| What's New! |
 |
www.legalaidofnebraska.com More Info
as of August 1, 2011
- Divorce - $100.00
- Civil - $60.00
- Juvenile - $60.00
Details
- Details
View Code and Resolution
LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE
Legal Aid of Nebraska has a representative working for the Native American Program in the Ponca Norfolk office on the first Tuesday of every month, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Native American Program can provide legal help in tribal, county, and state court cases in the State of Nebraska. The attorney for the program specializes in Tribal Court practice. The Native American Program currently represents clients in the following areas: family law, juvenile court (including Indian Child Welfare Act cases), wills and estate planning, consumer issues, landlord/tenant and “other.” The Native American Program generally cannot assist with criminal matters.
Legal Aid recommends obtaining legal assistance early in all cases, particularly if you are involved in an Indian Child Welfare Act case in a State Juvenile Court. For more information or to make a request for services, please contact the Native American Accessline at 1.800.729.9908.
| Overview |
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The Ponca Tribal Court operates as a basic family court, holding court once a month in the Norfolk Field Office. The Ponca Tribal Court is part of the Northern Plains Inter-Tribal Court of Appeals.
For its service area members, the Ponca Tribal Court provides a method to resolve civil matters, such as a name change, child custody, adoption, and divorce. The Tribe's Social Service Department also uses the Tribal Court for Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) related cases.
In 2008, 66 cases were completed. The cases for the past ten years are as follows:
Case Description |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Adoption |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Civil Matters |
|
|
|
|
11 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
Child Matters |
2 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
15 |
13 |
5 |
Custody/Guardianship |
4 |
11 |
12 |
24 |
28 |
10 |
18 |
25 |
28 |
22 |
Divorce |
7 |
17 |
13 |
16 |
14 |
27 |
23 |
20 |
25 |
24 |
| Housing Issues |
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
7 |
|
|
|
Election Challenges |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Name Change |
1 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
Termination of Parental Rights |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
Child Visitation |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
| Protection Orders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
18 |
Total Number of Cases |
17 |
38 |
34 |
46 |
63 |
50 |
66 |
75 |
92 |
90 |
The Ponca Tribal Court is bound by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Law and Order Code (PTN LOC) and is not required to follow laws set forth by the State of Nebraska. The Ponca Tribal Council approved the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Tribal Law and Order Code on April 15, 1996, with minor revisions in 1997, and amendments in 2000 and 2004. The 2004 additions included Title VII, Tribal Occupational Injury Ordinance) and Title VIII, Tribal Council Conduct and Ethics Ordinance.
The PTN LOC includes provisions for the following: establishment of courts, sovereign immunity, civil procedure, child welfare (ICWA, juvenile court, custody, abuse and neglect, guardianship, children in need of supervision, etc.), domestic relations (marriage licensing, annulment, divorce and separate maintenance, child custody, alimony, visitation, child support, etc.), protection from domestic abuse (protection order, etc.), adoption of children, and guardianship.
MORE INFORMATION
| Four-Step Process |
|
The following steps outline the Tribal Court process.
1. Petition
If you wish to have a case heard by the Court, you must first complete a petition and file it with the Clerk of Courts in Norfolk.
Members are allowed to file their own form of petition with the Court; however, they may use the standard forms provided online or at any service area office.
Fees:
$60 - For all juvenile and civil cases
$100 - For all divorce specific cases
Please Note: If you are unable to pay the required fees and still want the Court to hear your case, you are required to complete a signed affidavit that states the reasons why you cannot pay the required fees. The Court will then decide whether or not they will hear the case without the filing fee.
2. Notification
After a case is filed, the Court notifies and serves all appropriate parties, allowing them 30 days to send a response. After the Court receives the response, it schedules a Court hearing date.
3. Tribal Court Hearing
From the hearing process, the Court renders a decision on the case presented. The Ponca Tribal Court does not provide legal representation to those involved in the court process. Those involved are allowed to represent themselves or use their own legal counsel.
4. Appeals
If the parties involved do not agree with the decision of the Court, they have the option to appeal the case to the Northern Plains Intertribal Court of Appeals.
FORMS
| Contact Information |
|
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Tribal Court
402.371.8834
Fax: 402.371.7564
ruthanneg@poncatribe-ne.org Court Administrator
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