I was privileged to be assigned to a divorce case which started far back as 2013. Of course, it was a bulky file, it had been before the Magistrate Court for Criminal trial, twice at the High Court and currently before the Family Court. The case file had a lot of rulings, court orders and judgment which came in handy at the required time.
Often times, cases we handle may be characterized by many ruling(s) or court order(s) before arriving finally at the judgment stage. It is a general practice amongst lawyers to wait till the judgment is given before they have access to all of the court's records.
However, it is advisable to have every ruling, court order(s) or even judgment given at the lower court on same case for easy reference and for future purposes.
Practice teach that before such documents can be obtained from the court, the counsel have to come by way of an application.
Applications are usually made in writing (I shall discuss on the types and contents of a good application later on) and in these simple steps:
1. Make an application in writing to the court.
"E.g
3rd February, 2017
The Registrar,
Honourable Justice T Court,
High Court Lagos
Lagos State.
Dear Sir,
RE: SUIT NO LD/32356/2015 MR EAGLE WHITE V MRS SALMON
-APPLICATION FOR CERTIFIED TRUE COPY OF COURT'S JUDGMENT
We are counsel to the Claimant in this suit and we hereby apply for the Judgment of this Honourable Court delivered by His Lordship Honorable Justice Z.K. Kanto on the 17th of March 1998.
We undertake to pay all necessary fees as may be assessed.
Thanks for your usual co-operation.
Yours Faithfully,
(Sign)
ADMIN CHI ESQ.
Claimant's Counsel.
2. Have your application "initialed" by the Commissioner for Oaths.
E.g. "The Commissioner for Oaths writes on the document Registrar please attend and treat urgently and signs on it.''
3. Proceed to the court with your application and submit it to the Court Registrar.
4. The Registrar minutes on the letter and hands over a copy of the requested document to you.
5. Return to the Commissioner for Oaths who shall assess your application for payment.
6. Pay the assessed fee at the cashier's office.
7. Seal the document at the filing office too(New development in practice).
8. Return to the Commissioner for Oaths who shall certify the documents and counter sign on it.
9. Submit the application back to the Registrar of the court and leave.
Upon completion, you have your certified document from the court.