Do I Have To Talk When I Go to Court?

In the best of circumstances, speaking in front of a group can be nerve-wracking.

The sweating, the lip biting, the shallow breathing. Speaking is just plain tough.

Speaking is especially difficult in divorce court because you don’t know the environment, don’t know the language, and don’t know what to say.

Don’t feel bad about being scared or anxious. The first, oh, 1000 or so times I appeared in court, I was scared out of my mind. I was sure I would forget everything I prepared the night before and make a fool of myself.

So, do you have to talk when you go to court on your Utah divorce?

The answer is: it depends.

If you represent yourself in court (attorneys call that going “pro se”), the answer is yes.

If you’re alone, you will present your evidence yourself, and answer all of the judge’s questions yourself. It’s all on you when you go it alone.

If you have an attorney with you in court, the answer is no.

The reason for this is your attorney will speak for you. You’ll sit at the table with your attorney so you can communicate during your hearing, but your attorney will speak for you.

In fact, if you try to speak for yourself, the judge will tell you to be quiet so your attorney can talk.