What to Wear to a Court Hearing

“Beep, beep” the annoying sounds from your alarm clock app on your smartphone go off ruining your wonderful dream. You roll over to shut the alarm off. Removing the crust out of your eye, you see the reminder app telling you that you have to attend family court today. “Dang,” you cry out loud as you realize that you might be late. Rushing through the morning routine you get stopped in your tracks when you stare in front of your closet. “What do I even wear to family court?” you curiously ask yourself. 

What you wear to court matters. Like a football player wearing a helmet before stepping on the field, you must wear attire that is appropriate for your setting. The court of law is not a place to make a fashion statement, it is a place to accomplish a mission. Whether the mission is winning custody of your kids or keeping the house after a divorce, you must dress to win. Here are some suggestions of what to wear in your pursuit of victory. It’s important to note that regardless of what you wear, it must be clean and neat. It is also highly recommended that you wear dark colors such as navy blue, charcoal grey, and black with no patterns, and no big insignias. For women, it is recommended that you avoid wearing short skirts, skirts with high slits, form-fitting attire, open-toed shoes, and heels higher than 3 inches.

For Men:

• Suit 

• Dress shirt

• Dress pants

• Blazer

• Dress shoes

• Khakis

• Polo shirt

For Women:

• Dress

• Business suit

• Pants suit

• Blouse

• Long sleeved skirt

• Long skirt or slacks

• Dress shoes, flats, or pumps

 “Ah,” sighs of relief while shutting your closet door after picking your outfit for the day. Now you’re ready to tackle the courtroom.

EJ Umoh, Intern for Main Line Family Matters