In short
If you have to appear before a court, three things are worth knowing before you arrive. First: the courtroom has conduct rules the marshal enforces — silence, no food or drink, no chewing gum, no expressions of approval or disapproval, electronics off or silenced, standing when the judge enters and leaves — and the Judiciary recommends avoiding bringing minors given the nature of the proceedings. Second: if you testify, everything is answered out loud, because the courtroom microphones record but do not amplify; and if you have a hearing impairment you must tell the court before the day of the citation so the assistance is available that day. Third: if you are a party representing yourself, you speak. The plaintiff states their request and the remedy sought first; then the defendant explains their position.
What is it?
A hearing is the appearance before the court where the parties state their positions and evidence is presented. The marshal keeps order in the courtroom and gives instructions: when to stand, where to sit, when to come forward. The courtroom clerk calls the case, records the audio of everything that happens and prepares the minute. Once all the evidence is in, the case is understood to be over, and the judge can announce the ruling then or later.
Who can do it?
This guide applies to anyone who has to visit or appear before a court: as plaintiff or defendant, with a lawyer or self-represented, and as a witness summoned to testify. The courtroom conduct rules apply to everyone present, including the public.
Requirements
- In the courtroom: keep silent; no food or drink; no chewing gum; no expressions of approval or disapproval; no smoking; keep electronics off or silenced, except as provided in Canon 15 of Judicial Ethics.Verified against the official source
- Keep respect and courtesy, follow the marshal’s instructions — for example, standing when the judge enters and leaves — and sit when told to.Verified against the official source
- If you have a hearing impairment, tell the court before the day of the citation so arrangements are made and the necessary assistance is available that day.Verified against the official source
- When testifying: take the oath before testifying, identify yourself with your full name, and always tell the truth.Verified against the official source
- Verbalize every answer — except for anyone with an impairment affecting oral expression — because the proceedings are recorded and the answers must be heard clearly.Verified against the official source
- If you cannot attend on the day of the citation, contact the court: failing to appear without just cause can lead to contempt and arrest.Verified against the official source
Documents you need
Cost
Step by step
Step 1: Before the day: flag what needs flagging
If you have a hearing impairment, tell the court before the day of the citation so arrangements are made and the assistance is there that day. If you cannot attend, contact the court: failing to appear without just cause can lead to contempt — the offence punishing non-compliance with a judicial order — and you could be arrested.
Step 2: In the courtroom: the rules the marshal enforces
Silence; no food or drink; no chewing gum; no expressions of approval or disapproval; no smoking; electronics — phones, tablets, cameras, recorders, games — off or silenced, except as provided in Canon 15 of Judicial Ethics. Respect and courtesy, follow the marshal’s instructions, stand when the judge enters and leaves, and sit when told. Given the nature of the proceedings, the Judiciary recommends avoiding bringing minors.
Step 3: If you are called to testify
Take the position you are told to and identify yourself with your full name. Take the oath before testifying and always tell the truth. Address the judge by title — “juez” or “jueza” — respectfully, and show respect to court staff, the other party’s lawyer and everyone present. Verbalize every answer: the proceedings are recorded and your answers must be heard clearly.
Step 4: Do not shout or mumble: the microphones record, they do not amplify
Use a moderate tone. The courtroom microphones do not amplify, they only record, so shouting does not help and mumbling leaves your answer off the record. Avoid gestures or reactions that interrupt the proceedings, even if you dislike what you hear or disagree: stay calm and keep your patience. And make sure you understand each question; if you do not, ask for it to be explained or repeated, without feeling self-conscious about not understanding.
Step 5: If you are a party: who speaks and when
When the courtroom clerk calls the case, take your place behind the lectern and identify yourself with your full name. If you are the plaintiff and self-represented, you speak first and state your request and the remedy or solution you seek, clearly and concisely; if you have a lawyer, they address the judge, unless you are asked to answer a question. If you are the defendant and self-represented, once the plaintiff has finished, you get the chance to explain your position and arguments, also clearly and concisely.
Step 6: If you disagree, ask for reconsideration right there
Once all the evidence is in, the case is over and the judge can announce the ruling then or later. If you disagree: avoid disrespectful comments; if self-represented, address the judge respectfully and request reconsideration stating the grounds — tell them why you disagree; if you have a lawyer, they will request it, orally in court or in writing, with your advice and consent. If your request is not granted, you may appeal the determination where the law allows.
Where to do it
At the Court of First Instance courtroom stated on your summons or case setting. The Judiciary’s Pro Se Centers guide those representing themselves.
How long it takes
What to do if something goes wrong
This guide does not tell you how to dress: the Judiciary’s page publishes conduct rules and says nothing about clothing, so neither does this. If you are a witness and cannot attend, tell the court in advance; if you already missed it, you will have to justify why. If your hearing is by videoconference, court staff send the instructions by email. If the case is about domestic violence, the Judiciary publishes additional in-court safety advice, and it is in the domestic violence guide. This guide gives no cost or duration, because a hearing has no fee of its own and the court publishes no length. PRFácil does not represent anyone in court and gives no legal advice.
Common mistakes
- Flagging a hearing impairment on the day itself: it has to be reported before the citation date.
- Answering with a nod or under your breath: the microphones record but do not amplify, and what is not spoken does not make the record.
- Shouting on the assumption it helps: the microphone does not amplify.
- Reacting out loud to what the other side says: expressions of approval or disapproval are prohibited in the courtroom.
- Bringing minors into the courtroom: the Judiciary recommends against it given the nature of the proceedings.
- Staying silent when you do not understand a question instead of asking for it to be explained or repeated.
- Leaving upset without asking for reconsideration: it can be requested on the spot, stating the grounds.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my phone in the courtroom?
Electronics — phones, tablets, cameras, recorders, electronic games — must be kept off or silenced, except as provided in Canon 15 of Judicial Ethics. The marshal watches that it is complied with.
Can I bring my children?
The Judiciary recommends avoiding bringing minors into the courtroom, given the nature of the proceedings held in the courts.
Who speaks first if I have no lawyer?
If you are the plaintiff and self-represented, you speak first: you state your request and the remedy you seek, clearly and concisely. If you are the self-represented defendant, you speak once the plaintiff has finished. Take your place behind the lectern when the case is called and identify yourself with your full name.
What do I do if the judge rules against me?
Avoid disrespectful comments. If self-represented, address the judge respectfully and request reconsideration, stating the grounds on which you disagree. If you have a lawyer, they will request it, orally in court or in writing. If the request is not granted, you may appeal the determination where the law allows.
Official sources
These are the government pages this guide is based on.
- Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico
Poder Judicial
poderjudicial.pr
- Judiciary — Self-representation
Poder Judicial
poderjudicial.pr
Last verified
August 14, 2026
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The four requirements, when to request it, why permission can be suspended, and the Pro Se Centers that guide you free of charge.
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The three levels and what each is for, why you do not testify at the Court of Appeals, and what each official you will meet does.
Victim and witness rights in Puerto Rico: where to go and what a summons means
The Ley 22-1988 Bill of Rights, the Justice Department office that provides the services, and what a summons means — contempt included if you skip it.
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The Judiciary’s official fee schedule: complaints, appeals, copies, weddings, service of process and marshal’s work.