- All new cases filed should be scheduled for a conciliation hearing with the Friend of Court as soon as possible. The parties will meet with a Friend of Court mediator without their attorneys. The mediator will attempt to resolve issues of temporary parenting time and child support. If no agreement is reached, the Friend of Court mediator will submit a recommended temporary order to the Court for entry, and either party may obtain an evidentiary hearing by filing an objection and notice of custody pre-trial conference within 14 days of the date of service of the initial order. The objecting party shall obtain a date for the pre-trial conference from the assignment clerk for the assigned judge. At the pre-trial conference, the parties or their counsel will meet with the court to discuss settlement and scheduling of a hearing before the judge or referee. Failure to file the objection and notice of hearing for the pre-trial conference within 14 days of the date of service of the initial order will result in dismissal of the objection.
- All motions to change an existing custody order must first be scheduled for a pre-trial conference before the assigned judge. The moving party should obtain a pre-trial date from the assignment clerk for the assigned judge. At this conference, the parties will discuss settlement, the court will make a determination of whether there is a sufficient change of circumstances to justify an evidentiary hearing, and if so, the hearing will be scheduled before the judge or referee. A Friend of Court investigation or conciliation conference may also be ordered at that time.
- Motions to change existing parenting time or support orders are scheduled for
hearing in front of the referee by calling 945-1390. Pro per petitions are scheduled and noticed out by Friend of Court staff.- Ex-Parte orders will generally not be granted, absent an emergency situation made clear in a motion supported by an affidavit signed by a party.
Page Last Modified: January 9, 2008 at 12:53 pm
