Writing Clear Orders Tribal Management Program Kevin M. Illingworth, JD University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Rural and Community Development kevin.i@alaska.edu Tribal Management Program Kevin M. Illingworth, JD University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Rural and Community Development kevin.i@alaska.edu

Writing Clear Orders: Why Is It Important? Writing the orders clearly helps us think through the details of our orders. Writing the orders clearly helps make sure that everyone understand exactly what they are being ordered to do. A clearly written order is much easier to recognized, or get help in enforcing, from the State of Alaska.

The terms of the order should be clear and specific Who is required to do what? …and by when? It may be helpful, to announce the decision orally and ask if anyone has questions; the answer to those questions can be used to help make the order more clear.

Which is more clear? Father will have reasonable visitation with the children. Mother must make the children available for visits with the father on alternating weekends from Friday at 5 p.m. to Sunday at 5 p.m., beginning this Friday September 2, with the father providing the transportation for the visits.

Which is more clear? The respondent is ordered to get alcohol treatment as soon as possible. The respondent must make arrangements within two weeks to enroll in an inpatient treatment program for alcoholism of at least 30 days, and must successfully complete the program and submit to the court the certificate of completion by September 1.

Which is more clear? The respondent shouldn’t drink so much. He can’t be causing all these problems. He is banished from the village. The respondent is banished from ____ village until July 1, 2020 and until the successful completion of a inpatient alcohol treatment program evidenced by a certificate of completion filed with the court.