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Dixon & Moseley | Attorneys At Law
  • Home
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    • Julie C. Dixon
    • Alexander Moseley
    • Matthew McConnell
    • Adrian DeNeen
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  5. 9 Tips For Preparing For A Court Hearing Or Trial

9 Tips For Preparing For A Court Hearing Or Trial

On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | May 26, 2015 | Court Hearing, Court Trial, General Practice

Tens of thousands of cases are filed and decided by Indiana’s trial court judges each year. Every judge and attorney knows the importance of telling the story of your position to give you your best day in court. However, for the legal system to work as it should, litigants themselves play a key role at trial.

These may seem obvious, but it is amazing how the stress of a trial or nervous excitement may cause you not to be prepared for court. Here are some simple tips to be prepared for your day in court. Individually, they may not make a difference, but collectively, every good attorney knows they may make a difference—winning versus losing:

  • Get a good night’s sleep the day before.
  • Think through your answers so you recall the events and details specific to your case.
  • Have a specific place and time to meet your attorney well before court starts, and a plan for what happens if there is a problem.
  • Dress for success and wear clothing worthy of your day in court.
  • Know what you can and cannot take into the courthouse itself (i.e., can you take a phone into the court building?).
  • Do not talk about your case in the public areas of the court; you never know who is listening.
  • Make arrangements in advance in the event the hearing or trial runs late (judges and attorneys cannot necessarily keep the facts of a case to a specific time frame and being unprepared for this with baby sitters or a ride can cause unnecessary stress).
  • Be self aware of the “fishbowl” environment going on in a trial or hearing—a judge is supposed to judge the case by weighing the case in real time and sighs, fidgeting, or similar non-verbal behaviors can “say” a lot.
  • Don’t be afraid to show emotion, but do not let that interfere with your presentation of evidence (crying for instance is a normal human emotion, but if this causes you to withdraw from telling the case, try to temper your case).
  • These may seem obvious. However, these basic principles impact cases each day, and every day in Indiana’s courtrooms and those across the United States. Remember that opposing counsel, the opposing party, the judge and courtroom are places worthy of respect. In all ways, put your best foot forward. The rest will follow to make your best case.

    We hope you find this material useful to educate you about any such issue you face. This blog post is written by attorneys at Dixon & Moseley, P.C. and is for general educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, or solicitation for legal services. Dixon & Moseley, P.C. attorneys handle civil and criminal appeals from all Indiana state trial courts, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, or United States Supreme Court.

    What Is a Notice of Appeal in Indiana? A Guide to Starting an Indiana Appeal (2026)

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Aug 6, 2026 | Appellate Practice

    An Indiana appellate lawyer's guide to Notices of Appeal, Indiana Appellate Rule 9, filing deadlines, and the first step in the appellate process. Quick Answer: What Is a Notice of Appeal in Indiana? A Notice of Appeal is the document that formally starts an appeal in...

    What Orders Can Be Appealed in Indiana? A Guide to Final Judgments, Interlocutory Appeals, and Appellate Rights (2026)

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Aug 5, 2026 | Firm News

    An Indiana appellate lawyer's guide to determining whether a trial court order can be appealed and when appellate review may be available. Quick Answer: What Orders Can Be Appealed in Indiana? Not every unfavorable court ruling can be appealed immediately. In Indiana,...

    How Many Days Do You Have to Appeal in Indiana? (2026)

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Jul 15, 2026 | Firm News

    An Indiana appellate lawyer’s guide to Notice of Appeal deadlines, Motions to Correct Error, interlocutory appeals, and common timing mistakes. Quick Answer: How Many Days Do You Have to Appeal a Case in Indiana? In most Indiana appeals from a final judgment, the...

    How to Appeal a Case in Indiana: Step-by-Step Guide, Deadlines, Costs, and Common Mistakes (2026)

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Jul 9, 2026 | Uncategorized

    A practical Indiana appellate lawyer’s guide to Notice of Appeal deadlines, appealable orders, the appellate record, briefing, oral argument, rehearing, and transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court. If you lost a civil case in Indiana, you may wonder whether the trial...

    Common Grounds for Appeal in Indiana Civil Cases (Complete Guide)

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Jul 1, 2026 | Uncategorized

    When a civil case does not go your way in an Indiana trial court, an appeal may provide a path to reversal, but only if certain legal errors occurred. Indiana appellate courts do not retry cases or reweigh evidence. Instead, they review whether the trial court...

    When Is Parental Consent NOT Required for Adoption in Indiana? (2026 Guide)

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Jun 25, 2026 | Uncategorized

    Adoption in Indiana typically requires the consent of a child’s biological parents. However, Indiana law provides several important exceptions where a court may allow an adoption to proceed without a parent’s consent. Understanding these exceptions is critical;...

    Failure to Object: When Is an Issue Waived?

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Jun 9, 2026 | Uncategorized

    An Indiana Litigation Guide for Preserving Error on Appeal In Indiana litigation, one of the most common mistakes a trial lawyer can make is failing to object at the right time and in the right manner. The rule is simple but unforgiving: if you do not properly object, you may waive the issue for appeal. An objection must be timely…

    Waiver on Appeal: The #1 Reason Appeals Lose in Indiana

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | Jun 2, 2026 | Uncategorized

    In Indiana appellate practice, many appeals do not fail because the underlying issue lacked merit. They fail because the issue was waived. In plain terms, waiver means the appellate court will not decide an argument because it was not properly preserved in the trial court, properly supported on appeal, or properly presented under the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure. Common…

    How to Preserve Error for Appeal in Indiana

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | May 28, 2026 | Uncategorized

    Executive Summary There are several things that an attorney can do to ensure that an error is preserved for appeal. Making timely and specific objections and obtaining an explicit ruling from the judge on such objections can ensure that a matter is preserved. If evidence is excluded, the attorney should make offers of proof through questioning the witness outside of…

    Can a mother legally deny parenting time to an unmarried father?

    On Behalf of Dixon & Moseley, P.C. | May 10, 2026 | Uncategorized

    The answer depends on several important legal factors, including paternity, custody orders, and the best interests of the child. An unmarried mother has sole legal custody in Indiana unless a court orders otherwise. An unmarried father does not have enforceable rights until paternity is established by either signing a paternity affidavit or filing a paternity action in court. If paternity…

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    Recent Posts

    • What Is a Notice of Appeal in Indiana? A Guide to Starting an Indiana Appeal (2026)
    • What Orders Can Be Appealed in Indiana? A Guide to Final Judgments, Interlocutory Appeals, and Appellate Rights (2026)
    • How Many Days Do You Have to Appeal in Indiana? (2026)
    • How to Appeal a Case in Indiana: Step-by-Step Guide, Deadlines, Costs, and Common Mistakes (2026)
    • Common Grounds for Appeal in Indiana Civil Cases (Complete Guide)

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