot do is relax the deadlines, the burden of proof, or the rules of evidence.

Use the help center early

Court-based help centers assist with locating the right forms, explaining what a paper means, and describing what happens next. Go before your first deadline, not after you have missed one. Bring every paper you have received, in order, and take notes on what you are told to file and by when.

Build a case file

Keep a chronological binder: the contract, the communications, the payments, the notices, and every court paper with its filing date. Prepare a one-page timeline. When you appear, you should be able to answer 'what happened and when' in under two minutes and point to the document that proves each step.

Know what you must prove

Every claim has elements, and you must prove each one. A breach of contract claim needs an agreement, your performance, their breach, and damages you can quantify. Emotional frustration is not damages. Estimates, invoices and receipts are. Identify the weakest element and put your preparation there.

When to get a lawyer

Get counsel when the amount at stake exceeds what a few thousand dollars of legal help would cost, when the other side is represented and the case involves real procedure, when your home or business license is at risk, or when a judgment has already been entered and you need it undone. A consultation is often enough to reorient a case.

Common questions

Will the judge explain the law to me?: Judges must remain impartial. They may explain procedure, but they cannot give you legal advice or argue your case for you.
Can my friend or relative speak for me in court?: Generally no. Non-attorneys cannot represent another person in court, though limited exceptions exist in certain informal parts.
What should I wear and bring?: Dress as you would for a serious appointment, arrive early for security screening, and bring three copies of every document you plan to use.

Have a matter in Kings County?

Tell us what happened and we will tell you where it belongs, what the deadline is, and what it will cost. We respond within the hour during business hours.

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Related guides

This guide is general information about court procedure in Kings County, New York. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court rules, fees and deadlines change — confirm current requirements with the court or an attorney before acting. Dispute Counsel PLLC serves New York residents, businesses and New York local representation.