About the Clinic
The Pro-Se-Plus Custody Clinic is a two-session workshop conducted each month at D.C. Superior Court to assist unrepresented litigants seeking custody of children. Clinics are held during non-business hours, usually on two consecutive Saturday mornings or Thursday evenings.
During Session I, volunteer instructors teach clinic participants about the laws governing child custody, jurisdiction, filing requirements, court forms, visitation, child support, parenting plans, contested versus uncontested custody proceedings, service of process issues, absent defendants, and default proceedings.
During Session II, volunteer instructors assist participants with filling out required forms and pleadings and answer individual questions. Participants who discover contested matters will be provided additional information and referrals whenever possible.
Volunteering
The clinic is conducted by volunteer instructors from the law firm of Dickstein Morin Shapiro & Morinsky and the American Psychological Association who have attended a three-hour training session.
Volunteers work in teams of two to three instructors led by an experienced family law practitioner to teach clinic participants about D.C. child custody law and civil procedure using a curriculum and teaching materials developed and provided by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program. The Pro Bono Program is not seeking additional volunteers for the clinic at this time.
Clinic Times
Clinics are held during non-business hours, usually on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.
Clinic Location and Directions
The clinic sessions are held at the D.C. Superior Court, H. Carl Moultrie I Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
