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Zoom Court Hearings

Zoom Court Hearings
Mason County Friend of the Court referee hearings are all held via Zoom. 

Depending on your type of hearing (Child Support, Parenting time, or Custody), there are documents that may be required for you to turn into the court prior to your hearing.  In the motion with the hearing date, there will be a document that will describe what is expected to be turned in before your hearing.

If you require for your hearing to be in person with the referee, this needs to be arranged with our office before your hearing is scheduled.


  • Quick Reference Guide for Zoom and Remote Courtroom Etiquette
    • Join a meeting by audio and video
      • You will need to select "Join Options"
      • After the meeting host lets you enter the zoom meeting click Join Audio icon, then select "Call Over Internet"
      • Touch the screen and icons will appear at the bottom of the screen, click headphone icon to unmute yourself and camera to start video
    • Enter your Name
      • "Personal link name" should be changed to the first and last name of the person participating in the hearing, so that the Court knows who is present for the zoom hearing
    • Zoom Waiting Room
      • Upon connecting to a zoom hearing, you may be placed into a waiting room. You can't see or hear other participants in the waiting room - you will see everyone once you are moved into the hearing room at the start of the hearing
      • Please make sure that your proper name is displayed upon entry into the zoom hearing, if possible
    • Exchange of Exhibits/Documents and Proposed Orders/Judgments
      • All exhibits, documents, or proposed orders/judgments must be exchanged between the parties and submitted to the Court prior to the scheduled hearing date
    • Sharing your screen
      • Before sharing your screen, pull up the item you want to show others on your computer screen
      • navigate back to zoom and click on the "Share Screen" icon
      • When you are finished, click on the "Stop Share" icon
    • Camera
      • Position your camera so that it is just above eye level
      • You can turn video on or off by going to the "video" icon
      • When you join a zoom meeting, your video may be automatically turned off depending on your settings
    • Muting your mic & stopping feedback
      • Stop feedback by muting your microphone
      • You can mute your mic by going to the "Mute" icon
      • When you join a zoom meeting, you may be automatically muted depending on your settings

Zoom Hearings are REAL Court Hearings - Please Maintain Proper Courtroom Etiquette
  1. Dress appropriately for Court (if you wouldn't wear it to Court you shouldn't wear it on a Zoom hearing)
  2. Remain in appropriate areas for court (do not take your device into the bathroom during virtual court)
  3. Remove distractions from your zoom participation area (pets, tv, children, etc.)
  4. Be courteous and respectful including using language that upholds the dignity of a court setting
  5. Do not bring food into the virtual courtroom
  6. Do not use tobacco or vaping products in the virtual courtroom
  7. If you need a break, ask for one



Quick Links

Supporting Documents/Forms
Witness List form
Exhibit List form
Brief instructions - Custody
Brief Form Custody
Brief instructions - Parenting Time
Brief Form Parenting Time
Brief instructions - Domicile
Brief Form Domicile
Court Brief Example
Zoom Instructions