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1. How do I contact my public defender?

Their office is located at 313 W. Jefferson Street, Room 142, Decatur, IN 46733. Their phone number is (260) 724-5365.

2. How do I find out if I qualify for the infraction deferral program?

For more information, call the Prosecutor's Office at (260)724-5341 or access the online forms and information at www.adamscountyprosecutor.com

3. How do I find out if there is a Protective/No Contact Order in effect?

You can search by the name of the defendant/respondent through the following website:
https://mycourts.in.gov/porp

4. How do I find out when and where my hearing is?

First, is your case in the Adams Superior Court? If you have a Cause Number that starts with “01D01,” your case is in the Adams Superior Court. If your Cause Number starts with a different prefix your case is not in the Adams Superior Court. If you have an Adams Superior Court case, check in the Court at 122 S 3rd Street, Decatur, IN 46733, or by phone at (260) 724-5347 or online at https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase

5. How do I obtain proof of service?

It is your responsibility to ensure that the other party receives a copy of your filings. If the other party does not appear for the hearing on your petition, the Court may not proceed unless it has proof that the other side received a copy of your petition. Please review the following methods for obtaining proof of service so that you can avoid a delay in your case. •Certified mail, return receipt requested: For a nominal fee, the mail carrier will take the papers to the door and have the other party sign a detachable card. This "return receipt" is then mailed back to the Clerk (address must be on the green card) after it is signed, and will serve as proof of service as long as it is signed by the other party and filed with the Clerk of Court. Effective July 1, 2015, the initial mailing will be sent to only one address for each party (maximum of two parties) and is paid out of the Court costs. After the initial mailing, or for each additional party, the person requesting service must provide the Clerk with •An envelope with sufficient postage affixed, addressed to the recipient with the Clerk’s address as the return address; •The USPS or other forms for certified mail. If return receipt is requested, the forms must be completed so that the Clerk gets the return receipt; •The USPS or other fee for appropriate service by certified mail and return receipt, if requested. •Personal service by Sheriff: You can pay a fee to the Clerk of Court for the Sheriff to deliver your paperwork to the other party. A proof of service form will be filled out by the person serving the paperwork, which will then be filed with the Clerk. The initial fee for Sheriff’s service is $28.00 and an additional one time post-judgment fee of $28.00 will be assessed for Sheriff’s service. •By publication: When all other methods fail, the Court may allow service to be made by publication. This involves announcing in the newspaper where the other party is likely living for a specific amount of time. Please review Indiana Rule of Trial Procedure 4.13 for information about Service by Publication.

6. How do I pay a traffic ticket?

Infraction tickets may be paid as follow: Acceptable forms of payment are cash, money order or credit card. For an additional fee, credit card payments may be made online at https://public.courts.in.gov/home/portal  or by calling 866-369-7671. Payment may also be made in person or by mail to the Adams County Clerk’s Office, 112 S 2nd Street, Decatur, IN 46733. *NOTICE, any outstanding tickets issued prior to December 31, 2013, must be paid through Eagle Accounts www. Eagleaccounts.com Telephone: 888-322-3245 7510 Madison Avenue Indianapolis IN 46227

Ticket Payments

7. What can Adams Superior Court staff do to assist me with my case?

The Adams Superior Court staff may:
•provide you with a telephone number of local lawyer referral services;
•they can explain and answer questions about how the Adams Superior Court works;
•they can provide general information about court rules, procedures, and practices;
•they can provide information from the case file, including information as to when your next court hearing might be;

The Adams Superior Court staff cannot:
•provide legal advice or legal interpretations;
•advise you whether or not you should bring your case to court or give you an opinion about what will happen if you bring your case to court;
•advise you what to say in court;
•let you talk to the judge or magistrates outside court;
•cannot talk to the judge or magistrates for you about your case;
•fill out a form for you or tell you what words to use in your court papers;
•sign an order or change an order signed by the judge or magistrates;
•explain the meaning of a court order to you; and
•provide any guidance or interpretation of the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines for you.

8. Where can I get a copy of the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines?

You can pick up a free copy of the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines in the Adams Superior Court (122 S. 3rd Street, Decatur, IN 46733) or Adams Circuit Court (112 S. 2nd Street, Decatur, IN 46733). An electronic version is also available through the Indiana Supreme Court’s Website, http://www.in.gov/judiciary/rules/parenting/.

9. Where can I go to get legal advice?

There are a number of resources you can use to get legal advice:

(1) Adams Public Library System

Visit the main branch of the Adams Public Library System, 128 S. 3rd Street, Decatur, Indiana or 305 E. Line Street, Geneva, Indiana. The telephone number is (260) 724-2604 or (260) 368-7270. The website is http://www.apls.lib.in.us/about.html

While library personnel cannot give legal advice, the reference librarian can direct you to research materials and some forms which will give you the information you need to prepare your legal document. They can provide the Indiana Code and the Indiana Rules of Court, which will give you information on court procedure and legal requirements. You should look at both State and Adams County’s Local Rules.

(2) The Indiana Supreme Court Website

Visit http://www.in.gov/judiciary/. This is the Website for the Indiana Supreme Court and as you explore the site, you will find a wealth of research materials and forms.

On the top of the main page, you will find a menu called “Information for…” Click on the word “Public.” It will take you to the “Information for Members of the Public” webpage. Scroll down the page and you will find information on “Getting Legal Help,” “Representing Yourself in Court,” “General Information” (which includes Indiana Rules of Court and the Indiana Code), and other topics of interest.

You can also access “Sample Court Forms” under the “Representing Yourself in Court” topic. Some available forms include forms for divorce, child support, name change, and protective orders.
(3) Lawyer Referral Service (Allen County/Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Their office hours are Mondays – Fridays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Their telephone number is (260) 423-2358. Please call for a referral; no walk-in appointments are accepted.

The ACBA’s Lawyer Referral Service has attorneys who practice in virtually all areas of the law including: bankruptcy, business and corporate, consumer, custody and visitation, criminal, divorce, employment, immigration, medical malpractice, misdemeanor, personal injury, probate, wills and estates, real estate, child support, social security, and worker’s compensation.

When you contact ACBA’s Lawyer Referral Service, trained staff will help you evaluate your situation. Then, if you need an attorney, you will be referred to one that practices in that area of law.

A $40.00 non-refundable fee is required for most referrals for up to a half-hour consultation. No consultation fees are charged for personal injury, social security, worker’s compensation, and medical malpractice cases.

If a lawyer is not what you need, the ACBA’s Lawyer Referral Service staff will direct you to another source of assistance.

(4) Legal Line

Do you have a legal question? Not sure if you need to hire an attorney? Then take advantage of Legal Line. You can speak directly with an attorney for free every Tuesday evening from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM just by calling (260) 423-2358. If your legal issue cannot be resolved, the attorney may refer you to ACBA’s Lawyer Referral Service.

(5) Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana

The Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana (“VLP”) is located at 927 S. Harrison St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802. Hours are Mondays – Fridays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Their office number is (260) 407-0917 or toll free at 1-(877) 407-0917. Their Website is http://www.vlpnei.org/.

VLP offers services in: adoption, consumer law, estate law, guardianships, landlord/tenant, real estate, social security disability, bankruptcy (client must have filing fees), collections, contracts, family law (dissolutions), immigration, POA/Wills/Health Care Directives, Small Claims, Tort Defense, and Pro Se Clinics for Dissolution of Marriage (self-service clinics where both parties agree to terms of property settlement, parenting time, and child support).

Not all people who qualify for VLP assistance are referred to an attorney for direct representation. Some people may be placed in one of our other programs. Other cases may not be able to be placed because we simply cannot find an attorney to help or because there is nothing an attorney can do to help fix the problem.

VLP cannot assist with: change of venue, criminal matters, emergencies, CHINS cases, driver’s licenses or traffic tickets, incarcerated people, fee generating cases (personal injury), cases where a hearing is set within the next thirty (30) days, any case against the judicial or criminal justice system or any government entity, and cases filed in other pro bono districts or other states.

(6) Indiana Legal Services

Indiana Legal Services is located at 919 S. Harrison St., Suite 200, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802. Their telephone number is (260) 424-9155 or (888) 442-8600. Their fax number is (260) 424-9166. Their website is http://www.indianalegalservices.org/. Their office hours are Mondays – Fridays from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. To complete an application for their services, please call them on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

In order to be eligible for their services, an individual must have an income up to 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines with exceptions in certain circumstances.

Indiana Legal Services practices family law (with priority given to divorce cases involving domestic violence); housing (eviction, landlord/tenant issues, subsidized housing, foreclosure, etc.); public benefits (Medicaid, food stamps, TANF, social security, unemployment insurance, etc.); consumer (debt collection, loans, vehicles, warranties, taxes, etc.); immigration; and other civil legal matters.

Indiana Legal Services in Fort Wayne serves the counties of Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley. For services outside these counties, you may contact another Indiana Legal Services office.

(7) Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

Their office is located at 2826 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807. Their phone number is (260) 456-8969, extension 311. Their email address is fwcontact@nclegalclinic.org.

Intakes are available on a first come-first serve basis. You can register on site. Intakes take place on Mondays (register at 5:00 PM) at Catherine Kasper Place, 2826 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807; Wednesdays (register at 5:00 PM) at Faith Lutheran Church, 1700 E. Pettit Ave., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806; and on the Third Saturday of Every Month (register at 10:00 AM) at Catherine Kasper Place, 2826 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807.

In order to be eligible for their services, an individual must have an income up to 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

They practice the areas of landlord/tenant, uncontested custody/visitation, uncontested child support, bankruptcy, wills/estates, discrimination, housing/foreclosure, guardianship, immigration, consumer/debt, SSI/SSD, and tax controversies.

They cannot provide services in criminal or divorce cases.

8) Adams County Bar Association

President, Cory Sprunger, Attorney at Law, Office Phone Number (260) 589-2338

10. Where do I pay my criminal, civil or small claim case?

Payments may be made in person or by mail at the Adams County Clerk's Office, 112 S. 2nd Street, Decatur, IN 46733. Visa, MasterCard and Discover payments may also be made by calling (260) 724-5309. Additional fees are charged if paying by credit card.

11. Why won’t Judge Conrad discuss my case with me?

Judicial officers must remain independent, impartial, and unbiased to both sides to a dispute throughout all phases of the case. Judicial officers cannot take sides with any one party to a dispute or act as the lawyer for either party. The Court is not a legal services office. If a judicial officer or the court staff assists either party with the preparation and presentation of his or her case, then the judicial officer has become biased and partial, and has compromised the integrity of the Court. Furthermore, communications with a party must be in the presence of all other opposing parties. There cannot be private, one-sided conversations with a judicial officer. This is known as the prohibition against ex parte communications. Finally, a judicial officer must remain independent from all influence. Suggestions that the judicial officer will not get your vote, or that you will publicly criticize the judicial officer, or that you will write a letter to the editor, or that you will report the judicial officer to the authorities will not influence the judicial officer’s decision, nor will it open the lines of communication to the judicial officer. The Canons of Judicial Conduct govern each of these topics concerning judicial independence, impartiality, and communications concerning a case. Please refer to Canon 1(A), Canon 2(B), Canon 3(B)(2), Canon 3(B)(5), and Canon 3(B)(8)