Child and Spousal Support in Philadelphia County

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania. The city itself has status as one of Pennsylvania's counties, and is the most populous county, with residents numbering over 1.5 million. Matters of law are handled in the Philadelphia County Court Of Common Pleas. The court handles matters of Family Law in the court's Family Division. The Family Division has a subdivision that directly relates to matters of child support and spousal support known as the Domestic Relations division.

Support Cases In Philadelphia County

When filing for child support or spousal support in Philadelphia County, the court sets forth a few prerequisites. The first of which is that the parent seeking child support must be able to prove that the child is currently living with them. The court refers to this as the child's standing. For ex-spouses seeking spousal support, these matters are usually determined during the divorce, however, spousal support can also be requested independent of a divorce. Philadelphia county makes use of the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines to determine appropriate amounts for child support. Support decisions are largely based off of the income of the parents and their obligations to the child.

Court Proceedings

Prior to any court decisions being made, the court will want participants in support cases to attempt to resolve their case through a pre-trial conference. Pre-trial conferences are held by a Hearing Officer, who uses the state guidelines to generate a support agreement. If both parties agree to the terms set by the Hearing Officer, then the agreement becomes a full order and will be signed by a judge. If the parties involved do not agree to the terms set forth, then the amount set by the guidelines becomes a temporary order, and the case will move forward to a hearing with a Support Master.

At the Support Master's hearing, both parties will be able to express their individual viewpoints and opinions on why they do not agree to the initial amounts set forth in the Temporary Order, and legal argument and relevant case law will be presented when a party is represented by an attorney. The master will then make a new order after hearing information from both sides.

If neither side objects, then the order will become final. Unlike the initial temporary order, if either side disagrees, they must go through a formal process. Parties who disagree with the Master's support order must file exceptions within 20 days after receiving the written support recommendation. This filing must explain clearly the party's stance on the order and why they disagree. After filing this exception, the case will move forward to a hearing with a judge, where the matter will be argued, and the judge will make a ruling. If the judge's decision is not acceptable to one of the parties, it must be appealed to the Superior Court, although such a course of action should only be considered as an absolute last resort.

When proceeding into a support battle, the best way to secure your interests in the matter is to enlist the services of an experienced family law attorney. Even during the initial support conference, an attorney can make sure you are prepared and you know what is ahead. If the matter proceeds further where formal rules of evidence are enforced and a proper legal argument is expected, legal counsel can make a huge difference in the outcome of a Support Master's hearing or an Exceptions hearing before a judge.

Ultimately, when engaging in any Family Law proceedings, it is important to do so with an attorney at your side. Support conferences, Support Master's hearings, and judicial Support Exceptions hearings can become contentious, and you want to have someone to advocate for your interests. If you or a loved one is involved in matters of spousal or child support, contact attorney Joseph D. Lento today.

Contact a Family Law Attorney Today!

Attorney Joseph D. Lento has unparalleled experience practicing Family Law in Pennsylvania. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you and your family, contact our offices today. Family Law Attorney Joseph D. Lento will go above and beyond the needs for any client and fight for what is fair.

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Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 535-5353
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This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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