Rule 1910.11*. Support Conciliation In order to encourage and effect settlement of differences over support, especially where children are involved, and to promote the prompt entry of support orders by agreement prior to the process as prescribed by Rule 1910.11 by which this court conducts all support proceedings, and to facilitate such proceedings, the court hereby adopts Local Rule 1910.11*. Support Conciliation. as follows: (a) A support conciliation shall be conducted by a support conciliator employed by the Domestic Relations Section. (b) If the defendant fails to appear at the support conciliation before the support conciliator as directed by the court, the support conciliation may proceed without the defendant. (c) At the support conciliation, the parties shall furnish to the support conciliator true copies of their most recent federal income tax returns, their pay stubs for the preceding six months, verification of child care expenses and proof of medical coverage which they may have or have available to them. In addition, they shall provide copies of their income and expense statements in the form required by Rule 1910.26(c), completed as set forth below. (1) For cases which can be determined according to the guideline grids or formula, the income and expense statement need show only income and extraordinary expenses; (2) For cases which are decided according to Melzer v. Witsberger, 480 A.2d 991 (1984), the entire income and expense statement must be completed. (d) The support conciliator may make a recommendation to the parties of an amount of support which is calculated in accordance with the guidelines. If an agreement for support is reached at the support conciliation, the support conciliator shall prepare a written order substantially in the form set forth in Rule 1910.26(e) and in conformity with the agreement for signature by the parties and submission to the court together with the support conciliator’s recommendation for approval or disapproval. The court may enter the order in accordance with the agreement without hearing the parties. (e) At the conclusion of the support conciliation or promptly thereafter, the support conciliator shall prepare a support conciliation summary and furnish copies to both parties. The support conciliation summary shall state: (1) the facts upon which the parties agree; (2) the contentions of the parties with respect to facts upon which they disagree; and (3) the support conciliator’s recommendation, if any, of: and by and for whom the (i) the amount of support shall be paid, and (ii) the effective date of any order. (f) If an agreement for support is not reached at the support conciliation, the parties shall be given notice of the date, time and place of an office conference. The office conference shall be conducted by a Conference Officer in accordance with Rule 1910.11. (g) If an agreement for support is not reached at the support conciliation: (1) the party seeking support may, pursuant to Rule 1910.25, immediately apply to the court for a temporary support order, prior to the office conference, to be effective only until the entry of a subsequent agreed order or an interim order following the office conference pursuant to Rule 1910.11(f). The agreed order or the interim order shall supersede the temporary order; or (2) a temporary support order may be entered by an agreement of the parties at the support conciliation, to be effective only until the entry of a subsequent agreed order or an interim order following the office conference pursuant to Rule 1910.11(f). The agreed order or the interim order shall supersede the agreed temporary order.
Rule 1910.11*. Support Conciliation
In order to encourage and effect settlement of differences over support,
especially where children are involved, and to promote the prompt entry of
support orders by agreement prior to the process as prescribed by Rule
1910.11 by which this court conducts all support proceedings, and to facilitate
such proceedings, the court hereby adopts Local Rule 1910.11*. Support
Conciliation. as follows:
(a) A support conciliation shall be conducted by a support conciliator
employed by the Domestic Relations Section.
(b) If the defendant fails to appear at the support conciliation before
the support conciliator as directed by the court, the support conciliation may proceed without the defendant.
(c) At the support conciliation, the parties shall furnish to the
support conciliator true copies of their most recent federal
income tax returns, their pay stubs for the preceding six months,
verification of child care expenses and proof of medical coverage
which they may have or have available to them. In addition, they
shall provide copies of their income and expense statements in
the form required by Rule 1910.26(c), completed as set forth
below.
(1) For cases which can be determined according to the
guideline grids or formula, the income and expense
statement need show only income and extraordinary
expenses;
(2) For cases which are decided according to Melzer v.
Witsberger, 480 A.2d 991 (1984), the entire income and
expense statement must be completed.
(d) The support conciliator may make a recommendation to the
parties of an amount of support which is calculated in
accordance with the guidelines. If an agreement for support is
reached at the support conciliation, the support conciliator shall
prepare a written order substantially in the form set forth in Rule
1910.26(e) and in conformity with the agreement for signature
by the parties and submission to the court together with the
support conciliator’s recommendation for approval or disapproval.
The court may enter the order in accordance with the agreement
without hearing the parties.
(e) At the conclusion of the support conciliation or promptly
thereafter, the support conciliator shall prepare a support
conciliation summary and furnish copies to both parties. The
support conciliation summary shall state:
(1) the facts upon which the parties agree;
(2) the contentions of the parties with respect to facts upon
which they disagree; and
(3) the support conciliator’s recommendation, if any, of:
and by and for whom the
(i) the amount of support shall be paid, and
(ii) the effective date of any order.
(f) If an agreement for support is not reached at the support
conciliation, the parties shall be given notice of the date,
time and place of an office conference. The office conference
shall be conducted by a Conference Officer in accordance
with Rule 1910.11.
(g) If an agreement for support is not reached at the support
conciliation:
(1) the party seeking support may, pursuant to Rule 1910.25,
immediately apply to the court for a temporary support
order, prior to the office conference, to be effective only
until the entry of a subsequent agreed order or an interim
order following the office conference pursuant to Rule
1910.11(f). The agreed order or the interim order shall
supersede the temporary order; or
(2) a temporary support order may be entered by an
agreement of the parties at the support conciliation, to
be effective only until the entry of a subsequent agreed
order or an interim order following the office conference
pursuant to Rule 1910.11(f). The agreed order or the
interim order shall supersede the agreed temporary order.
