The county’s current family court facilities are outdated. Work has begun on a new facility that will include the general family court and the juvenile court.
Plaintiff’s complaint seeks to reverse the state court’s order, drop the protection order and award him custody of his children. He is proceeding in forma pauperis. Learn more about the family court of st.louis county.
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court hears cases involving alleged juvenile delinquency and some truancy matters. It also handles the local ordinances of unincorporated St. Louis County and municipalities that contract with the court for services, such as Pasadena Hills, Twin Oaks, Green Park, and Marlborough. When children are arrested, they are usually kept in child-only holding areas of police precincts and issued a desk appearance ticket to appear in Family Court on a designated date.
At their arraignment, the judge will ask whether they plead Guilty or No Contest. If they plead guilty, they will be assigned a case worker who will interview them and prepare a pre-disposition report for the judge.
The case will then be scheduled for a “fact-finding hearing”. This is similar to a trial in adult criminal court, but without a jury. A judge will decide if the child committed the acts described in the petition. If they are found to have committed a delinquent act, they will be placed on probation.
Domestic Relations Court
The Domestic Relations Court hears a variety of cases involving family law matters including divorce, custody, visitation, spousal support and child abuse. In addition, the court also addresses issues related to the incarceration of spouses and children.
The court tries to keep pace with modern social science, and is the only institution in this country that does so. This is in stark contrast to other courts which still function under antiquated procedures.
The court is divided into two divisions: Juvenile and Family. While most cases are handled in general family court, certain cases, such as child abuse or order of protection, are heard in the juvenile division. Printed calendars posted outside the courtrooms and in public lobbies reflect scheduled hearings. However, this information may be subject to last minute changes due to case load and courtroom scheduling conflicts. To obtain the most accurate calendar information, please call the court administrator’s office. This information is updated hourly throughout the day.
Mentor Program
The program aims to reduce the number of children who are injured and/or killed each year due to interpersonal violence. This is done through a comprehensive approach that involves family court, social work and community-based resources. During the course of the mentorship, the youth is provided with a variety of services and opportunities to develop positive goals and healthy relationships. The program also offers group activities for Mentors and their mentees.
The Erie County Felony Domestic Violence Court was developed to hear all felony domestic violence cases and to promote justice by increasing offender accountability, ensuring complainant safety, and integrating delivery of social services. In addition, the court is involved in training and coordinating projects at other sites around the country.
Child custody and visitation issues can be extremely complex. If you are having trouble working out a custody agreement, it is always best to seek the help of a Saint Louis County, Missouri attorney.
Rules of the Court
All Missouri courts have a set of state-wide court rules that all attorneys and litigants follow. However, each jurisdiction also adopts its own local rules, which govern how cases are filed and handled. Local rules are important because they set out requirements and restrictions that are specific to the jurisdiction.
For example, local rule 68.3 states that “a child custody case may not be transferred to another jurisdiction without the approval of the court.” This echoes state law, which requires (with very limited exceptions) that a child custody matter be decided in the jurisdiction in which the child resides.
Many of the local rules are designed to protect children and families. For instance, if parents can agree on child custody and visitation arrangements, they may not need to go to court at all. Also, supervised visits may continue if the parents attend an in-person parenting class. Otherwise, parents must participate in an online parent education program.