About the Family Department

The Family Department is designed to resolve disagreements arising from divorce and legal separation, including provisions for children in terms of guardianship, paternity, and support. Access to community based services including arbitration, mediation, domestic violence shelters and other types of assistance are provided.

Conciliation Services

Conciliation Services offers Conciliation Court Services, Legal Decision Making and parenting time mediation and other services to assist parties with parenting issues. Families involved in divorce and/or Legal Decision Making disputes may also be interested the Parent Information Program.

Divorce Proceedings

Divorce Proceedings where the parties have been married for a relatively short period of time, have no children, and little property or debt can be less involved. A divorce where the parties have been married for a long period of time, where there are minor children, or where there is a significant amount of property or debt to be divided and the parties are in disagreement may take additional time.

If both parties agree to all issues within the case, the case may proceed by the parties filing a Consent Decree. If the Petition for Dissolution has been filed and served on the other party and a response has not filed within the allotted time period, the filing party may apply for a Default.

Decree On Demand

Decree On Demand offers parties a quicker more streamlined process to finalize a default or uncontested dissolution.

Early Resolution Conference

Early Resolution Conference assists self-represented parties in fully resolving as many issues in a case prior to setting the matter for trial.

Family Conference Center

Public access to the courts for the establishment, modification and enforcement of court orders is facilitated through Family Conference Center.

Services

Services to assist families who are involved in a Family Department case include Family Lawyers Assistance Project, Orders of Protection, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Child Support Payment Options.