Montgomery County, PA

Address
Phone Numbers
Representation by Attorney

INTRODUCTION TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS 

Domestic Relations Section is part of the Family Court.
The Family Court is a division of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. The Family Court is the part of the court system which is there to help you work out problems such as divorce, support for children and spouses, temporary and permanent alimony, division of marital property, custody of children and protection from abuse. 

This manual explains how the Domestic Relations Section of the Family Court works. Although it has other duties, the Domestic Relations Section is mainly responsible for working with families to establish and collect support for children and spouses.

The Domestic Relations Section is made up of judges, administrators, hearing officers, domestic relations officers, an attorney, and various technical and clerical people. The staff of the Domestic Relations Section is assisted by a large computer system which is used to track cases, keep financial records, and is a tool which helps in the enforcement of support orders. The employees in the Domestic Relations Section are trained to help people make the best decisions possible about support and related issues. They recognize that these decisions are often emotional and difficult to make.

When the people involved, whom the court refers to as "the parties", are unable to agree about support, the Domestic Relations staff will recommend an amount of money, insurance coverage, etc. to the parties and to the Judges of the Court. These recommendations are based on the law and on much training and experience of the staff.

CONTACTING THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS SECTION:

Our Location

For a map to Domestic Relations, visit MAPQUEST.

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PHONE NUMBERS/FAX NUMBERS/E-MAIL:

Main Number:

(610) 278-3646 or 1-800-771-2467  (to reach a client service worker)

AVR:

(610) 278-3646 or 1-800-771-2467  (computer information - touch-tone service required)

Fax Number:

(610) 239-9637

You may call Domestic Relations to speak to a Client Service Representative about your case at any time Monday through   Friday 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM. Or you may come to Domestic Relations and be seen by a Client Service Representative between 8:30 AM and 4PM. Client Service Representatives can help explain how your support order affects you, research your case if there are problems, and mail forms or other information if necessary. Client Service Representatives also can help explain how support payments are applied to your account (however, we recommend that clients view our web site, where there is a detailed description of how Domestic Relations' Computer System - PACSES - automates the distribution of support payments. 

Please supply your 9 digit PACSES case number and Social Security number for all telephone calls, letters and office appearances. Your "9 digit PACSES case number" appears on every piece of mail and support check you receive from the Domestic Relations Section.

PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO ANY JUDGE OR HEARING OFFICER ABOUT YOUR CASE.  JUDGES AND HEARING OFFICERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GIVE ADVICE OR DISCUSS CASES OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM OR HEARING ROOM.  CONTACT DOMESTIC RELATIONS WHEN YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR CASE.

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Representation By An Attorney

In all matters scheduled by the Domestic Relations Section, you have a right to have an attorney present, but it is not required. Attorneys can give you helpful advice about legal matters related to your case. The decision is yours as to whether or not you choose to have an attorney with you when you come to Domestic Relations.

Occasionally, a person may be provided an attorney by the Court at no charge. This most often happens when cases involve parties who are in different states or counties and in cases in which there is a question about the paternity (who the father is) of the child.

If you want to have a lawyer, but do not know one, you may seek one through the Montgomery County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service (in yellow pages).  

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