AIR DATE FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Title: Orange County Justice System
Discover what services are provided at the Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Guest
Orange County Clerk of Courts – Tiffany Russell
What Services Does the Orange County Clerk of Court Provide?
Court is a necessity. It’s often seen as a negative, so people avoid coming to the courthouse whenever they can. New ideas are working to change that perception.
I recently spoke with Tiffany Moore Russell, who serves as the Orange County Clerk of Court. She is the official keeper of court records, collecting evidence and maintaining records on fines and fees.
That is only part of what the Orange County Clerk of Courts does to serve the community. “We provide a host of services, and our divisions are divided based on case types,” she said. “We handle adoptions, trial support matters, divorce, domestic violence injunctions, criminal matters, juvenile matters, and all civil matters such as small claims, personal injuries, slip and falls – all those case types.”
Why Do People Visit the Courthouse?
People often come to court for reasons that they’d rather avoid. Although there are positives, like finalizing an adoption or getting married, parents are more likely to square off in a custody battle.
“They may be suing a contractor who didn’t do a good job on the roof or repair to their home, or they could be a victim of domestic violence trying to get an injunction against her abuser,” said Russel. “Then you have those criminal matters where someone has gotten arrested for various crimes and are being charged by the state attorney and are now having to defend themselves in our court system.”
Although it can feel like a negative, the court system’s goal is to make justice accessible to everyone in the community. One of those options is the self-help centers, which first appeared in 2015. Anyone who needs forms to be completed can visit, ask legal questions in partnership with the Orange County Bar Association, and host legal forums.
“Let’s say you have a grandmother who is now in custody of a grandchild, and now have to get them admitted into our school system,” said Russell. “They can come to the self-help center to navigate the best way to file that legal paperwork so they can then file, you know, get their grandchild signed into school.”
Self-Help Services Aren’t Free, but They’re Not Costly
Russell told me that they call the self-help opportunities through the Orange County Clerk of Courts a “low bono” opportunity. “It’s free as far as to come talk to a clerk, but if they want to talk to an attorney, it is a dollar a minute and at 15-minute increments up to one hour,” said Russell. “There is [also] a cost for the forms and that just comes from statutory when it comes to making copies.”
The self-help process provides assistance with family law, small claims, and residential evictions. Restraining orders are excluded, but paternity, divorce, child support, and custody cases are easily managed. Attorney consultations cost $1 per minute, with a $15 minimum.
It should be noted that the attorneys aiding at the self-help center cannot represent you in court.
Anyone wanting to keep in touch with the Orange County Clerk of Courts can visit their social media platforms, YouTube channel, or the website at myorangeclerk.com. For those with email, a newsletter is available where you can sign up to start receiving that information.
