Information for Representing Yourself in Court

The Court, in conjunction with the Adams County Bar Association and its committees, has provided the following materials to help individuals represent themselves (“self-represented litigant”) in some legal proceedings without the assistance of an attorney. The information in these materials is not a substitute for professional legal advice.

Law Library staff, Court staff and Filing Office staff (Prothonotary Office, Clerk of Courts Office, Domestic Relations Section) cannot provide you legal advice or assist you in completing self-help forms. The Court, the Adams County Bar Association and its committees assume no responsibility and accept no liability for actions taken by users of these materials, including reliance on their contents. You may click on this link to "Attorneys Available for Consultation on Completing Self-help Packets" for possible assistance. You may also call the Adams County Court Administrator's Office at the phone number provided on this page to request information regarding obtaining legal services.

If you want to obtain the services of an attorney but do not know whom to contact, please call the Pennsylvania Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-692-7375.

Please review the links below for access to forms and other information. The forms and packets are in PDF format and can be downloaded and printed. Many of these PDF documents are fielded and it is highly recommended that you type in the information to ensure your document is legible.

Judicial Administration

• Technology (All Courtrooms) Electronic Evidence Sharing in Courtrooms
• Obtaining Transcripts 

Criminal

• Criminal-Consent to Proceeding under Rule of Criminal Procedure 119 (Video Conferencing)
• Criminal-Consent to Proceeding under Rule of Criminal Procedure 119 (Video Conferencing) (Spanish)
• Criminal-Waiver of Preliminary Hearing Form
• Criminal-Waiver of Preliminary Hearing Form (Spanish)
• Criminal-Waiver of Appearance at Formal Arraignment Form
• Criminal-Waiver of Appearance at Formal Arraignment Form (Spanish)
• Criminal-ARD (Non-DUI) Application and Model Order (English)
• Criminal-ARD (Non-DUI) Application and Model Order (Spanish)
• Criminal-ARD (DUI) Application, Model Order, Stipulation and Waiver (English)
• Criminal-ARD (DUI) Application, Model Order, Stipulation and Waiver (Spanish)
• Criminal-Plea Colloquy Packet
• Criminal-Plea Colloquy Packet (Spanish)
• Criminal-Probation with Restrictive Conditions Application Information Sheet
• Criminal-Probation with Restrictive Conditions Application
• Criminal-Waiver of Gagnon I (Attorney Use) (English and Spanish)
• Criminal-Waiver of Extradition
• Criminal-Waiver of Extradition (Spanish)

Family Law

• Family-Law-Tips and Techniques for Effective Co-parenting Video (Pennsylvania Bar Association)
• Family Law-Custody Litigation Handbook (including Courtroom Decorum)
• Family Law-Factors to Consider When Awarding Custody
• Family Law-Entry of Appearance of Self-Represented Party Form
• Family Law-Divorce
• Family Law-Appointment of Divorce Hearing Officer
• Family Law-Obtaining a Custody Order
• Family Law-Modifying a Custody Order
• Family Law-Enforcing a Custody Order
• Family Law-Parenting Plan
• Family Law-Establishing Paternity
• Family Law-Custody Pre-Trial Statement, Parenting Plan, and Criminal Record and Abuse History Affidavit
• Family Law-Affidavit of Accountability of Supervisor Form

Civil

• Protection from Abuse
• Enforcing APL
• Civil Law (incl. Name Change, Tax Assessment Appeal and License Suspension/Revocation Appeal)
• Civil Continuance Form

Juvenile

• Juvenile (incl. Application for Counsel in Dependency Matters)

Orphans' Court

• Orphans' Court (incl. Application for Counsel in Orphans' Court Matters)

If You Believe You Cannot Afford Court Costs, You Can File A Petition With The Court To Proceed In Forma Pauperis ("In The Form Of A Pauper") And Possibly Have Costs Reduced Or Waived.

Step 1:  Print out the Following:

• Instructions

Step 2: Using the instructions as a guide, type and complete the following fielded forms and once complete, print the forms:

• IFP Order of Court
• IFP Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and Affidavit
• Confidential Document Form (for all IFP filers)
• Confidential Information Form (to also be used if you have been granted a Protection from Abuse (PFA) or Protection for Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation (PFVSVI)

Step 3: File the completed forms at the appropriate office:

• For criminal matters, at the Adams County Clerk of Courts Office
• For orphans' court matters, at the Adams County Clerk of Orphans' Court Office
• For civil matters, not including domestic relations, at the Adams County Prothonotary's Office
• For domestic relations matters, at the Adams County Domestic Relations Section

Contact Us

Adams County
Court Administration

Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street, 4th Floor
Gettysburg, PA 17325
717-337-9846
717-334-8817 (Fax) 

Court Administration Staff

Donald Fennimore
District Court Administrator

Donna Cassatt
Deputy District Court Administrator

Laura Rowland
Deputy District Court Administrator

Roy A. Keefer
Chief Tipstaff

Corrie Ondrizek 
Chief Court Reporter

Court Services

• Courts' Self-Help Center
• Court ADA Title II Policy
• Court Lists
• Courts' Right-To Know Requests
• Current Court Job Openings
• Directions
• Interpreter Services
• Juror Services
• Local Rules/Administrative Orders
• Public Records of the Unified Judicial System
• Unified Judicial System Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

Court of Common Pleas Calendar

All Criminal Court convenes at 8:30 A.M. unless otherwise noted by Court Order.