GR 27
               FAMILY LAW COURTHOUSE FACILITATORS


(a)  Generally.  RCW 26.12.240 provides a county may create a
  courthouse facilitator program to provide basic services to pro
  se litigants in family law cases.  This Rule applies only to
  courthouse facilitator programs created pursuant to RCW
  26.12.240.

(b) The Washington State Supreme Court shall create a Family
Courthouse Facilitator Advisory Committee supported by the
Administrative Office of the Courts to establish minimum
qualifications and administer a curriculum of initial and ongoing
training requirements for family law courthouse facilitators.
The Administrative Office of the Courts shall assist counties in
administering family law courthouse facilitator programs.

(c) Definitions.  For the purpose of this rule the following
definitions apply:

  (1) A Family Law Courthouse Facilitator is an individual or
  individuals who has or have met or exceeded the minimum
  qualifications and completed the curriculum developed by the
  Administrative Office of the Courts and who is or are
  providing basic services in family law cases in a Superior
  Court.

  (2) Family Law Cases include, but not limited to, dissolution
  of marriage, modification of dissolution matters such as child
  support, parenting plans, non-parental custody or visitation,
  and parentage by unmarried persons to establish paternity,
  child support, child custody and visitation.

  (3) “Basic Service” includes but is not limited to:

  a)   referral to legal and social service resources, including
       lawyer referral and alternate dispute referral programs and
       resources on obtaining family law forms and instructions;

  b)   assistance in calculating child support using standardized
       computer based program based on financial information provided by
       the pro se litigant;

  c)   processing interpreter requests for facilitator assistance
       and court hearings ;

  d)   assistance in selection as well as distribution of forms and
       standardized instructions that have been approved by the court,
       clerk’s office, or the Administrative Office of the Courts;

  e)   assistance in completing forms that have been approved  by
       the court, clerk’s office, or the Administrative Office of the
       Courts;

  f)   explanation of legal terms;

  g)   information on basic court procedures and logistics
       including requirements for service, filing, scheduling hearings
       and complying with local procedures;

  h)   review of completed forms to determine whether forms have
       been completely filled out but not as to substantive content with
       respect to the parties’ legal rights and obligations;

  i)   previewing pro se documents prior to hearings for matters
       such as dissolution of marriage and show cause and temporary
       relief motions calendars under the direction of the Clerk or
       Court to determine whether procedural requirements have been
       complied with

  j)   attendance at pro se hearings to assist the Court
       with pro se matters.

  k)   assistance with preparation of court orders under
       the direction of the Court.

  l)   preparation of pro se instruction packets under the
       direction of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

(d) Family Law Courthouse Facilitators shall, whenever reasonably
practical, obtain a written and signed disclaimer of attorney-
client relationship, attorney-client confidentiality and
representation from each person utilizing the services of the
Family Law Courthouse Facilitator.  The prescribed disclaimer
shall be in the format developed by the Administrative Office of
the Courts.

(e) No attorney-client relationship or privilege is created, by
implication or by inference, between a Family Law Courthouse
Facilitator providing basic services under this rule and the
users of Family Law Courthouse Facilitator Program services.

(f) Family law courthouse facilitators providing basic services
under this rule are not engaged in the unauthorized practice of
law.  Upon a courthouse facilitator’s voluntary or involuntary
termination from a courthouse facilitator program, that person is
no longer a courthouse facilitator providing services pursuant to
RCW 26.12.240 or this Rule.


[Adopted effective September 1, 2002.]