This is a brief description of child support and spousal support procedures in Philadelphia written by an experienced lawyer, attorney Carla Risoldi of Risoldi Law Offices, LLC.

1. SUPPORT PROCEDURES IN PHILADELPHIA
BY: CARLA V. RISOLDI, ATTORNEY AT LAW
RISOLDI LAW OFFICES, LLC

2. SUPPORT PROCEDURES IN PHILADELPHIA/ STARTING THE CASE
 To file for support (child or spousal) in Philadelphia, you can file either in person or online.
 If you file in person at the Family Court at 15TH & Arch Streets, 11th Floor.
https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/?Preference=Desktop&Owner=Client Here is a link to the form;
https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/forms/domestic-relations/Complaint-for-Support.pdf
 You may use this form if you want support for your children (child support) and/or if you want support from your husband (spousal
support). You must file separate complaints against each father. 2. Fill in the Domestic Relations Information Sheet (located separately
on the Domestic Relations Division’s website) with as much information as you have. 3. Complete, date, and sign the Complaint for
Support (detailed instructions included). 4. File the original AND two (2) copies of the completed complaint and one copy of the
Domestic Relations Information Sheet with the filing fee by mailing or hand-delivering them in person to: Clerk of Family Court 1501
Arch Street – 11th Floor Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 A copy machine is available at the Clerk’s office at a cost of $.25 per page. 5. Once the
complaint is filed, the Court will mail to you a copy of the complaint and an order with a date to appear for a support conference. See
the brochure “Child Support in Philadelphia County” for information about the process after the complaint is filed.
 Here is the link to for the form if you are filing online;
https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/csws_controller.aspx?SelectionId=5&&PageId=csws%2Fgeneral_forms.ascx&Preference=
Desktop&Owner=Client

3. SUPPORT CONFERENCE
 The matter will be scheduled for a support conference. This is a good opportunity to try to settle your case without further litigation.
 Pennsylvania has support guidelines for both child and spousal support. The link to them is:
https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/csws_controller.aspx?PageId=csws/support_estimator_overview.ascx&Preference=Deskto
p&Owner=Client
 While there are guidelines and, it is important to know that there may be important legal arguments that can be made which would
affect the final order. These include: using an earning potential different than the actual earnings, including adjustments to the
guidelines numbers for things such as contributions for medical, dental and vision insurance, child care or private school costs, other
costs for example a mortgage contribution or consideration of multi-family support situations just to name a few. In addition, there
could be a defense to spousal support saying that the spouse is not “entitled” to it. Also, after the guidelines are calculated, a court
could “deviate” from the guidelines and adjustments made to the guidelines calculations.
 Here is a link to a video giving further information about how to prepare for your support conference:
 https://www.philalegal.org/node/178

4. SUPPORT MASTER, EXCEPTIONS AND HEARING
 If your case does not settle at the support conference, it will be listed for a record hearing before a Support Master.
Master’s hearings are scheduled for 45 minutes or 90 minutes and are electronically recorded. The master will receive
the evidence, hear argument, and file with the court a report and recommendation containing findings and a
proposed order for support. The rules of evidence apply to this hearing.
 The proposed order will be reviewed by the court and, if approved, made an interim order. The findings and interim
order will be sent by the court to the parties and counsel along with instructions on how and when to file written
exceptions to the recommendation. Matters not raised in the exceptions are deemed waived unless, prior to the
entry of the final order, leave is granted to file exceptions raising these matters. The party making exceptions will
obtain a transcript of the master’s hearing and must file exceptions within 20 days. If no exceptions are filed, the
interim order becomes the final order. If exceptions are filed, the matter will be scheduled for a hearing before a
judge, but the interim order will remain in effect.
 Hearings before judges. Judges will hear exceptions to support masters’ findings, contempt petitions, motions and
bench warrants.

5. HOW TO PAY ONCE SUPPORT ORDER ENTERED, ENFORCEMENT,
MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
 Once a support order is entered you can to go
ttps://www.ncourt.com/nCourtEFileLite/default.aspx?Juris=PAPhiladelphiaCi
 to make a payment
 You will need your 10-digit member ID. If you don't know that number, please contact Domestic Relations. If you're
paying for someone else, you will need his/her first and last name, complete mailing address, member ID number and
social security number(last 4).
 Support orders entered by the court will be enforced by the court and if payment is not timely made, the obligor
could be brought back before a judge to face an allegation that they are in contempt. If found in contempt, an
obligor could be sent to jail and there could be other collateral consequences that impact on credit reports,
professional licenses and the like. Also, an obligor’s tax refund may be intercepted as well as other assets.
 Also, support orders can be modified or terminated upon a change of circumstances such as the involuntary loss of
employment or other factual changes or the emancipation of a child.

6. WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A SUPPORT MATTER IN PHILADELPHIA
Compile your financial information
Retain an experienced attorney
Prepare for the conference

7. RISOLDI LAW OFFICES, LLC
 Carla V. Risoldi is a top-rated attorney who founded RISOLDI LAW OFFICES, LLC in 1994 and has been
representing satisfied clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since then. If you find yourself in a support case
in Philadelphia, call Ms. Risoldi at 215-741-3700 or learn more about her at www.risoldilawoffices.com.