Yes. Please review the General Order for Civil Cases and individual judges' supplements.

"Service of process" is how each defendant is given a copy of the statement of claim and supporting documents. You must serve most Small Claims Branch statement of claims upon the defendant(s) within sixty (60) days of filing the original statement of claim. In collection and subrogation cases only, you have 180 days to serve the defendant(s).

You may access the electronic record of your court case by visiting the Portal at the following link: https://portal-dc.tylertech.cloud/Portal. Case documents are available for view and download from the Portal. You can also view any future hearing dates.

You must file a statement (called a "Notice to Court") with the Clerk's Office noting the change in each pending civil case.

All parties can bring witnesses (people who have first-hand knowledge of the case) to court to testify under oath at the hearing. If a witness will not agree to appear in court, the Court can issue a subpoena ordering the person to show up in court or give the Court documents that support the case. The subpoena must be served on the witness by a process server. The process server does not have to be approved by the Small Claims Clerk’s Office but must be over the age of 18 and cannot be a party to the case. The subpoena can be served in the District of Columbia or within 25 miles of the Court. All parties should bring to court, documents (contracts, receipts, promissory notes, letters, canceled checks, pictures or other written material) or other proof that relate to the case and all court documents filed in the Small Claims Clerk’s Office. A subpoena can also be issued to order a person to bring documents to court. There is no filing fee to issue a subpoena to a witness or to request documents. The subpoena should be issued well before the hearing date so there is time to serve it. Proof of service of the subpoena should be filed in the Small Claims Clerk’s Office, noting the manner of service, name of the person served and signed by the person who made the service, five business days before the court date. The proof of service is on the back of the subpoena form.

A money judgment may be entered: (1) by consent of the parties; (2) on the defendant's confession of liability before the court; (3) by summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff or defendant; (4) at the conclusion of a trial or other hearing, (5) by default if certain requirements are met. See Super. Ct. L&T Rule 14. The court may also enter a money judgment if plaintiff's process server personally served the defendant with the complaint and summons or if defendant has asserted a counterclaim. See Super Ct. L&T Rule 3 and 14. In all cases, a party may be required to comply with certain requirements under the Debt Collection Statute, DC Code 28-3814 in order to obtain a money judgment. Parties seeking a money judgment should contact the Landlord and Tenant Legal Assistance Network or consult with an attorney on the complete requirements to obtain a money judgment in landlord and tenant court.

You must use normal landlord and tenant eviction procedures. Let the clerk know that it is a "drug haven" case. This type of case is heard on an expedited basis.

Contact the landlord for consent to make a late payment. If the landlord will not agree, file a motion in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office to make a late protective order payment. The cost is $10

If the judgment is unrecorded (that is, not recorded with the DC Recorder of Deeds) you have three years, and if the judgment is recorded, you have twelve years. Ask the clerk in the DC Recorder of Deeds Office about recording the money judgment. The number for the DC Recorder of Deeds (located within the DC Office of Tax and Revenue) is (202) 727-5374. The Recorder's Office is located at 1101 4th St SW, Washington, DC 20024

You can file an Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Costs in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office. You will be required to provide information about your income and expenses, and a judge will review the application to see if you qualify.