Important Notices:

• Court personnel cannot help you fill out these form(s).
• The court expects every person who appears in court without a lawyer to know and follow the law. The judge will not be able to give you any help in court.
• District courts in North Dakota use local rules to conduct proceedings. You are responsible for knowing local rules for the court in which you are appearing.
• You should see a lawyer if you don't know how to answer the questions on these forms, if you don't understand the local rules, or if you think the other party will hire a lawyer.
• You must follow all instructions when filling out these forms.
• Type your answers or print neatly using dark ink.

WARNING: Some of the forms may ask you to provide social security numbers, credit, debit, or electronic fund transfer card numbers, or other financial account numbers. Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.1(j), if you are required to use these numbers on a form, you must mark the form “Confidential” so that the clerk will know to place it in a restricted part of the file. You must also submit a second copy of the form to the clerk with the numbers marked out so the clerk can file it in the public part of the file.

STEP 1 - MOTION, BRIEF AND NOTICE OF MOTION FOR VISITATION ASSISTANCE FORM

Fill out the "Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1) included in this packet. This form tells the Court and the other party the type of visitation problem you are having, what you are asking for from the Court, and the date and time of the hearing.

Filling in the top part of the form (this is known as "the caption"):

The information to fill in the top part of the form can be found at the top of your current visitation order or your divorce or paternity judgment. Be sure to copy the information EXACTLY as it is on your current order.

Write the name of the county where your case is located and the case number, which is also called the "civil number."

On the line marked "plaintiff," write the name of the plaintiff as listed on your current visitation order or divorce or paternity judgment.

On the line marked "name of defendant," write the name of the defendant as listed on your current visitation order or divorce or paternity judgment.

Write the full name and street address of the other party.

Do not fill in the date, time, and location of the hearing yet. You will do that as part of step 3.

Filling out the rest of the form:

The instructions which follow are numbered the same as the questions on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form (FORM 1).

Review questions 1-9 which list different types of help you can ask for from the Court. Check off ONLY the boxes for the type of help you are asking for from the Court - you do not need to check off every box. You may check off as many types of help as you wish, but it will be up to the court to decide what types of help (if any) will be ordered.

1. Under Subpart I, check box 1 if you are asking the Court to tell the other party to obey the existing visitation order.

2. Under Subpart II, the Court will require that you explain how you want the current court order changed. You must show that there has been a significant change of circumstances since the prior court order, and that it is in the best interest to modify the order. Check box 2 and explain those circumstances. Check box 3 if your existing order states only that visitation shall be "reasonable" and you want a specific visitation schedule. Be as complete and as specific as possible when describing the visitation schedule you want.

3. Check box 4 if your existing order includes a specific visitation schedule and you are asking for that schedule to be changed. Be as complete and as specific as possible when describing the visitation schedule you want.

4. Check box 5 if you are asking for the drop offs and pick ups of the child to take place at a visitation exchange center so that you can avoid contact with the other party as much as possible.

NOTE: Not all counties have visitation exchange centers. The Court will be able to grant this request only if a visitation exchange center exists in your county. You and the other party will probably be required to pay for the fees and costs of this service, and will be required to follow all rules of the visitation exchange center.

5. Check box 6 if you are asking for the transportation of the children to take place in a different way or at a different location than is now happening (and then tell the Court how you would like it to take place).

6. Check box 7 if visitation is now unsupervised and you are asking for it to be supervised.

7. Check box 8 if visitation is now supervised and you are asking for it to be unsupervised.

8. Under Subpart III, check box 9 if you are asking the Court to order the other party to pay any Court fees or other costs that you have because of this hearing or from the other party's wrongful failure to follow the existing court order.

Date and sign the motion, brief and notice of motion for visitation assistance form. By signing your name you are telling the Court that you are telling the truth and that you have a good faith reason for your requests. If you are not telling the truth or if you are misleading the Court or if you are serving or filing this document for an improper purpose, the Court could find you in contempt or you may be prosecuted for not telling the truth.

STEP 2A - FILL OUT THE "AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR VISITATION ASSISTANCE" FORM

Fill out the "Affidavit in Support of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 2) included in this packet. This form tells the Court and the other party what you are asking for from the Court and WHY you are asking for it.

Fill in the top part of the form the same way you did on your Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form in Step 1:

Write the name of the county where your case is located and the case number, which is also called the "civil number." On the line marked "name of defendant," write the name of the defendant as listed on your current visitation order or divorce or paternity judgment.

Filling out the rest of the form:

You MUST answer questions 1 through 4. You cannot use this packet of materials unless a visitation order already exists for you or the other party. Fill in your full name in the space provided.

1. Check off whether a Protection or Restraining Order is or is not currently in effect in any State involving you and the other party or the children of this case. If a Protection or Restraining Order IS in effect, fill in the County, State, and Civil Number found on the Protection or Restraining Order.

2. List the name, birth date, and your relationship (e.g., mother, father, grandparent) to each child involved in this case. If more room is needed, attach another sheet of paper and make a note of that on the form.

3. Write the name of the state in which the children currently live and the month and year when they first started living there. Also list the name of the person with whom the children live and that person's relationship to the children (mother, father, grandparent). Finally, list the address of the children (including street address, city, and state). Check the correct response to whether or not you have attended "Children of Divorce."

4. Describe as clearly and as completely as possible the visitation problem you have, including dates, times, witnesses, and other information that will be helpful to the Court in resolving the problem.

For questions 5-15, check off only the type(s) of help that you checked off on your motion, brief and notice of motion for visitation assistance form:

5. Check box 5 ONLY if you checked box 1 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then tell the Court how the other party has disobeyed the existing visitation order.

6. Check box 6 ONLY if you checked box 2 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then fill in the same schedule as you did on Question 2 on Notice of Motion and Motion form.

7. Check box 7 ONLY if you checked box 3 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then fill in the same schedule as you did on Question 3 on Notice of Motion and Motion form.

8. Check box 8 ONLY if you checked box 4 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then fill in the same schedule as you did on Question 4 on the Notice of Motion and Motion form.

9. Check box 9 ONLY if you checked box 5 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then tell the Court why the pick ups and drop offs of the children should take place at a visitation center.

NOTE: Not all counties have visitation exchange centers. The Court can grant this request only if a visitation exchange center exists in your county. You and the other party will probably be required to pay for the fees and costs of this service.

10. Check box 10 ONLY if you checked box 6 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then tell the Court how the transportation arrangements should be changed and why.

11. Check box 11 ONLY if you checked box 7 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then tell the Court why visitation should be changed to supervised.

12. Check box 12 ONLY if you checked box 8 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then tell the Court why the visitation should be changed to unsupervised.

13. Check box 13 and box 14 ONLY if you checked box 9 on the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance form. Then tell the Court the total amount and type of other expenses you have because of the denied visitation, and the total amount of court fees and costs you paid and why the other party should have to pay you for those fees and costs.

14. Check off box 15 only if there is other information you think would be helpful to the Court in deciding this case.

Do not date and sign your "affidavit" until you are in the presence of a notary public or the clerk of court. Make sure to bring identification to show to the notary public or clerk of court. A notary public can usually be found at a bank and sometimes at the courthouse.

By signing your name you are telling the Court that you are telling the truth and that you have a good faith reason for your requests. If you are not telling the truth or if you are misleading the Court or if you are serving or filing this document for an improper purpose, the Court could find you in contempt or you may be prosecuted for not telling the truth.

You may have those with personal knowledge of your visitation dispute fill out an "Affidavit" (FORM 3) which is a written statement in which the facts stated are sworn to be true. If you do not have any one with personal knowledge of the visitation dispute, you need not fill out or file this form. If you have more than one person making a statement, photocopy the "Affidavit" for each person before you continue to Step 2B.

Fill in the top part of the form the same way you did on your Return to Motion for Visitation Assistance form (FORM 1) in Step 1:

Write the name of the county where your case is located and the case number, which is also called the "civil number."

On the line marked "name of plaintiff," write the name of the plaintiff as listed on your current visitation order or divorce or judgment.

On the line marked "name of defendant," write the name of the defendant as listed on your current visitation order or divorce or paternity judgment.

Fill in the name of the person giving the sworn statement and then STOP. The person giving the sworn statement must fill out the rest of the form.

Have the individual with personal knowledge read this instruction and fill out the rest of the form:

First, fill in your name, and your county and state of residence. In the space provided, describe all relevant personal knowledge you have regarding the visitation dispute. Be specific; attach additional pages if necessary.

NOTE: the judge will not consider the statement unless you attend the hearing. If you do not attend the hearing, your statement may not be considered.

Do not date and sign your affidavit until you are in the presence of a notary public or the clerk of court. Make sure to bring identification to show the notary public or clerk of court. A notary public can usually be found at a bank and sometimes at the courthouse.

By signing your name, you are telling the Court that you are telling the truth. If you are not telling the truth or if you are misleading the Court or if you are serving or filing this document for an improper purpose, the Court could find you in contempt or you may be prosecuted for not telling the truth.

STEP 3 - OBTAIN FROM CLERK OF COURT/COURT ADMINISTRATOR HEARING DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION

Take your "Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1) and your "Affidavit in Support of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 2) and supporting "Affidavit(s)"(FORM 3), if any, to the Clerk of Court's Office or the Court Administrator's office in the county where your case is located. The Clerk will give you a date, time, address, and room number for your hearing. NOTE: Some counties will be able to give you this information over the telephone -- check with your county to see if that is possible.

Fill in the date, time, location, and room number of the hearing on the first page of the "Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1).

1. Make two copies of the "Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1).

2. Make two copies of "Affidavit in Support of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 2).

3. Make two copies of "Affidavit(s)," if any (FORM 3).

4. Keep one copy of each form for yourself.

5. Step 5 tells you how to send the second copy of each form and other documents to the other party. Step 7 tells you what to do with the originals of the forms.

You must arrange for the other party to receive notice of the hearing and complete copies of all documents you have prepared for the hearing. This is called "service of process."

You may serve process by following these instructions:

STEP ONE - Place in an envelope:

• one copy of the completed "Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1);
• one copy of the completed "Affidavit in Support of Motion" form (FORM 2);
• one copy of each completed "Affidavit" (FORM 3) if any;
• the original "Return to Motion, Brief for Visitation Assistance"(FORM 5) and "Affidavit of Support of Return to Motion for Visitation Assistance"(FORM 6); and
• a complete copy of these instructions marked "opposing party copy" in an envelope.

Write your return address and the last known address of the other party on the front of the envelope. Place the correct amount of postage on the envelope (you may want to take the envelope to the post office to be weighed to make sure you put on the right amount of postage).

STEP TWO - The envelope containing the forms must be mailed to the other party (or his/her attorney if there is one) at least 21 days before the hearing date. You should have someone else who is over the age of 18 mail the forms.

If your forms are not mailed to the other party (or his/her attorney) at least 21 days before the hearing date, your motion cannot be heard by the court.

After the envelope containing the forms has been mailed to the other party, then the person who placed the envelope in the mail must fill out the "Affidavit of Service by Mail"form (FORM 4) included in this packet. This form proves to the Court that the papers were mailed to the other party.

1. Fill in the top part of the "Affidavit of Service by Mail" form the same as you did for the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1).

2. After "COUNTY OF" fill in the name of the county where the person was when the person signed the Affidavit of Service by Mail.

3. Fill in the name of the person who mailed the envelope and the date on which it was mailed.

4. Fill in the name of the person to whom the documents were mailed (the other party).

5. Fill in the other party's last known address.

6. Fill in the name of the city and state where the post office was located from which the documents were mailed.

7. The person who mailed the envelope must not sign the "affidavit of service by mail" until he/she is in the presence of a notary public or the clerk of court. Make sure the person brings identification to show to the notary public or clerk of court.

8. After it has been signed, make one copy of the Affidavit of Service by Mail for your records.

At least 18 days before the hearing date, take the original of the "Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance" form (FORM 1), the original of the "Affidavit in Support of Motion" (FORM 2), the original supporting "Affidavit(s)" (FORM 3), if any, and the original of the "Affidavit of Service by Mail" (FORM 4) to the Clerk of Court's Office in the county where your case is located. Tell the Clerk of Court that you wish to file the documents. There is no fee for filing these documents.

You must go to Court on the date set for the hearing. If you do not go to Court, you will lose the case. Be sure to be on time. Bring to the hearing:

your copy of the Motion, Brief and Notice of Motion for Visitation Assistance (FORM 1), Affidavit in Support of Motion (FORM 2), and supporting Affidavits (FORM 3), if any,

any evidence you want the judge to know about (such as pictures, documents, receipts, bills, etc.), and

any witnesses you want to talk to the judge and anyone having signed an affidavit (See Step 2B).

Some district courts in North Dakota follow "Affidavit Practice," which means all evidence MUST be submitted in the form of an affidavit. Check the local rules of the district court in which you are appearing. If the court in which you are appearing requires affidavits, anyone having knowledge about your situation must submit their testimony in an "Affidavit," which shall contain their sworn and notarized statement and must be served with all other documents listed in STEP 4. Anyone who has signed an affidavit must appear with you at the hearing.

The judge will not allow you to use as evidence (and will not look at) any documents (such as letters, notes, or statements) written by someone other than yourself unless the person who wrote the document is in Court at the hearing.

If you want the judge to hear what someone else has to say about your case, that person MUST be in Court -- YOU cannot tell the judge what that person said or has to say. You may force someone to attend the hearing by serving a subpoena on that person prior to the date of the hearing.