Family Court Operations Division

Last Updated : 02/13/2026

Overview

The Family Court Operations Division handles family cases involving:

  • Adoption
  • Child abuse and neglect
  • Child custody and visitation
  • Child support and parentage
  • Divorce, annulment and legal separation
  • Juvenile delinquency (when a child is accused of a crime)
  • Mental health and intellectual disability support
  • Name and birth certificate changes for people younger than under 21
  • Truancy and youth in need of supervision (PINS)

It also hosts two Specialty Courts – the Family Treatment Court and Fathering Court – which focus on treatment and support. 

Search Forms

Look up family law forms

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Calendar

Look up cases with hearings scheduled for today

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eFile

File legal documents online through CaseFileXpress

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Central Intake Center

All legal documents are filed at the Central Intake Center

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Domestic Relations Branch

Handles divorce, custody, adoption, name changes and birth certificate amendments

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Marriage Bureau

Issues marriage licenses, authorizes people to perform weddings and conducts civil weddings.

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Juvenile and Neglect Branch

Handles cases involving juvenile delinquency, youth needing supervision (truancy or running away) and child abuse and neglect.

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Mental Health and Habilitation Branch

Handles cases involving mental health treatment and services for people with intellectual disabilities.

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Parentage and Support Branch

Handles child support and cases to determine a child’s legal parentage

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Counsel for Child Abuse & Neglect (CCAN)

Provides court-appointed lawyers in child abuse and neglect cases 

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Family Treatment Court

Helps parents dealing with addiction and mental health problems build stronger relationships with their children.

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Fathering Court

Helps fathers build stronger relationships with their children and provide financial support. 

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Get Legal Help
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Self-Help Center
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Family Mediation
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Family Court

Leadership
Presiding Judge
Hon. Kelly Higashi
Deputy Presiding Judge
Hon. Steven Wellner
Interim Director
Blanche W. Reese, Esq.
Deputy Director
Toni F. Gore
Location
Clerk's Office
Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-300
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington
,
D.C.
20001
Central Intake Center
Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-540
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington
,
D.C.
20001
Marriage Bureau
Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-600
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington
,
D.C.
20001
Self-Help Center
Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-570
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington
,
D.C.
20001
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday: 08:30 am-05:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
Contact Info
General Information
phone
(202) 879-1212
Self-Help Center
phone
(202) 879-0096
Certified Copies
email
FamilyCourtCertifiedCopies [at] dcsc.gov