NOTICE: Court staff are not permitted to provide legal advice. For legal advice, please consult a lawyer.
Important: Please remember to complete the petition accurately and in its entirety. If completing the petition as required is difficult, consider reaching out to a lawyer for assistance.
Filing Instructions
- You must fill in all blanks. Type or write clearly in black ink.
- Answer each question to the best of your ability. Incomplete petitions may be dismissed by the Court.
- You must provide a current address for each party, including house number, street, city, state and zip code.
- If you are filing a petition, you are the Petitioner on the form, and the other party is the Respondent.
- If modifying or enforcing an Order of Another Court, such as a Divorce Decree, a copy of the divorce and separation agreement must be attached to the petition.
- Petitions must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public or a Family Court Clerk.
- Once your petition is completed and your signature notarized, you can either mail it to Family Court or submit it in person during our stated business hours.
- Paternity Petitions must be submitted with a copy of the Birth Certificate.
Forms
Standard Family Court Forms are the official blank documents. They are not interactive and must be filled out manually. These forms are used to start or respond to such matters as:
- custody,
- visitation,
- child support,
- paternity,
- family offenses,
- juvenile cases, and
- other family‑related matters
Forms are now fully searchable, allowing users to filter by court, case type, form category, and other criteria to quickly locate the documents they need. The collection includes petitions, sample orders, and specialized forms for interstate cases and agency‑initiated proceedings. This searchable format helps litigants, attorneys, and advocates find the correct form more efficiently and understand the requirements for starting or responding to a Family Court case.
Standard Forms are best for people who already know what they need, want to browse all available forms, or must use a form that does not yet have a DIY version.
DIY Forms
DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Court Forms are interactive online programs that guide users through a series of questions and then automatically generate a completed court form or petition. They are designed for people who may not be familiar with legal paperwork and need help preparing documents correctly.
DIY programs:
- Use plain‑language questions to gather information.
- Automatically place the answers into the correct legal form.
- Produce a ready‑to‑file document at the end.
- Often include built‑in explanations, definitions, and tips.
They function more like a step‑by‑step interview than a blank form.
DIY Forms are best for people who want help preparing a form and prefer a guided, user‑friendly experience.