For most hearings, what to bring to court comes down to a short list: your summons or notice to appear, a government-issued photo ID, organized copies of every document and piece of evidence connected to your case, a pen and notepad, and some cash in small bills. A little planning on prohibited items and what you’re wearing rounds it out. The rest of this guide walks through each piece and the mistakes that cost people their hearing time.
Your Case Documents and Evidence
The single most important item is your court summons or notice to appear. It carries your case number, courtroom assignment, and hearing time. Lose it or leave it at home and you can waste the morning at the clerk’s window trying to figure out where you’re supposed to be. Put it in a folder, not a back pocket.
Bring copies of every document filed in your case so far: motions, complaints, responses, and any orders the judge has already issued. The judge has these on file, but having your own set lets you follow along and answer questions without fumbling. If you have an attorney, confirm which documents they’re bringing and which you should have on hand.
If you plan to present evidence, organize it before you arrive. Printed photographs, contracts, receipts, medical records, and hard copies of emails or text messages should all be labeled and easy to locate. Prepare at least three copies of each item: one for yourself, one for the judge, and one for the opposing party. Courts expect you to provide copies to both the judge and the other side when you reference a document, and a judge may refuse to accept evidence you can’t share. A single crumpled printout signals you haven’t prepared.
If you have witnesses, bring a list with their full names and contact information. Even when they’re already sitting in the hallway, the court may ask you to identify them formally before they testify.
ID, Pen, Cash, and the Small Things People Forget
A valid government-issued photo ID is non-negotiable. Driver’s licenses, state ID cards, passports, and military IDs all work. You’ll need to show it at the security checkpoint, and some courts won’t let you past the metal detector without one. A photo stored on your phone doesn’t count. Bring the physical card.
Carry a pen and a notepad. Judges give verbal instructions, set future hearing dates, and impose deadlines during the appearance, and writing them down in real time prevents the panicked “what did the judge say?” moment in the parking lot afterward. Courtrooms move fast, and you’ll be nervous.
Bring cash in small bills. Courthouse parking in busy metro areas can run anywhere from $10 to over $50 for the day, and many garages and meters still don’t accept cards. You may also need to make photocopies at the clerk’s office, where per-page fees typically range from a dime to a dollar depending on the jurisdiction. A $20 bill covers most surprises.
If you have an attorney, write their name and phone number on paper rather than relying on your phone’s contact list. Many courts restrict or ban cell phones inside the building. If you need to call your lawyer from a hallway or the clerk’s desk phone, you’ll want the number accessible.
Prescription Medications and Medical Devices
If you take prescription medication during the day, bring it in the original pharmacy container with the label showing your name. Courthouse security officers generally allow prescription drugs in their original packaging without issue. Medically necessary liquids, such as insulin, may be subject to volume limits at some courthouses, so keeping containers small and clearly labeled helps you move through screening faster. Medical devices like hearing aids, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs are permitted, though metal components may trigger the detector. Tell the security officer before you walk through and they’ll typically wave you to a hand-wand screening instead.
What to Leave at Home
Every courthouse runs a security checkpoint, and getting turned away because you brought something banned can cost you your hearing time, or create a failure-to-appear situation while you scramble to stash your belongings elsewhere. Federal courthouses generally do not have storage lockers for prohibited items, so you may have to leave the building entirely to deal with anything confiscated.
Weapons top the list. Firearms, knives of any size, pepper spray, stun guns, and anything that could be used as a weapon are banned from every courthouse in the country. That includes the small folding pocketknife you carry out of habit; it will get flagged at the X-ray machine. Leave it in your car or at home.
Recording equipment and cameras are typically prohibited as well. The U.S. Marshals Service, which manages security at federal courthouses, bans cameras, tape recorders, and similar devices. Cell phones and pagers may be restricted or banned outright depending on the courthouse. Some courts allow phones but require them to be powered off inside the courtroom; others won’t let them past the front door. Check the specific courthouse’s website before you go. If your phone gets confiscated and the courthouse has nowhere to store it, you’ll be walking back to your car.
Other commonly prohibited items include lighters, aerosol cans, and sharp objects like scissors or metal nail files. Food and drinks are generally not allowed inside courtrooms, and policies on having them in the hallway or lobby vary. When in doubt, eat before you arrive and leave anything questionable in your vehicle.
What to Wear
Dress like you’re going to a job interview, not a barbecue. No one expects a three-piece suit, but showing up in flip-flops and a tank top signals that you don’t take the proceeding seriously, and that impression matters when the judge has discretion over your case.
Slacks or khakis with a collared shirt or blouse work well. A suit or conservative dress is fine if you have one. Closed-toe shoes are the safe bet. Avoid:
- Shorts, miniskirts, and tank tops. Most courtrooms have explicit dress requirements banning these.
- Graphic T-shirts and slogans. Profanity, political messages, or provocative images invite the wrong kind of attention.
- Ripped or sagging clothing. Some judges will send you home to change, which postpones your case.
- Hats and sunglasses. Remove both before entering the courtroom. Religious and medical head coverings are the exception.
If a judge decides your attire is disrespectful, they can continue your case to another day, meaning you come back, possibly missing another day of work. It’s a small thing entirely within your control.
When to Arrive and What Happens at Security
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled hearing. That buffer covers parking, the security line, and finding your courtroom. In larger metro courthouses, security screening alone can take 15 minutes during the morning rush, when dozens of people file in at once.
At the entrance, you’ll walk through a metal detector while your bags go through an X-ray machine. Have your ID ready. Empty metal items from your pockets before you reach the front of the line, including keys, coins, and belt buckles, just like at an airport. If you set off the detector, an officer will clear you with a handheld wand.
Once inside, look for the court docket, a daily schedule posted on a screen or printed list near the building entrance or on each courtroom floor. It lists case numbers, party names, and courtroom assignments. Find your case, confirm the room number, and head there. When you arrive at the courtroom, check in with the clerk or bailiff near the front so your name isn’t called with no response while you’re sitting in the wrong room down the hall.
If Your Hearing Is Remote
Many courts now hold hearings by video or phone, a practice that expanded during the pandemic and has largely stuck around. The checklist shifts: you won’t need parking cash or courthouse-ready shoes, but you still need your documents at hand, your ID visible on camera if asked, and a pen and notepad.
The court will typically send instructions with a video link or phone number in advance. Courts use different platforms, including Zoom, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams, so download the correct app before your hearing day. If you haven’t received remote hearing instructions but believe your case qualifies, contact the clerk’s office to ask. Some courts post their remote hearing procedures and request forms on their websites. Not every case type is eligible; hearings involving witness testimony or jury proceedings are more likely to require in-person attendance.
For video hearings, use a laptop or tablet rather than a phone if possible, and connect from a quiet room with reliable internet. A headset improves audio on both ends. For phone hearings, use a landline or a spot with strong cell reception, not a speakerphone, not a car, and not a coffee shop. Dress the way you would for an in-person appearance, because the judge can see you on camera.