Introduction to Domestic Relations

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Domestic Relations Section is part of the Family Court. The Family Court is a division of the Delaware County 32nd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas. The Family Court is a 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/visitation and protection from abuse.

This web site explains how the Domestic Relations Section of the Family Court works. The Domestic Relations Section is primarily 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, and various technical and clerical people. The staff of the Domestic Relations Section is assisted by the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement System (PACSES) a large computer system which is used to track cases, keep financial records, and 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 at a conference, will recommend an amount of money for support, insurance coverage, payment of unreimbursed medical expenses and tuition expenses 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.

[ Return to the Main Domestic Relations Page ]