Local Legal Referrals

In an effort to provide better access to the judicial system, this website contains forms, information about local legal referral services and links to online legal resources. Individual forms are available by clicking on the forms icon, then on the appropriate department. For example, if you are looking for forms related to a divorce case, you would click on the Forms icon, then on Family/Domestic Icon.

If you are looking for an attorney to represent you, contact the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service at (816) 221-9472 or get an e-mail referral (http://www.kcmba.org/PublicService/lrs.htm). This Service will put you in contact with an attorney for a 30 minute consultation. The KCMBA operates in six counties of the Kansas City metropolitan area including: Johnson, Wyandotte, Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass. All attorneys are licensed and insured members of the Lawyer Referral Panel. All attorneys are listed by area of law and geographic area for your convenience.

The information provided on this website should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. It contains basic information about court procedures, locations, forms and fees. You will also find helpful information about finding legal assistance. The 16th Judicial Circuit is not responsible for any error or omission on this website. The 16th Judicial Circuit assumes no responsibility or liability for actions taken by users of these documents.

It is important for you to know that when you come to court without a lawyer you take a risk. The court cannot act on your behalf. Sometimes even simple matters can have legal consequences that you are unaware of or do not understand, involving critical issues such as custody of your children, division of property, child support payments, landlord-tenant rights or settling a will.

Please remember that the court staff must remain impartial. They do not take sides. They give the same information to both sides.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP YOU IF WE CAN. HOWEVER, WE ARE ALLOWED TO HELP YOU ONLY IN CERTAIN WAYS, SINCE WE MUST BE FAIR TO EVERYONE.

This is a list of some things the court staff can and cannot do for you.

We can	explain and answer questions about how the court works.	We cannot	tell you whether or not you should bring your case to court.
We can	provide you with the number of the local lawyer referral service, and any legal services program.	We cannot	tell you what words to use in your court papers. (However, we can check you papers for completeness. For example, we check for signatures, notarization, correct county name, correct case number, and presence of attachments.)
We can	provide you with the number of any family court programs:parent/child education, mediation & community services.	We cannot	tell you what to say in court.
We can	give you general information about court rules, procedures, and practices.	We cannot	give you an opinion about what will happen in your case.
We can	provide court schedules and information on how to set a case scheduled for a hearing.	We cannot	talk to the judge for you.
We can	provide your court file for your review.	We cannot	let you talk to the judge outside of court or arrange for you to talk to the judge outside of court.
We can	provide you with court forms and instructions that are available.	We cannot	change an order signed by a judge.
We can	usually answer questions about court deadlines.	We cannot	provide you with contact information for another party.

Since court staff may not know the answers to all questions about court rules, procedures, and practices, and because we don’t want to give you wrong information, we have been instructed not to answer questions if we do not know the correct answers.

Before you file a case in court, also consider other ways to resolve issues. Many issues can be resolved outside of court. Before proceeding to court on your own, you might want to explore the alternatives, such as mediation. Trained mediators can help you sort out issues and resolve your case without the expense and time of having to hire a lawyer and appear in court.