Carbon County, a county in northeastern Pennsylvania, has a population of 64,749. If you have a case pertaining to family law in Carbon County, your case will likely be heard at Carbon County Court of Common Pleas located at 4 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA.
The Court Offices are open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every Monday to Friday, closing for an hour between 12:00 to 1:00 PM every working day.
The Carbon County Court of Common Pleas has a Domestic Relations Office located at 76 Susquehanna St., 2nd floor, Jim Thorpe, PA. 18229. This department deals with issues including:
- Establishing paternity
- Establishing and maintaining support orders
- Enforcing financial and medical orders
- Locating absent parents
The Domestic Relations Office has been part of the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement System (PACSES) since 1988. It does not handle custody and visitation issues and instead focuses on issues surrounding child support and paternity.
If you are facing an issue involving domestic relations, your case will probably be dealt with by the Domestic Relations Office.
Family Law in Carbon County
The family law court in Carbon County deals with many cases involving family law, such as divorce, custody, visitation, support, sexual or domestic abuse, and more. It also includes the Domestic Relations Office, which deals with support, paternity, and other issues.
What is a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order?
In cases of domestic or sexual violence, the victim may file a protection from abuse (PFA) order against the abuser if they share an intimate or household relationship. This order, once issued by a judge, prohibits the abuser from using firearms to threaten or intimidate the victim, use physical violence or force against them, and visit their home, workplace, or school.
PFAs can be temporary or final. A temporary PFA is first issued, for 7-10 days, followed by a final PFA hearing. After the hearing, the judge may order a final PFA order based on the evidence. Final PFAs are valid for up to 3 years.
Filing for a PFA Order
If you have faced domestic or sexual violence from someone with whom you have an intimate or household relationship, you may file for a protection from abuse (PFA) order against them. A PFA order is meant to keep the victim safe and prevent future harassment or escalation of violence. You may first apply for a temporary PFA order, which is valid for 7-10 days until the final PFA hearing. At the final PFA hearing, which includes both parties, the victim and the abuser, and may also include their attorneys, a decision regarding a final PFA is made. The final PFA, once issued, may last for up to 3 years.
Although the courts do not require parties filing for or defending themselves against a PFA to have an attorney, it is highly advisable that you retain the services of an experienced family law attorney. Even if 'you're confident of having a strong case, you may not be able to present evidence or cross-examine the witnesses presented by the other side in the best possible way. Having the LLF Law Firm and our Family Law Team handle your case takes away the potential for fatal missteps and eases your emotional and mental stress. You can always schedule a consultation with us if you are unsure about how to handle your case or would like professional guidance.
Filing for Support
You need an appointment to file a child support case at the Domestic Relations Office at Carbon County Court. You can reach out to the office over the phone or in-person to request an appointment. Appointments are usually scheduled within a week. The filing process can also be initiated online. After filing, the Domestic Relations Office will notify you of whether you need to make an appointment. At the appointment, you will need to fill up paperwork and answer the Intake 'Officer's questions about your case. Most appointments take about half an hour to an hour.
After the support request is filed, a conference will be scheduled within 4 to 6 weeks that both parents are required to attend to discuss support. A conference officer will conduct this conference and determine how much support the absent parent is required to pay.
If a mutually agreeable decision is not reached at the conference, a formal hearing will then be scheduled. A hearing is a legal event where both parties will be required to testify. Based on the hearing, a Hearing Officer will issue a final decision. This decision may subsequently be appealed against.
How to File a PFA Order in Carbon County
If you live in Carbon County and need to file a protection from abuse order, you can do so at the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas. The court is located at:
76 Susquehanna St.,
2nd floor, Jim Thorpe,
PA. 18229
Ph: (570) 325-2481
More information can be obtained here.
Scheduling a Case Consultation
Issues involving family law can be emotionally taxing and hard to deal with. A skilled and experienced attorney like the attorneys on our Family Law Team can help you sidestep the most complex and trying parts of a family law court case and help obtain the best outcome for you.
Working with LLF Law Firm can ease your pressure and stress, especially because they realize the importance of providing you with full and detailed information so you understand exactly what is going on with your case.
With many years of experience defending clients in Pennsylvania and other states in cases involving family law, our Family Law Team at the LLF Law Firm can help you attain justice, whatever your case.
You can reach out to LLF Law Firm for a case consultation at 888.535.3686 or via the firm's online form.
