Montgomery County, PA

Procedures: Family Matters

Divorce:

File a complaint with notice to defend and claim rights, notice of counseling, family court cover sheet & verification. State rule requires the social security number of the plaintiff and the defendant. The fee is $229.50, plus $33.00 for each extra count. These counts are alimony, equitable distribution, and alimony pendent elite and support The custody or visitation count is $39.50.

To transmit the record, file the Praecipe with a dated copy of the 20-day letter or waivers from both parties and vital statistics form. The fee is $38.00 if the divorce is filed after June 18, 1990; $48.00 if the divorce is filed before June 18, 1990.
Send a request and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the Praecipe to transmit and the vital record forms. You must use current Prothonotary form; it is available from our FORMS LIBRARY.

Custody or visitation:

File a complaint with a notice to defend, family court cover sheet, order and verification. File an original and a copy. The fee is $226.00.
Pro se form available in Prothonotary with a written request and a self-addressed, stamped envelope or you may download the form from our FORMS LIBRARY
Also petition to modify custody or visitation form is available in Prothonotary office with a self-addressed, stamped envelope or you may download the form from our FORMS LIBRARY. You will also need to include a family court cover sheet, notice to defend (custody) and a copy of the order that needs to be modified. There is no fee.

Protection from abuse:

You must appear in person any day Monday - Friday from 8:30a.m. - 1:30p.m.  The entire process takes up to two hours to complete and if you miss the cutt off time we can provide you with further info and assistance.  To qualify for a Protection From Abuse Order, there must be either a family relationship or you have had an intimate relationship with the person you want to file for protection from.  For all other types you will be referred to your local Districe Justice office.

Exceptions [to recommendation of conference officer / master]:

File exceptions on our form, notice to defend (custody), family court cover sheet and a copy of the master’s recommendations. Include addresses. Send a request and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to obtain the form or you may download the form from our FORMS LIBRARY. File the original and a copy. There is no fee.

Appointment of a master in divorce:

File a motion for the appointment. Send a request and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to obtain our form. The fee is $185.00 if the divorce was filed after June 18, 1990; $195.00 if filed before June 18, 1990. File an original and a copy. You must use current Prothonotary form, available from our FORMS LIBRARY.