Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recuse myself from something I volunteered for?

Yes. Voluntary involvement does not preclude recusal. Many of our clients initially volunteered. Most of them describe the experience as 'well-intentioned.'

Will the other parties be notified?

A formal Notice of Recusal is issued to all relevant parties. The notice states that you have recused yourself. It does not state why. The why is yours.

What if the other parties don't accept the recusal?

A recusal does not require acceptance. It requires delivery. Once the Notice is delivered, the recusal is in effect. Other parties may disagree. Their disagreement is documented in the archive. It does not affect the recusal.

Can I recuse myself from a family obligation?

Yes. Approximately 31% of our caseload is family-related. The process is the same. The notice is calibrated to the relationship and delivered accordingly.

How is this different from just saying no?

Saying no is informal. It can be challenged, reinterpreted, or forgotten. A formal recusal is documented, witnessed, and entered into the archive. It creates a record that cannot be casually revised. When someone says 'but you were there,' you have a Certificate.

What does the Certificate look like?

The Certificate states your name, the situation from which you have been recused, the date of recusal, and the case number. It is printed on good paper. It does not specify why you recused yourself. The why is yours.

Have you ever declined a recusal request?

Three times. In all three cases, the person requesting recusal was the primary reason the situation existed. We explained this. Two of them came back six months later with different situations. We processed those without difficulty.