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Helping Clients Through Support Conferences And Hearings

Rowe Law Offices, P.C., is a Pennsylvania family law firm dedicated to assisting you with all aspects of child support. One of the common questions our clients ask our attorneys is, “What happens at a child support conference or hearing?”

Here are the basics of what you can expect at the support conference:

  1. After a Support Complaint or Petition to Modify is filed with Domestic Relations, both parents will receive an official order to attend a conference.
  2. You should bring all of your financial information (see below) to the conference.
  3. A conference officer will conduct the meeting. He or she will review all the information and use the new child support guidelines (effective August 9, 2013) to create a recommendation.
  4. We will negotiate the support obligation and attempt to obtain a resolution.
  5. If both parents agree to the amount, the final support order will be signed by the parties and their counsel. If there is no agreement, the conference officer will enter the guideline amount as an interim order. You will receive a notice at the conference to appear before a Support Master. If you’re the payor, you will be given the information you’ll need to begin paying on your obligation.

At a Support Hearing:

  1. We present testimony under oath. The parent who filed the support complaint or modification petition goes first.
  2. We present any exhibits, including pay stubs, tax returns, and other documentation to prove the case.
  3. Cross-examination will be conducted by both sides.
  4. This is an evidentiary proceeding, which is recorded and a record created. After this stage, the record is closed and no further testimony is taken.
  5. Following the hearing, the Support Master will issue a recommendation. If either party disagrees, the party must file Exceptions.
  6. There will be a hearing on the Exceptions and the judge will rule on the case.

What You Should Bring

Both parents must bring a number of documents to the child support conference. These include:

  • Tax return from the previous year, including your W-2s.
  • Payroll stubs for the preceding six months
  • Medical insurance cards
  • Company benefits information
  • Business records (if self-employed)
  • Records of unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation benefits or pension benefits (if applicable)
  • Proof that you’ve filed for disability, VA benefits, if applicable.
  • The completed income and expense statement sent by the court

Call Today To Get Started

We at Rowe Law Offices, P.C., will guide you through the complexities of child support conferences and hearings.

Call for a free initial phone consultation with a lawyer for support conferences and hearings. Simply call our office at 610-816-0935 (Berks County), 717-382-8360 (Lancaster County), 570-362-6837 (Schuylkill County) or 866-232-1913, or send us an email.