How Do I File a Motion to Change Venue in Tax Court?
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A motion for continuance may be used to request an extension of time from the court, such as to file a responsive pleading. In the body of the motion, the facts are succinctly stated, such as the date the action was filed, the currently scheduled date of the hearing, and the reason for requesting additional time, such as the need to obtain legal representation. The motion may state the reason for the inability to obtain counsel, such as absence from the jurisdiction, and that the motion is not being made for purposes of delay, but to prevent injustice. There is no limitation on the time extension that may be requested, the court may reset the date according to the next available date in the court's calendar. However, the motion for continuance may state that the party is unavailable due to being out of town, in the hospital, etc. until a certain date.
The court may deny the motion, for example, if it finds the failure to obtain counsel is due to unreasonable delay, lack of diligence, or neglect on behalf of the moving party. If the opposing attorney is contacted, he or she may agree to a stipulation for continuance, which may make it more favorable for a judge to grant the motion.
Venue is the local area in which a court, that has jurisdiction, may try a case. Jurisdiction is the geographical area within which a court has the right and power to operate. A court system may have jurisdiction to take a case in a wide geographical area, but the proper venue for the case may be one place within that area for the convenience of the parties. Jurisdiction is subject to fixed rules; however, venue is often left to the discretion of the judge.
Venue is the legally proper or most convenient place where a particular case should be filed or handled. Every state has rules determining the proper venue for different types of lawsuits. Normally, the venue in a criminal case is the judicial district or county where the crime was committed. The state, county or district in which a lawsuit is filed or a hearing or trial in that action is conducted is called the forum. For various reasons either party to a lawsuit or prosecution may move (ask) for a change of venue, which is up to the discretion of a judge in the court where the case or prosecution was originally filed. Reasons for such a request may include a clause in a contract stating that any action must be brought in a certain other venue, or pretrial publicity may be claimed to have tainted the potential jurors in that venue from rendering an impartial judgment. Difficulty in obtaining competent representation is generally not a reason to support a change of venue.
Where to file will depend on where defendant resides or conducts business, and the dollar limit of the local small claims court. Venue is typically proper where the defendant resides, conducts business, where a contract is formed, where an accident occurs, or where the contract provides for the case to be brought. Typically, a defendant needs to have minimum contacts with the forum to pass due process requirements for being served with a complaint. Due process requires it to be reasonably foreseeable that a person would be called to defend in that court.