Family courts handle cases involving family relationships, including divorce, child custody and support. Hearings give each side a chance to present information, and the court issues orders that explain what happens next.
The process depends on the case and the court’s rules. Knowing what a hearing is for, what to bring and how to follow an order can help you prepare and understand your next steps.
| Jurisdiction or service | Examples of matters or steps | Resource or case-checking option |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Custody, child support, protection from abuse, divorce and annulment | Family Court eCourtroom video series |
| Maine | Gather information, attend a conference, present evidence at a final hearing | Maine Judicial Branch process guide |
| Florida | Family-law information for people representing themselves | Florida Courts Help |
| New York City | Adoption, guardianship, parentage and paternity | New York City Family Court information |
| Hillsborough County, Florida | Track case documents and hearing notices | Hillsclerk online case tracking |
What does family court handle?
Family court is a state-court setting for domestic and family-law matters, and the cases it accepts depend on the state and the court.
Delaware Family Court lists custody, child support, protection from abuse, divorce and annulment among its topics. New York City Family Court handles a different set of matters, including adoption, guardianship, parentage, paternity and juvenile delinquency.
These examples show why the court’s location matters: “family court” does not mean the same list of cases everywhere. Check the court serving your area to see whether it handles the issue you need to bring.
Finding help with the process
Florida Courts Help offers information and resources for people representing themselves in family-law cases. If you are handling a case without a lawyer, use those materials to understand the Florida court system and identify the next steps for your situation.
How do you prepare and file a family matter?
To prepare and file a family matter in Maine, identify the right court and case type, gather information for the complaint, then keep copies of filed papers and court notices together.
Start with the correct case type
In Maine, the person who files a family matter is called the plaintiff. Before filing, identify what the case concerns: custody, support, protection from abuse, or another family matter. Different case types may follow different processes, so check the Maine Judicial Branch’s family matters information for the process that fits your case.
- Custody: identify the matter as a custody case before preparing the filing.
- Support: check the process for a support matter.
- Protection from abuse: use the process for protection-from-abuse cases.
- Another matter: confirm the case type and applicable process before filing.
Gather and keep your paperwork
The first procedural step is gathering information for the complaint. After filing, keep copies of your documents and any notices from the court together; that makes it easier to check what the court has received.
If you are unsure how to complete a filing or respond to a legal issue, consult the Maine Judicial Branch’s self-help resources and consider speaking with an attorney.
What happens after a family-court case is filed?
After a Maine family-court case is filed, the parties attend a Case Management Conference or a Pre-Trial Conference before the final hearing, then present evidence and receive a judgment.
Use the conference to identify which questions remain unresolved and what the court expects you to do before the hearing. The next steps can vary with the court handling the case, so confirm any specific requirements there.
Prepare for the final hearing
Organize relevant documents and evidence around the decisions the court must make. For example, if custody is disputed, keep material relating to that issue together; if another question is at issue, arrange evidence for that question separately. This makes it easier to present information that bears directly on the matters before the court.
The hearing leads to a judgment, but the route to it is not identical in every case. Check the court’s instructions for the case and ask what materials or steps are required before the hearing.
Sources: Maine Judicial Branch: Court Process in a Family Matters Case
What should you expect at a family-court hearing?
A family-court hearing is where you present relevant documents and explain what they show; at a final hearing, the court considers the parties’ evidence before entering judgment.
Bring documents connected to your case and be ready to explain what each one demonstrates. Focus on how a document relates to the issue the court must decide, rather than handing it over without context.
Check the notice, not just the calendar.
The hearing notice is the place to confirm the date, location and any instructions for attending. In Hillsborough County, the clerk’s website lets you follow filed documents in your case and find the Notice of Hearing.
For help understanding courtroom technology, Delaware Courts offers an eCourtroom video series introducing the tool to self-represented litigants and members of the Bar. Check the notice for case-specific directions, and use the video series if eCourtroom is part of your hearing.
How can court data help you understand the system?
Court data can help you understand how much work courts handle and how they report it, but it cannot predict the outcome of your individual case.
The Maryland Judiciary Data Dashboard is refreshed annually, making it a periodic view of court activity rather than a live case tracker. The State Court Guide to Statistical Reporting was developed over a ten-year period, illustrating the work involved in standardizing how courts report cases.
Case statistics describe court activity; they do not tell you what will happen in a particular custody, support or divorce case. For your own case status, use the relevant court or clerk’s case-search service, then verify that each document or hearing notice belongs to your case.
Why do family-court procedures differ, and what can go wrong?
Family-court procedures differ because each jurisdiction has its own court structure, services and filing steps, so rules in Delaware, Maine, Florida and New York City are not interchangeable.
Local rules control
- Delaware: Family Court handles domestic matters, including custody, child support, protection from abuse and divorce or annulment.
- Maine: A family matters case can involve gathering information, a Case Management Conference or Pre-Trial Conference, and presenting evidence at a final hearing.
- Florida: Florida Courts Help offers resources for people representing themselves in family-law cases.
- New York City: Family Court handles matters including adoption, guardianship and child support.
A self-help page from one state does not establish the filing rules in another. Confirm the requirements with the court where your case is pending.
Online case tracking can help you locate filings and a hearing notice. Hillsclerk, for example, lets users follow a case and view filed documents and the Notice of Hearing. Read the notice itself and follow its instructions; a missed notice, incorrect case type or incomplete evidence can complicate your case. Ask the court clerk about procedure and an attorney about legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of cases go to family court?
What is a Case Management Conference?
How can I find out whether I have a family-court hearing?
Can I represent myself in family court?
Sources
- courts.delaware.gov — “Family Court – Delaware Courts – State of Delaware”
- courts.maine.gov — “Court Process in a Family Matters Case: Maine Judicial Branch”
- jud4.org — “Jud4.org – Family Court Services”
- nycourts.gov — “New York City Family Court”
- hillsclerk.com — “Family Law – Hillsclerk”