NEW PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT PROCEDURES
Beginning July 6, 2021, Philadelphia Family Court will fully open for in-person services and most remote court services will no longer be offered.
ATTENDING YOUR HEARING
From July 6, 2021, ALL court proceedings, except support conferences, will take place in person at Family Court located at 1501 Arch Street.
If you have a hearing scheduled for July 6, 2021 or later, your hearing will still be held at the same time and date, but will now be IN PERSON at the Philadelphia Family Court.
**Support conferences are the ONLY hearings that will be conducted remotely after July 6th 2021.**
FILING FOR PROTECTION FROM ABUSE
**From July 6, 2021, you will no longer be able to file for a PFA by phone or email.**
To file for a PFA order, you must do so in person at the Domestic Violence Filing Unit of the Philadelphia Family Court (8th Floor) from Monday to Friday between 8:00a.m and 4:00p.m .
• Please try to arrive at the Filing Unit as early as possible to be sure that your case will be heard and that you can receive your Temporary Order on the same day. The filing unit may stop accepting filers as early as noon to be sure the process can be completed by the close of business.
• Sheriffs will continue to serve Temporary Orders issued at Family Court.
Emergency Filing
If you need a Protection From Abuse order when the Filing Unit is closed, please go to the Criminal Justice Center located at 1301 Filbert Street. Sheriffs will not serve these Emergency Orders. The Emergency filing site is only open for emergencies on nights (5pm – 8am), weekends and holidays.
FILING PETITIONS FOR CUSTODY, SUPPORT and DIVORCE
**From July 6th 2021, you will no longer be able to file petitions electronically and the temporary drop box located in Family Court will be removed. ** From July 6, 2021, all non-PFA filings including emergency custody petitions, other custody petitions, support, and divorce need to be filed IN PERSON at the Clerk of Courts at Philadelphia Family Court, 11th Floor.
BRINGING CHILDREN TO COURT
Unless ordered by a judge or hearing officer, your children will not be required to attend custody hearings. If you want your children to speak to the judge, ask for permission to bring your children into Court as witnesses. Please note that the children’s waiting room will remain closed and supervised visitation will remain suspended until further notice.
NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE?
Call us: 215-988-1242
For assistance afterhours or with domestic violence issues, please call the 24-hour DV hotline at 1-800-723-3014