The Utah State Court’s Self-Help Center will soon begin offering a series of free classes in Spanish.
Utah State Courts spokesperson Nancy Volmer says the legal system can be incredibly intimidating, especially for someone who doesn’t speak English.
“So we’re hoping that if we reach out to the public, help educate them on how to file the court papers before they get into the court for their hearing, that that will make the whole process run smoother,” she says.
While people won’t be getting legal advice at the classes, those who chose to represent themselves in civil cases will learn how to navigate the courts and prepare required court forms. Volmer says they decided to begin offering the classes in Spanish after noticing just how big of a need there really was.
“They get a lot of questions about custody issues, divorce, guardianship, small claims cases, and a lot of individuals that are here in the United States are trying to file paperwork for the courts in Mexico,” she says.
The classes are scheduled to be held the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the West Valley City branch of the Salt Lake County Library. The first class in October will focus specifically on how to serve court papers in Mexico.