What happens at the support conference?
Usually, the only people present are the domestic relations officer or hearing officer, the two parties, and their attorneys. Friends and relatives usually are not allowed in the conference room unless they are going to testify. The support conference officer will review the earnings information from the employers and the income and expense sheets. The plaintiff should provide information regarding child care, private school tuition, extracurricular activities of the children, and mortgage payments that the plaintiff makes. The support officer will usually suggest how much support should be paid, based upon a formula created by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Both parties or their attorneys will have an opportunity to state why they believe the amount of support should be higher or lower.
If the parties can agree on a figure, the conference officer will have the parties sign a consent order. If the parties cannot agree, Allegheny County usually follows a two step process. First, a hearing will be held in front of a hearing officer who will prepare an interim (temporary) order, which may contain a wage attachment. A copy of the interim order will be sent to both parties with notice that either party may within 20 days after the mailing date file an appeal (“exceptions”). If neither party appeals, the interim order will become final. If one party appeals, the parties will submit legal briefs and an argument will be held in a couple months, but the parties must obey the interim order in the meantime. Other counties may follow a different procedure.
