THE DRS IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND A STATEWIDE JUDICIAL EMERGENCY.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania renamed the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) as the Department of Human Services (DHS).
Please
click here to be directed to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) website.
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING ACCESS TO THE DRO
For security purposes and your own safety, the Domestic Relations Office (DRO) will not allow a third party into the DRO waiting room area. Please do not bring anyone with you who is not a party to the immediate action.
Only the following people will be permitted inside the DRO waiting room:
- Plaintiff
- Defendant
- Plaintiff's Attorney
- Defendant's Attorney
- Children (if necessary for paternity testing)
Please note that there is a cafeteria on the 2nd floor of the Services Center for members of the public to use in the event you are accompanied by someone who is not a party to the proceeding.
About Berks County Domestic Relations Section
The Domestic Relations Section is a part of the Family Court. The Family Court is a division of the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. The Family Court is a part of the Court system which helps resolve problems such as divorce, child and spousal support, temporary and permanent alimony, division of marital property, custody of children, and protection from abuse. The Domestic Relations Section is mainly responsible for working with families to establish and collect support for children and spouses.
The Domestic Relations Section is made up of Judges, Managers, Hearing Officers, Establishment and Compliance Officers, an Attorney, and various technical and clerical staff. The staff of the Domestic Relations Section is assisted by a large computer system which is used to track cases, keep financial records, and help in the enforcement of support orders. The staff in the Domestic Relations Section is trained to help people make the best decisions possible about support and related issues.
When the parties involved in a case are unable to agree on a support order, the Domestic Relations Section staff will recommend the amount of support to be paid and other provisions such as medical insurance coverage to the parties and to the Court. These recommendations are based on state and federal laws and the experience of the Domestic Relations Section staff.
Please click on the menu items and links located on the left and right sides of this page to navigate the Berks DRS website.