Washington DC Custody Help
First things first. If there is any chance you and your ex or soon
to be ex can work out custody arrangements. PLEASE do so. As long as
both parents have the best interest of the children at heart, Family
Court, Court Clerks, Friends of the Court, attorneys and mediators
would much prefer that arrangements be made by the parents. If you find
yourselves almost able to reach an agreement but can’t quite work out
the details contact the Multi Door Dispute Resolution Office @ 202-879-1549 to help work out the details. This will also help avoid a lengthy, stressful and emotional trial.
If you feel you have no choice but to go through the courts you’ll need to file the correct papers.
First: File a Complaint for Custody or a Complaint for Access to the children and a court form called Cross Reference Intake. All the pleadings (legal documents) and forms you will need, you can get at the DC Superior Court Family Help Center located @
500 Indiana Ave NW, Washington DC room JW-570
M-F 8:30a-5:00pm contact number 202-879-1471
Second:
You must supply the other party with a copy of your complaint and
summons. The court will give you a summons. This is called a Service of Process.
You have 60 days to give the complaint and summons. There are a few
different ways you can do this. If you know where the defendant lives:
Personal Service: An adult not involved in the case hands the papers to the defendant.
Substitute Service: An adult not involved in the case hands the papers to someone who is known to live at the same residence as the defendant.
Certified Mail with a return receipt request.
If you cannot locate the defendant file a motion to Serve by Publication or Posting. You will get a copy of the judges decision in the mail.
Service by Publication: The judge will tell you which two publications to post in.
Service by Posting: If you cannot afford publication. (You must ask for this!) In this case the Clerks Office will take care of posting it. It must stay posted for 21 days.
Third: You must prove the Summons and Complaint were filed.
If
you used Personal or Substitute Service, the adult who served the
papers must complete an affidavit and file it with the Clerk of Family
Court. For Certified Mail use the return receipt you received in the
mail after the defendant received it from the post man. For Service by
publication, the publication you used will supply you with an affidavit.
If
you do not serve the Complaint and Summons and file the Affidavit in
time, your case could be dismissed and you will have to start the
process over.
RESOURCES:
Multi Door Dispute Resolution Office @ 202-879-1549
If you currently are a recipient of TA NF (Temporary Relief for Needy Families) you may be eligible for to receive help from the Legal Aide Society of the District of Columbia.
FREE Child Custody Clinic by the DC Bar Association. You must register first. Call: 202-737-4700ex424 (Don’t miss this one)
DC Superior Court Family Help Center:
500
Indiana Ave NW, Washington DC room
JW-570
M-F 8:30a-5:00pm contact number 202-879-1471
