Generations is the custody education/mediation program that includes an educational seminar for adults, which is conducted online. Generations is part of the Child Custody Department.
To file for custody, you must present the prepared legal paperwork and associated fees for filing with the:
Department of Court Records
First Floor
City-County Building
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Upon proper proof of service of the custody complaint/modifiation/contempt, the Child Custody Department will issue a scheduling order for the Generations education/mediation program.
The necessary forms can be obtained from:
- Your attorney (if appropriate)
- The Court’s website: https://www.alleghenycourts.us/family/forms/
- The Family Division Child Custody Department; 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, First Floor.
- The Law Library on the 9th floor of the City-County Building has a copy of the Court manual and permits copies to be made from their manual.
- If you are represented by an attorney, he/she may request a fee waiver from the judge assigned to your case when that particular judge presides over the Motions Court.
- If you are unrepresented (Pro Se) contact Family Division at 412-350-5600 to be assessed for a fee waiver.
If you are a biological or adoptive parent, you have a court-active case in Allegheny County, and your income falls within the established guidelines establish for civil legal aid, you are entitled to an attorney at no cost to yourself. Please visit the Juvenile Court Project for more information, hours, and an application.
A petition is the legal paper that asks the Court to take action. The Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, provides a form that you may use to ask the Court to modify and/or enforce the provisions of a Permanent Legal Custodianship (PLC) Order that was previously issued at the close of a juvenile court dependency case. This form is called a Petition for Modification and/or Enforcement of Permanent Legal Custodianship Order.
PETITION FOR MODIFICATION AND/OR ENFORCEMENT OF PERMANENT LEGAL CUSTODIANSHIP ORDER
Shelter hearings are held in the:
Family Law Center
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Please check in at the desk in the juvenile entrance (found at 550 Fifth Avenue) before your hearing.
Dependency hearings are held either at the Family Law Center, in downtown Pittsburgh, or at one of three regional sites. Paperwork that you receive should tell you which facility to report to for your hearing. The addresses for each facility are:
Family Law Center
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Central Regional Office
440 Ross Street, Room 337
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
East Regional Office
10 Duff Road
10 Corporate Center, Suite 208
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Mon Valley Regional Office
355 Lincoln Highway
North Versailles, PA 15137
North Regional Office
1010 Western Avenue, Suite 301
(Northern Lights Tower)
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
South Regional Office
440 Ross Street, Room 337
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Shelter Hearings
440 Ross Street, Room 206
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
A dependency petition is the legal paper that asks the Court to supervise a family while they work with OCYF. This petition is usually filed by OCYF, but anyone may ask the Court for permission to file a dependency petition on behalf of a child. The Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, provides one form that you may use to both 1) obtain permission to file a dependency petition, and 2) file a dependency petition. This form is called an Application to File Private Dependency Petition and Private Dependency Petition.
- Individuals who wish to file a Petition for Emancipation of a Minor will find helpful information by clicking on the following link: https://jlc.org/resources/emancipation-or-living-away-your-parents-pennsylvaniaThe court process for filing a Petition for Emancipation of a Minor in Allegheny County is as follows:
- The Petitioner/Attorney shall contact the Dependency and Related Services Department of the Allegheny County Family Court at 412-350-7638 or via email at childprotection@alleghenycourt.us to obtain a docket number.
- The individual seeking emancipation must file a Petition for Emancipation of a Minor through the PACFILE system using the assigned docket number. The PACFile system is the electronic filing system with the courts of Pennsylvania on new and existing cases. To utilize the PACFile system, the individual must register for a secure use account. The link to PACFile is: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/PACFile
- The Petition for Emancipation of a Minor must include the following:
- Notice to all necessary parties. This would include, depending on the situation, the individual’s mother(s), father(s), and/or legal guardian(s).
- Certification Page listing the date a copy of the Petition for Emancipation of a Minor was provided to the necessary parties and how the Petition provided (ex., First Class Mail, e-mail, personal delivery, etc…).
- Written Averments indicating the reasons why the Court should consider the Emancipation of the Minor. These averments may refer to external documentation in support of such averments. Due to the potentially confidential nature of these exhibits, Petitioner/Counsel is directed to refer to the Exhibits within the Petition but they are not to be attached to the Petition being PacFiled.
- Proposed Order for the Court to schedule a hearing on the Petition for Emancipation of a Minor. This proposed order shall indicate the Petition is (1) scheduled for a hearing, or (2) denied.
- The Petition for Emancipation of a Minor shall be presented to a Judge on a Motions Day. At that time, the Court shall decide whether a hearing should be scheduled or deny the Petition. Should the Judge grant a hearing on the Petition for Emancipation of a Minor, the Court will provide a date and time when the hearing will occur. It shall be the responsibility of the Petitioner/Counsel to ensure that all necessary parties receive notice of the scheduling order.
- If a Hearing on the Petition for Emancipation of a Minor is scheduled, the Petitioner/Counsel shall present any supplemental documentation or evidence in support of the averments. If the Court determines there is sufficient evidence to grant the emancipation, the Court shall enter and order emancipating the minor, which shall be filed with the Department of Court Records.
If you suspect child abuse or would like to make a report, you can call the Allegheny County OCYF Intake Office (412-473-2000) or Pennsylvania ChildLine (1-800-932-0313).
If your CYF case closed when you were 17 ¾ or older and you are under the age of 21, you may be eligible to re-open your CYF case if you are in need of help. You can contact KidsVoice (412-391-3100) or OCYF (1-800-862-6783) for more information about the process and for help starting the process.
- There are two locations for drug screening:
- Pittsburgh Drug Screening Laboratory
440 Ross Street, Room 207A
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 - McKeesport Drug Screening Laboratory
339 Fifth Avenue
Wander Building
McKeesport, PA 15132 - Please contact your OCYF caseworker for information about hours of operation and the process you should follow to obtain your screen.
For more information and to begin the process, please contact Women’s Health Services or Allegheny Reproductive Health Center.
For more information, please visit the Office of Children and Families in the Courts and/or KidsVoice.
During your hearing, the following people will be present: the judge and their staff, other court personnel, a sheriff’s deputy, your attorney if you have one, your child’s attorney, the CYF caseworker, CYF’s attorney, and any other witnesses or providers that the court has deemed necessary.
There are vending machines available on the first floor, in the second floor waiting room, and near the main stairwell on the third floor.
The Director’s Action Line can provide information about OCYF services, as well as respond to question, complaints and concerns. The Director’s Action Line can be reached by telephone at 1-800-862-6783 or via email at DAL@alleghenycounty.us
If you have questions about your scheduled genetic testing and where to go, please contact your CYF caseworker.
Family Law Center
440 Ross Street, Room 309
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
In order to obtain a Decree in Divorce, you must file an action with the Department of Court Records (DCR), 1st Floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and follow the procedures in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, beginning with Rule 1920.1. You may be eligible for legal assistance with your divorce through the Allegheny County Bar Association Divorce Project (412.402.6714).
If a divorce has already been granted and you are seeking a certified copy of the Decree in Divorce contact the Department of Court Records (DCR), 1st Floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Once a Praecipe to Transmit the Record is filed, a divorce is usually granted or denied anywhere from three to seven days, depending on the volume of divorce cases that need to be reviewed by the Court’s Divorce Processor. Parties and attorneys are urged to plan accordingly to ensure a decree is granted in advance of any plans to re-marry. In urgent situations, the party or attorney may request the review be expedited, but the Court cannot guarantee that a decree will be issued in the requested time frame. This is especially true in December of each year when there are a large number of filings.
Generally, a spousal support order is entered where the parties are married and now separated and one party has a financial need and the other has the ability to pay. Alimony pendente lite is normally requested in the divorce proceeding by the dependent spouse who requires money to prosecute or defend a divorce action. Alimony is money paid after a divorce is granted, as determined by the Court or as agreed to by the parties. It is based on a number of factors spelled out in Pennsylvania law.
A probation officer will contact you regarding gathering information to help aid in critical decisions regarding your child’s case. The Probation Department completes several evidence-based screens surrounding various areas (such as Trauma) to help aid in matching services for your child.
Referrals to the Juvenile Court may come from police departments, Magisterial District Judges, schools, parents, Courts in other counites, or private citizens. Most referrals to the Court are from police alleging a juvenile has committed a misdemeanor or felony offense.
Police may divert those charged with some minor delinquent offenses to a program other than the Court to be handled informally. The seriousness of the alleged offense is the primary factor in determining whether the police arrest or divert a juvenile.
When a juvenile is arrested, the police decide whether to release the juvenile to the parent or to contact Juvenile Court and request the juvenile be detained. Probation officers handle those calls from the police and decide whether detention is appropriate using a risk assessment tool to inform this decision. Probation officers follow legal parameters and best evidence-based practices when deciding whether a juvenile should be admitted to detention following arrest. Key factors in the decision to detain a juvenile include risk to reoffend and likelihood to appear for the delinquency hearing.
When a juvenile is admitted to secure detention, an Intake Probation Officer is immediately assigned to his/her case. The Intake Officer will contact the parent/guardian to discuss the charge(s) lodged against the juvenile and advise whether continued detention appears to be warranted. If detention is warranted, the Intake Officer will advise you of the date, time and place the Detention Hearing will occur.
The juvenile is not required to make a statement and can refuse to answer all questions until a parent and attorney are present. A detention hearing must occur within 72 hours of the admission to detention at which time a hearing officer will decide whether the juvenile will remain in detention or be released pending further Court processing. A public defender will be assigned to represent the juvenile at the detention hearing. If the juvenile is ordered to remain in detention, a petition must be filed within 24 hours of the detention hearing. The petition outlines the alleged charges for which the juvenile will appear in Court. The formal Court hearing will occur within 10 days if the juvenile is detained and within 3-4 weeks if the juvenile is released from detention.
While the juvenile is detained, educational, recreational, and medical services are provided. Parents are permitted to visit during specified times each day. Only parents, grandparents, and legal guardians may visit. All visitors must have a photo I.D.
The Probation Department will send via US mail a copy of the petition which contains the specific charges filed against your child, and notification of the hearing location and date and time, the presiding judge, and probation officer assigned to your case. In addition, you will receive information about how to contact the Public Defender’s Office to obtain legal representation for your child.
If you are in need of an interpreter (foreign or sign language), please contact the probation officer assigned to the case with as much advance notice as possible.
In some cases, the judge will order your child to be supervised under a Consent Decree. If this happens, your child is not adjudicated delinquent but ordered to be supervised by a probation officer with specific conditions or rules to follow. The Consent Decree generally lasts six (6) months. If your child successfully completes the Consent Decree supervision, the cases is closed with no delinquency adjudication. If your child does not successfully complete the Consent Decree, an adjudication hearing will be scheduled before the judge.
It is important when you and/or your child(ren) come to Court that everyone dress appropriately. All clothing should be clean and free of rips or tears. Clothing should not be too tight or revealing. Shoes must be worn at all times. Clothing and jewelry that include logos, slogans, or pictures that are of an obscene or derogatory nature to any group or individual, or that could be construed as such, are not acceptable. You should dress in a manner that fits the circumstances. Remember, you will be in a courtroom with a judge or hearing officer.
After passing through the metal detector at the Family Law Center (if you have a pacemaker, please inform the attendant and special provisions will be made), you will register your name at the Information Desk. At that time, the assigned probation officer will be notified of your arrival. Although your case is scheduled to be heard at a particular time, there may be unanticipated delays. Therefore, you should make yourself as comfortable as possible in the second floor waiting room area after you have checked in until your case is called for Court. Please bring all requested items including: Birth Certificate and Social Security Card.
Juvenile Court hearings are open to the public in some situations. If your child is 14 years of age or older and charged with any felony, or if your child is 12 years of age or older and charged with specific felonies, the public will not be automatically excluded from the hearing. In addition to your child and the judge, the victim, witnesses, police officer, probation officer, defense attorney, assistant district attorney, court clerk, and tipstaff are typically in the courtroom during the hearing.
The hearing will proceed in two phases: During the first phase (adjudication), of the hearing, the judge will hear testimony and review evidence regarding the alleged offenses. If the judge determines beyond a reasonable doubt that your child has committed the alleged offenses, the judge may adjudicate your child delinquent. Upon an adjudication of delinquency, the hearing moves to the second phase to decide the appropriate disposition.
During the disposition phase of the hearing, the Judge may decide to return the child home with you to be supervised by the Probation Department. In some cases, the judge may decide to remove the child from your home to be placed in a group home or residential facility. A probation officer will remain assigned to your child’s case and regular review hearings before the judge will be scheduled for as long as your child’s case is under Court supervision.
The Court may order the juvenile to pay restitution to a victim. In some cases, fines and fees may also be ordered by the Court. All youth who are adjudicated delinquent or being supervised on a Consent Decree are required to pay $35.00 ($25 – Pennsylvania Crime Victims Compensation Fund and $10 Victim Curriculum Fee) payable to Allegheny County. Depending on the circumstances of your case, additional fees may be assessed. Current law requires that the juvenile pay all court ordered restitution before the Court can close the case. Cases may remain open with the Court until age 21.
Payments can be made online, in person or through the mail.
To pay restitution through the online portal (UJS Portal/Epayments): https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ePay/DocketNumberSearch.aspx.
The UJS Portal does not allow parents/guardians to do a name search. The payee will need to contact the probation officer to provide the full docket number for each case in order to gain access to the correct account. Electronic Payments are accepted using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or Bank Debit/ATM card. Payments through Epayments will be assessed a non-refundable bank fee of $2.75 for each transaction submitted.
To pay in person:
Parents/Guardians/Juveniles can pay in person at Juvenile Court Administration in the Family Law Center, 550 Fifth Avenue, Room 215 or by giving a payment to their Probation Officer. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Department of Court Records – Criminal Division and all payments should include the juvenile’s name, JID #, and date of birth for proper processing.
To mail a payment send check or money order to:
Allegheny County Juvenile Court
Family Law Center-2nd Floor
Attn: Restitution Representative
550 5th Ave, Room 215
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
In person, delinquent court hearings are held at the:
Family Law Center
550 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
However, if the judge deems appropriate, certain parties are able to appear virtually via Teams. Your probation officer will direct you regarding how parties need to appear.
Paternity is usually established in one of two ways: 1) Administratively—this is done voluntarily by the parties, with no Court involvement. The parties both sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity form, which is given to them by personnel at the birthing place when the child is born. You can also obtain a form from the Department of Public Welfare or Allegheny County Family Division. The form is then sent by the parties to the:
Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE)
Paternity Coordinator
P.O. Box 8018
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8018
2) Judicially—this is done as part of a Court process when the mother, caretaker, guardian, or the state will file a Complaint for Support and the case is scheduled for a support conference/hearing. At the conference, the parties may sign an Acknowledgement of Paternity or the alleged father may request genetic testing to determine if the child is his biological child.
Yes. As long as paternity is not yet established for the child, someone who believes he may be the father of a child may initiate an action by filing a Complaint to Establish Paternity and Request for Genetic Testing with the Court. If you are unsure if paternity has been established, you should check with the Court.
Because of the legal presumption that a child born to a married woman is a child of the marriage, a married female must file a support action against her husband, even if separated at the time of filing. Alternatively, the woman may obtain an order through motions Court prior to filing allowing her to file against someone other than her husband in certain limited situations provided that the husband is provided notice of the motion. The motion must request that the marital presumption be set aside.
Yes. The mother, guardian, or caretaker will need to file a Complaint for Support, and a packet will be forwarded to the alleged father at the jail. The alleged father can voluntarily acknowledge paternity by signing the Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) and returning the document to the Court. The document will then be filed establishing legal paternity. If the alleged father refuses to sign the AOP and wants to request genetic testing, he will need to sign the stipulation and return it to the Court so testing arrangements can be made for all parties.
To legally establish paternity, DNA testing can only occur at a Court approved site pursuant to a Court order. The mother, alleged father, and the child(ren) are tested by taking sample cells from inside the cheek of each person to be tested, a painless procedure. These samples are then sent to a lab where they are evaluated for genetic markers, which are compared to determine if the alleged father is the biological father. Both parties will be advised of the testing results at a scheduled conference before Court personnel.
- If paternity is established administratively, where both parties signed the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) and returned the completed form to the Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) the parties will need to contact the:
BCSE, Paternity Coordinator
P.O. Box 8018
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8018
or by phone at 1.800.932.0211. Mother may also contact the Bureau of Vital Records (BVR), P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, or by phone at 1.800.724.3258, with questions concerning the child’s birth certificate. The BVR does not accept requests from the child’s father. - If paternity has been established judicially, the mother will need to obtain a certified copy of the order establishing paternity from the
Department of Court Records (DCR)
1st Floor
City-County Building
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The mother must then forward the certified copy, along with a written request to have the father’s name added to the child’s birth certificate, to the
Bureau of Vital Records (BVR)
P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528
or by phone 412.565.5113. The BVR does not accept requests from the child’s father.
If the Coroner’s Office was involved in the autopsy of a deceased alleged father, and sample genetic matter was kept by the Coroner’s Office, Family Division may be able to establish paternity. The party wishing to establish paternity should contact the County Solicitor’s Office/Child Support Unit for assistance in obtaining a Court order for a sample of the genetic material and to require the surviving parent to appear for the genetic testing. Alternatively, if an autopsy was not performed, a “family study” may be done with a sibling and/or parent of the deceased alleged father, as a way to establish paternity.
Protection from Abuse matters are being handled at the:
Family Court Building
440 Ross St
Room 3030
Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Temporary PFAs are handled from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Emergency PFAs (night/weekend/holidays) are handled from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., Monday through Friday and 24 hours beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays through Mondays at 8:00 a.m.
You should arrive at the Family Court as early as possible and expect to remain at Court for several hours. You will need to complete a PFA Petition and appear at a hearing before a Judge. You can file for a Temporary PFA without the payment of any fees.
A victim of abuse may file for a PFA order against an intimate partner or a family member. This includes:
- Spouses or ex-spouses,
- Current or former sexual or intimate partners (including dating relationships),
- Family members related by blood or marriage (including parents, children, siblings)
The PFA Act defines abuse as the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family members or intimate partners:
- Causing or attempting to cause bodily injury
- Sexual assaults
- False imprisonment
- Conduct which would place a person in reasonable fear of imminent serious bodily injury (stalking, threats of physical harm)
A plaintiff can request the following types of relief in a PFA Petition:
- Prohibit abuse, threats, harassment or stalking
- Eviction or exclusion of the abuser from the victim’s residence
- Prohibit contact, including from work or school
- The entry of a temporary custody order
- The relinquishment of weapons
The judge will review the Petition and may grant all or some of these requests in the PFA order. In order to grant a Temporary PFA order, the Judge must find that an emergency exists regarding the physical safety of the Plaintiff or Plaintiff’s children.
There are situations where a victim of abuse can seek a civil protection order that is very similar to a PFA Order.
- Sexual Violence Protection Order: for victims of sexual violence by an abuser who is NOT a current or former intimate partner or family member AND who are at a continued risk of harm.
- Protection From Intimidation Order: for MINORS (under 18 years of age) who have been the victim of “Intimidation” by an adult (18 years or older) who is NOT a current or former intimate partner or family member AND who are at a continued risk of harm. “Intimidation” includes conduct relating to the crimes of harassment and stalking.
If the Judge issues a Temporary PFA Order, a Final PFA Hearing will be scheduled within ten (10) business days. The Temporary PFA Order will remain in effect until the Final PFA Hearing date. In order to extend the Temporary PFA Order, you must return to Court for the Final PFA Hearing. At the Final PFA Hearing, a Final PFA Order may be issued for up to a maximum time period of three (3) years.
If you are in immediate danger and the Family Law Center, PFA Department is closed for intake (after 11:00 a.m.), you may request an Emergency PFA Order from your local Magisterial District Court (after 11:00 a.m. until close of business) or you may go to the Pittsburgh Municipal Court, 660 First Avenue (on nights, weekends and Court holidays).
Emergency PFA Orders will expire at the close of the next business day. To extend an Emergency PFA order, you must apply for a Temporary PFA before the expiration of your Emergency PFA at the Family Law Center, Room 301, between 8:00 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The following options are available to file for support:
You may file for child support at the Intake Unit located in the:
Family Law Center
Information Desk
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh PA 15219
Information Desk hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM OR you may drop off a child support application packet to:
South Hills Office (SHO)
Suite 200
250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
Pittsburgh PA 15234
or the
Penn Hills Office (PHO)
12000 Frankstown Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
If appearing in person, bringing a completed Intake Information Questionnaire (Click Here) will expedite processing time.
By mail – the forms required can be obtained by either calling our office at 412-350-5600 or by following directions provided here. Completed forms can be returned by mail, to Family Division, Intake Department, 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Online – a request for support can be submitted online via the Child Support Website at https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/
You must provide your Social Security Number (or, if you are not a U.S. citizen, sign a form to verify you do not have an Social Security Number) and provide the child(ren)’s date of birth and Social Security Number(s). It is critical that we have the Social Security Number, date of birth, residence address, place of employment and physical description for the person you are filing against. If you do not have this information, you will be permitted to file for support, but you will need to wait until Family Division searches for the defendant before scheduling the case for a conference/hearing.
The law states that in order to receive public assistance, you must pursue support (through the Court) against your present spouse and/or the non-custodial parent of your children. If you are receiving cash assistance from the Department of Public Welfare, however, the complaint for support is electronically forwarded and you do not have to do anything unless you receive notice otherwise.
Family Division is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Clients and litigants without specific scheduled matters (“walk-ins”) are accommodated Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The South Hills Office (SHO) and the Penn Hills Office are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cases are assigned to the regional offices as determined by the Zip Code of the defendant’s mailing address. Clients may appear in the office without an appointment for assistance with a support case Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Plaintiffs may also file a complaint for support in the SHO or PHO, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The SHO and PHO also accept purge payments when made by cashier’s check or money order. No cash payments are accepted.
Yes
Yes. You may initiate separate support complaints against each parent of each child. If you receive cash assistance (DPW) for these children, your complaint will be sent to the Court electronically.
No. Support and custody are completely separate issues. The non-custodial parent may initiate a separate custody action if they so desire. The custodial parent may also file to “confirm” custody as well.
Yes. All children are considered equally when multiple family obligations exist. The Court guidelines provide formulas used to calculate support obligations when there are children from multiple relationships.
Per federal regulation, new support complaints must be scheduled within 90 days of locating the alleged father or noncustodial parent. In Allegheny County, new complaints, modifications, and enforcement conferences are usually heard within 60 days of filing or requesting a Court date.
Most support complaints are mailed within a few days after they are signed and completed. The scheduling notice and support complaint is mailed to the defendant by regular mail. Additionally, you will be given a copy of the defendant’s scheduling notice and support complaint, plus an Affidavit of Service form. You should attempt to have the defendant personally served by an adult who is not a party to the support action and is not a relative of either party to ensure service of the complaint.
The defendant is normally responsible for paying support from the time the complaint is filed. At the time of the conference, the monetary award is made retroactive to the date you filed the complaint. In most cases, the defendant is required to pay something per month on the retroactive award in addition to the monthly support obligation. However, the Court has no way of making the defendant pay in the absence of a Court order.
An attorney is not required when filing for support or when attending the support conference. However, you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you and attend the conference and hearing. If you do not have an attorney, you may contact the Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, 400 Koppers Building, 436 Seventh Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15219 (412.261.5555) for information about hiring a lawyer. If you cannot afford an attorney, this office may be able to provide you with information about agencies that may offer legal services to eligible persons at a reduced fee or no fee.
If you are the custodial parent (plaintiff), are not on cash assistance (DPW) and fail to appear, then the support action will be dismissed per Rule 1910.3(b); however, if you do receive cash assistance and fail to appear, you risk losing your welfare cash grant, and the Court will refer you to DPW for non-cooperation. If you are the non-custodial parent (defendant), the Court will proceed and establish an order if sufficient income information is available. A bench warrant for your arrest may also be issued.
Administrative Order 444 of 1999 contains the process for obtaining a continuance for your support proceedings and is dependent on when your Court date is scheduled. If your Court date is more than 30 days in the future and both parties consent, you may present a Court order requesting a continuance to the Client Service Center in the Family Court Facility, or you may present a signed agreement at any regional office. If both parties do not consent, or your Court date is less than 30 days in the future, you must present a motion to the judge who is assigned to your case and obtain a Court order.
Family members and friends are permitted in the Family Court Facility at 440 Ross Street; however, only the parties directly involved in the case (plaintiff and defendant) and their respective attorneys are permitted in the conference areas. Family members and friends are not permitted in Suite 210 of the Allegheny Building, the South Hills Office (SHO), or the Penn Hills Office (PHO) due to limited seating and space.
Children are not permitted to attend support conferences, unless genetic testing is required. There is a Children’s Room available, for a limited number of children, at 440 Ross Street. There are no child care services available at the South Hills Office or the Penn Hills Office.
Pursuant to the laws of Pennsylvania, every child support order must address medical support/health insurance coverage. The law requires that the Court determine the ability of each parent to provide, based on what is available to that parent. The Court must also address medical coverage in Court orders relative to spousal support.
In every instance, the Court looks at reasonable cost in determining which party (plaintiff or defendant) should provide medical insurance. In accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure, reasonable cost is defined as five percent (5%) of net monthly income and, when added to the amount of basic child support, does not exceed fifth percent (50%) of net monthly income.
Yes. This is quite common. Provisions are set forth within the support guidelines, which account for apportioning childcare costs. Usually these are included in the support order. The incomes of both parties are considered in making a determination. You should bring all documentation regarding your childcare costs to the support conference.
You must file your exceptions within 20 days of the date of your hearing or date the recommendation was mailed to you. Exceptions are filed at the:
Docketing Office
Manor Building
5th Floor
564 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219.
You will need the original and one copy of each of the following: the hearing officer’s recommendation; your written or typed exceptions (which are specific objections) to the hearing officer’s recommendation; and the receipt for your transcript. A transcript of the support proceeding must be ordered at the:
Court Reporter’s Office
Room 805
Manor Building
564 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A $50 deposit is required at the time the transcript is ordered. If you believe you are unable to afford the cost of the transcript, you may seek a waiver of those costs through Pro Se Motions. In order to timely file exceptions if you are seeking a waiver of the transcript, you will need to file a “Certification of Intent to Seek Transcript Fee Waiver,” which is available at the:
Docketing Office
Manor Building
5th Floor
564 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
or at the:
Family Court Facility
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
All support payments are made to the Pennsylvania State Collection and Distribution Unit (PA SCDU), a centralized state agency.
If you are on cash assistance from the Department of Welfare, any monies collected up to the amount of your welfare grant become payable to the State of Pennsylvania to subsidize the grant. If monies are collected in cases where there is an existing cash assistance grant, the custodial parent may receive a “support pass through” amount, up to $200 per month, in addition to your grant monies.
If you are not receiving cash assistance, SCDU will forward any monies collected to you within 48 hours of receipt via the payment options referenced in the below FAQ.
The litigant may request a name change due to a change in his/her marital status by providing documentation showing his/her new name (i.e., Social Security card, driver’s license, Notice of Intention to Resume Prior Name). This information may be faxed to: 412.350.5599 or 412.350.0338, or you may appear in person or mail the required documentation to:
Family Division
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
A signed letter, including your name, address, and PACSES member ID number, may be faxed to: 412.350.0338 or 412.350.5599. You may also mail a letter to:
Family Division
440 Ross Street
Pittsburgh PA 15219
or appear in person at the same address (1st or 3rd floor receptionist) to make changes to your demographic information.
You may also change your address online if you are a registered user of the PA Child Support website at: www.childsupport.state.pa.us.
Yes. Parties may suspend/terminate (stop) their support order at any time if they both agree and if the plaintiff and/or child(ren) are not receiving cash assistance from the Department of Welfare. There are three ways parties can proceed. (1) Submit a completed Suspension/Termination Agreement Form (in person or by mail); or (2) Have their legal representative enter a consent order of Court to suspend/terminate the support order or (3) Appear in person together at the Family Court Facility, the South Hills Office (SHO) or the Penn Hills Office (PHO) and sign a consent order of Court to suspend/terminate the support order. Parties receiving cash assistance from the Department of Welfare who wish to suspend/terminate (stop) their Court ordered support should appear in person either at that Family Court Facility, the SHO or the PHO to have their case reviewed by a Domestic Relations Officer.
Your attorney can present a motion on your behalf. If you do not have an attorney, you may represent yourself pro se (without an attorney representing you). Pro se motions are heard Monday through Thursday at 1:00 p.m. and on Friday (between September – April) at 9:00 a.m.
If you are unrepresented, you may be able to obtain help in preparing your pro se motion. You can appear at the First Floor Information Desk, 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. You must bring proof of your income with you.
A support payor/defendant who is presenting a motion where the payee does not have an attorney must also serve a copy of the motion to the:
Title IV-D attorney
Allegheny County Law Department
300 Ft. Pitt Commons Building
445 Ft. Pitt Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
All motions must be served to the other party(ies) for information on service please click here.
Either party can file a “Petition for Modification of Existing Support Order” if they believe they are entitled to an increase or decrease in support. The support order may be modified when there has been a material and/or substantial change in circumstance not due to the filing party’s own actions. At the modification conference all the same considerations and procedures apply as in the initial support conference.
A request for modification may be filed in person at the Family Court Facility, 1st floor Screening Department Check-In Desk (local walk-ins), Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You may also appear in person at the:
South Hills Office
250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
or the
Penn Hills Office
12000 Frankstown Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235.
Requests for modification may also be submitted by mail or fax (see procedures in the Court Manual or online via the Child Support Website at https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/
This is the website of the Domestic Relations Association of Pennsylvania.
There is no fee collected for filing a support complaint, and all support payments collected are directly distributed to the plaintiff in the support case, or to the Department of Public Welfare if the plaintiff is active on cash assistance. The only ‘fee’ collected is in situations where the family has never received cash assistance from the Department of Public Welfare. In that instance, a $25.00 annual federal user fee is collected from the custodial parent when support is collected in excess of $2,000.00 on the case.
You may elect to have support payments deposited directly to your bank account or automatically deposited on a debit card issued by MasterCard. To arrange for direct deposit to your bank account, you will need to make arrangements directly with the Pennsylvania State Collection and Disbursement Unit (PA SCDU), who is responsible for collecting and distributing support monies. A copy of the required form may be obtained by contacting the Family Division Information Specialists at 412.350.5600, who will mail a copy to you. You may also appear in person at the Family Court Facility, 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, access a copy here, or contact PA SCDU Customer Service at 1.877.727.7238. You must mail the completed form to:
PA SCDU DIRECT DEPOSIT ENROLLMENT FORM
Exceptions Processing Department
PA SCDU, P.O. Box 61216
Harrisburg PA 17106-1216
Support plaintiffs who do not arrange for direct deposit will automatically receive a PA Child Support Way2Go (a debit MasterCard), where support payments are posted when received. For questions and or information regarding your PA Child Support Way2Go, call 1.800.304.1669 or visit the Way2Go website here.
The purge window is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Family Division accepts cash, money orders, and/or cashier/bank checks made payable to Allegheny County Family Division. The Family Division does NOT accept personal checks since it cannot be responsible for lost or misplaced checks, and checks are sometimes returned for ‘insufficient funds.’ Purge payments may also be made via cashier’s check or money order (no cash) at the:
South Hills Office
250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
Suite 200
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
or the:
Penn Hills Office
12000 Frankstown Road
3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15235.
The child support order and state regulations require that all child support payments be made to PA SCDU. Instructions on making a payment can be found here.
Payment instructions are available at all offices, can be mailed by making a request by phone to 412-350-5600, or by clicking here.
The calculation of child/spousal support involves the incomes of both parties to a support action, so both parties must be present to provide income and medical insurance information.
Cash assistance from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) is a form of aid given to a custodial parent to assist with the financial responsibilities of raising a child. These funds are made available from DPW program dollars, and since both parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support for a child, DPW seeks reimbursement based on the guidelines.
The Court must address overpayments in a support case pursuant to PA Rule of Civil Procedure 1910.19(g). If a case is overpaid by more than two months with a support obligation in effect, you should contact the Family Division (412.350.5600) for a reduction in the support amount. If an overpayment results at the time a support obligation terminates, you may petition for recovery of the overpayment within one year of the termination. You may appear in person at the Family Court Facility, 1st floor, Screening Department Check-In Desk (local walk-ins), Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You may also appear in person at the:
South Hills Regional Office
250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd.
Suite 200
Pittsburgh PA 15234
or the:
Penn Hills Office
12000 Frankstown Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You can also submit a petition for recovery of an overpayment online via the Child Support Website at https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/
Typically, if spousal support is requested/ordered, you may not remove your spouse from your medical insurance until you are no longer married (i.e., a divorce decree is entered). You should consult with an attorney for more information.
No, child support does not automatically terminate when a child turns 18. In accordance with Pennsylvania law, child support continues until a child is emancipated (i.e., the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later). Support may continue after the 18th birthday in situations where the child suffers from a disability, which began before the child turned 18. You should contact the Family Division via telephone, mail, or by appearing in person at the Family Court Facility, the South Hills Office or the Penn Hills Office several months before your child’s emancipation date to determine the action you need to take.
Monthly support payments are pro-rated, based on defendant’s pay period (i.e., weekly/biweekly/monthly) and deducted by the defendant’s employer according to the pay period. For example, if the defendant is paid every other week, the support is deducted in equal amounts, 26 times per year.
The state-wide computer system used for support cases (PACSES) automatically attaches all reported, available income sources (i.e., employers). If a wage attachment is sent to a secondary employer (i.e., a part-time or second job), and the full support amount is being deducted by your primary employer, you should contact the Family Division immediately. The case will be reviewed and if the full support amount is being deducted and submitted by your primary employer, all additional wage attachments will be terminated.
You should contact the Family Division via telephone, mail, or in person at the Family Court Facility, the South Hills Office, or the Penn Hills Office to request enforcement of your order.
Cases are scheduled at regional offices based on the defendant’s Zip Code. Plaintiffs may ‘appear’ for any scheduled event in a regional office by coming to the Central Office (440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219) on the date of the scheduled event at least 15 minutes in advance of the conference/hearing.
You cannot speak directly to the judge on your case without the other party/attorney present. If you need the judge to address an issue in your case, you must prepare and present a motion to the judge. For information on presenting a motion see How to File a Motion in Frequently Asked Questions above.
The official Court records, including all pleadings filed in a case, are available for viewing in the:
Manor Building
5th Floor
564 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). A photocopier is available for your use in copying any documents from the file.
The Allegheny County Bar Association sponsors two resources to obtain legal representation for family law matters. Click on this link to access their website: Allegheny County Lawyer Referral Service | Need a Lawyer (getapittsburghlawyer.com)
If you are a plaintiff, you can appear at the Intergovernmental Office (Manor Building, 564 Forbes Avenue, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219) and request assistance with this service. If you are a defendant, your portion of the case will only be transferred if the other Court requests the transfer.
You can come to the Family Court Facility (440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219) with three certified copies of the order and an affidavit of arrears (obtained from the state where the order was issued). Court staff will file to register the order where the defendant lives for enforcement.
No. You will complete a general testimony form which will be forwarded to the other state/county with your petition. This is considered your testimony for the hearing. The other Court may offer telephonic testimony if you wish to participate in the scheduled hearing.