PONCA TRIBE OF INDIANS OF OKLAHOMA
TRIBAL DISTRICT COURT
The District Court of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma holds court sessions 4 times a month. They are held on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month and the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. We do not have Court on some holidays (see dates below). This Court hears Criminal, Civil, Child Support, Juvenile, and Domestic Violence cases respectively on scheduled court dockets. This Court can only hear Criminal and Civil cases arising within the territorial jurisdiction of the Ponca Tribe.
Adoption
Petition for Adoption
Civil
Civil Complaint
Custody
Petition for Custody
Petition for Visitation
Standard Visitation Schedule
Divorce
Consent to Jurisdiction and Waiver
Petition for Divorce With Children
Petition for Divorce Without Children
Guardianship
Petition for Guardianship of Adult
Petition for Guardianship of Minor
Petition to Vacate Guardianship
Miscellaneous
Change of Contact Information
Contact Information
Instructions for Filing
Guide to How Court Clerks Can and Cannot Help
Request for Records
Summons
Name Change
Petition for Name Change of Adult
Petition for Name Change of Minor
Petition for Termination of Parental Rights
Petition to Determine Paternity
Ponca Tribe Bar Association
Application for PTBA
Renewal Application for PTBA
Protective Order
Petition for Protective Order
What's a PO?
Small Claims
Small Claims Affidavit
Statutory Power of Attorney
Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights Consent Form
Civil Action Fee Schedule:
Filing fee for any Complaint, Petition, or other original action - $65.00
Any proceeding to modify, vacate, or a contempt citation after judgment is final - $25.00
Service Fees:
Certified Mail - $20.00
Process Server Within White Eagle - $40.00
Process Server Outside White Eagle - $50.00 and Up
Publication - $75 and Up
Admission to Practice:
Application to Practice - $100.00
Renewal (annual fee) - $50.00
MONEY ORDERS AND DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS ONLY
No cash or checks accepted!
Rules:
The Court Clerk or File Clerk is NOT permitted under ethics, code, or court rules to do the following:
• Provide legal advice.
• Interpret court rules.
• Help prepare arguments.
• Type pleadings.
Please do NOT ask the Court Clerk or Filing Clerk to provide any of the services listed above. You should consult or retain an attorney for assistance or ask any questions pertaining to legal procedures, filing petitions, or pleadings.
The Court Clerk CAN do the following:
• Provide forms for petitions and pleadings.
• Answer questions concerning filed and scheduled pleadings.
Docket Times:
The Criminal Docket begins at 10:00 am.
The Juvenile Docket begins at 11:00 am.
The Civil docket begins at 10:00 am.
2025 Court Dates
Friday Oct, 3rd - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Oct 14th - Judge Lane
Friday, Oct 17th - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Oct 28th - Judge Lane
Friday, Nov 7th - Judge Tripp
Monday, Nov 10th - Judge Lane
Friday, Nov 21st - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Nov 25th - Judge Lane
Friday, Dec 5th - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Dec 9th - Judge Lane
Friday, Dec 19th - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Dec 23rd - Judge Lane
2026 Court Dates
To Be Determined.
Notice:
ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED. Ponca Tribal Court is open to the public.
Court Staff:
Court Administrator/Clerk – Dawn Nicholas
File Clerk – Becky Pontious
Probation Officer/Bailiff - Napoleon Elston
Chief District Judge - Charles Tripp
Associate District Judge - Tom Lane
Chief Appellate Judge - Lisa Otipoby
Associate Appellate Judge - Robert Gifford
Associate Appellate Judge - Andrew Casey
Prosecutor – Tahlina Nofire
Public Defender - Greg Dark
Guardian Ad Litem – Trisha Archer
Court House Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
For more information:
Dawn Nicholas
dawn.nicholas@ponca-nsn.gov
(580)762-0381 - Main Line
(580)749-7258 - Direct Line
(580)576-0747 - Cell Phone
206 Starting Point Dr
Ponca City, OK 74601
Adoption
Petition for Adoption
Civil
Civil Complaint
Custody
Petition for Custody
Petition for Visitation
Standard Visitation Schedule
Divorce
Consent to Jurisdiction and Waiver
Petition for Divorce With Children
Petition for Divorce Without Children
Guardianship
Petition for Guardianship of Adult
Petition for Guardianship of Minor
Petition to Vacate Guardianship
Miscellaneous
Change of Contact Information
Contact Information
Instructions for Filing
Guide to How Court Clerks Can and Cannot Help
Request for Records
Summons
Name Change
Petition for Name Change of Adult
Petition for Name Change of Minor
Petition for Termination of Parental Rights
Petition to Determine Paternity
Ponca Tribe Bar Association
Application for PTBA
Renewal Application for PTBA
Protective Order
Petition for Protective Order
What's a PO?
Small Claims
Small Claims Affidavit
Statutory Power of Attorney
Voluntary Termination of Parental Rights Consent Form
Civil Action Fee Schedule:
Filing fee for any Complaint, Petition, or other original action - $65.00
Any proceeding to modify, vacate, or a contempt citation after judgment is final - $25.00
Service Fees:
Certified Mail - $20.00
Process Server Within White Eagle - $40.00
Process Server Outside White Eagle - $50.00 and Up
Publication - $75 and Up
Admission to Practice:
Application to Practice - $100.00
Renewal (annual fee) - $50.00
MONEY ORDERS AND DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS ONLY
No cash or checks accepted!
Rules:
The Court Clerk or File Clerk is NOT permitted under ethics, code, or court rules to do the following:
• Provide legal advice.
• Interpret court rules.
• Help prepare arguments.
• Type pleadings.
Please do NOT ask the Court Clerk or Filing Clerk to provide any of the services listed above. You should consult or retain an attorney for assistance or ask any questions pertaining to legal procedures, filing petitions, or pleadings.
The Court Clerk CAN do the following:
• Provide forms for petitions and pleadings.
• Answer questions concerning filed and scheduled pleadings.
Docket Times:
The Criminal Docket begins at 10:00 am.
The Juvenile Docket begins at 11:00 am.
The Civil docket begins at 10:00 am.
2025 Court Dates
Friday Oct, 3rd - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Oct 14th - Judge Lane
Friday, Oct 17th - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Oct 28th - Judge Lane
Friday, Nov 7th - Judge Tripp
Monday, Nov 10th - Judge Lane
Friday, Nov 21st - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Nov 25th - Judge Lane
Friday, Dec 5th - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Dec 9th - Judge Lane
Friday, Dec 19th - Judge Tripp
Tuesday, Dec 23rd - Judge Lane
2026 Court Dates
To Be Determined.
Notice:
ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED. Ponca Tribal Court is open to the public.
Court Staff:
Court Administrator/Clerk – Dawn Nicholas
File Clerk – Becky Pontious
Probation Officer/Bailiff - Napoleon Elston
Chief District Judge - Charles Tripp
Associate District Judge - Tom Lane
Chief Appellate Judge - Lisa Otipoby
Associate Appellate Judge - Robert Gifford
Associate Appellate Judge - Andrew Casey
Prosecutor – Tahlina Nofire
Public Defender - Greg Dark
Guardian Ad Litem – Trisha Archer
Court House Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
For more information:
Dawn Nicholas
dawn.nicholas@ponca-nsn.gov
(580)762-0381 - Main Line
(580)749-7258 - Direct Line
(580)576-0747 - Cell Phone
206 Starting Point Dr
Ponca City, OK 74601