HOW TO PREPARE AND PRESENT A WINNING CIVIL COURT CASE Many disputes are too big for small claims court but too small to justify a lawyer’s fee. Fortunately, if you are willing to learn the courtroom ropes, you can successfully handle your own case from start to finish. _Represent Yourself in Court_ breaks the pretrial and trial process down into easy-to-understand steps. Armed with these clear and thorough instructions, you’ll be well prepared to: * file court papers * present an opening statement * deal with pretrial issues * cross-examine hostile witnesses * handle depositions * make and respond to objections * pick a jury if necessary * get help from an attorney or legal coach * discover, obtain and prepare your evidence * deal with the court clerk and judge * line up and prepare witnesses Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, this book will help you handle a bankruptcy, divorce, landlord-tenant dispute, breach of contract case, small business dispute—or any other civil lawsuit. This new edition is completely updated to include the latest rules and court procedures.