Philadelphia Family Court Review

Whoever is in charge of answering phone calls should not be allowed to work in customer service. If they actually do answer, they are judgemental and unhelpful. What is already a hard process is made worse because of these workers.

Customer service fail they suck like really 2hr phone service they need to be replace

Don t understand how I came to court with a lawyer and private investigator to prove my sons dead beat father works every day under the table as a general contractor I had pictures of him working video of him putting doors, tools and ladders on his car his receipt book showing how much he was charging for jobs he even admitted that it was his receipt book at the masters hearing and only was granted 105 a month for support how am I going to support my son with that I m so disappointed in the Philadelphia family court

I called today to speak with customer service NO ONE picked the phone up, I sat there waiting for someone to answer 2 hours and still NO ONE picked up. I just hung up that makes no sense WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A man living in Pennsylvania has no rights this is the way they treat you and this is the way you feel after you leave there's nothing you can say or do to change any of their minds this place is one giant joke pathetic

YALL NEED TO CALL DELAWARE COUNT SO THEY CAN TEACH YOU GUYS HOW TO RUN THAT OFFICE. YOU GUYS ARE UNPROFESSIONAL/ LAZY/UNORGANIZED/YALL LET THESE FATHER ICE SKATE L..DELAWARE COUNTY HAVE THE SWAT TEAM AT YA DOOR

I haven't received any mail with regard to child support since February 2021. I downloaded completed and mailed the support modification request on February 24th 2021. I received a call from a very rude condescending court officer telling me that I was in contempt of court for not having a job and not paying child support. When I asked where was my petition he laughed and said we didn't get anything. I get my children regularly and take care of them when they're with me but the court would rather I be in jail than be a father.

Special interest and elite defiance...
This courtroom and building is out to protect itself enforcing payments because they receive a percentage
So whats best for the family isnt priority, whats best for the courts receiving render from payments made is whats best interest...
They want you to flip burgers at their work program, then when you demand better, they call you a dead beat parent and send you to a cell...
Violent people, should be the only soul in a jail cell and all humans should support that, if you feel different, its due to your lack of media and news i. Q.

Does anybody know if the courts are open still due to this quarantine???? Family court.

It was a horrible experience. We were treated like horrible parents an lied too .are children. Are A students.but after seeking higher education for my son who has all As and a150 IQ. We were threatened to lose them to foster care for anymore false absents. And placed in a place and i quote that us the parents know there not built for.this is what we got for. Fighting for the right to have them label. Gifted. An still no help was offered only harmful and nasty remarks

They will not answer the phone and if you do get ahold of someone you can rest assured they will be rude to you. Like another poster said they will nott send you mail about courtdates and will say you are in full non compliance with court orders when in reality you are in FULL compliance. They will basically hold your child for ransom.

This agency deserves NO stars at all. The phone rang for 23 minutes with no prompts that you were even on hold before anyone answered. I only called for a copy of my court order for my mortgage application and the "customer service representative" was so rude. She was boisterous and continuously interrupted me almost everytime she asked me a question. She asked me what I wanted, what I wanted the copy for, did my mortgage company do a lien request and some other things. She became increasingly aggressive and agitated. I never raised my voice at her and attempted to be brief yet responsive. When she finally acknowledged my reasonable request, she said she would mail it to me. I asked for it to be emailed (it was time sensitive and I had received the same paper for a second child through Norristown through email) and she said it was a courtesy they offer but she was going to mail it as company policy dictates. Overall, the gist is: she was unprofessional and unwilling to go the extra step for true customer service and the department needs a better phone answering service system. It doesn't matter if you are the woman or the man. They are just rude period. If possible, just use Norristown Domestic Relations. They are much more polite and willing to get you what you need. Some things cost a few dollars but you will leave much happier and with a more pleasant experience.

This place is horrible they do not work for the children but there pay check. Nobody is really working discussing previous night plans. Professional does not exsit in this place. Where are there bosses sitting down listening to them talking about last night.

Yes yes I agree with all of y'all they have a phone and don't answer unless you have the extension then you don't get no one at all very very poor services

4/29/21 CBH Supervisor Robert Polen made me aware that no referrals has been sent out for my child's RTF placement since 12/21/20 ( 4 months). CSS DIRECTOR Margaret Andrews, CSS SUPERVISOR Jaime Weintraub, CSS EILEEN GROAK, CSS SUPERVISOR Bob Duton, CSS Djenane Louis Jean, and BELMONT Social Worker Simon G have been RAIL ROADING AND BLINDSIDING me for the pass 4 months making me believe that referrals were being sent out weekly, and all local RTFs denied my child. All the names mentioned above tried to trick me in accepting a residential through DHS instead of accepting a RTF through CBH by pretending that The WOODS was the only local RTF available, and they don't accept CBH. The WOODS Admissions made me aware that that was a lie 4/26/21. All of the above stated that MILLS CREEK in Arkansas accepted my child through CBH. The 9 denials were all RTF that were a 7-8 hour drive one way to see my child or a airplane. NO DENIALS WERE LOCAL. Therefore the team up above made sure they only put in referrals for RTFs that were to far away for us to slowly reintroduce my child back to the community through day passes and weekend passes home LIKE WE ALL AGREED. They made sure the referrals only went to RTFs that were far away NOT LOCAL. Again, CBH Robert Polen stated that NO REFERRALS HAS BEEN SENT OUT FOR MY CHILD'S PLACEMENT SINCE 12/21/20, and CSS DIRECTOR MARGARET ANDREWS and CSS DJENANE LOUIS JEAN testified in Judge B Canty's court March 2021 stating that placement was being searched for on a regular basis.

4/28/21 City Solicitor Katherine Holland instructed CSS Supervisor Jaime Weintraub to IGNORE SUPERVISOR JUDGE J. Walter Olszwki's court order stating mother completed all requirements for child to come home. CSS Djenane Louis Jean scheduled the mother for parental classes without telling mother. Dr Sheetal Duggal FRAUDULENTLY Changed the mother's PCE from 4/16/20 on 11/4/20 for CUA Eileen Groak.
3/5/21 PERJURY In Judge Canty's Courtroom. She supported Director CSS Margaret Andrews and CSS-Case Manger Djenane Louis Jean lies fars CATHOLIC COMMITTEE SERVICES involvement , CSS false statement of child pulling a knife out on mom and refused to let me the mother speak. CSS Djenane Louis Jean was caught in a few lies in the court today, and this judge allowed this CUA Worker to get away with it.
4/29/21 Dr Sheetal Duggal FRAUDULENTLY CHANGED my PCE from 4/16/20 on 11/4/20 for CSS EILEEN GROAK by adding parental classes as a requirement to pretend that I never completed all that the court ordered me to do for my child to come home 7/2/21. CSS Eileen Groak, DHS SUPERVISOR LYNN CARTER, and DHS LASHANDA GUYTON then refused to let me and CATCH participate in my Single Case Plan Meeting that I do every 6 months. They MUTED us as soon as I tried to speak. CATCH and I heard one of them say " They are muted", and then they continued on with the meeting making final plans for my family without involving me the mom. CATCH and I heard Eileen Groak stating alot of lies and mentioning mother needed parenting classes. CATCH made CSS DIRECTOR MARGARET ANDREWS aware of this. CARO ignored this. Judge B Canty ordered for meeting to be done over.On 3/24/21 CSS SUPERVISOR Jaime Weintraub made CATCH and I aware that DHS SUPERVISOR LYNN CARTER REFUSED to redue the meeting stating her and DHS LASHANDA GUYTON do not have to participate.

Judge Vincent Furlong continued to treat me unfair in the court from 4/4/2019 up to today. My child was taken out of my custody due to DHS-MYKIA WALKER, Bethana-CUA Sherry Henderson, Lorri Deriggi, Caroline Curley, and William Calandra framed me. I tried to present a copy of a email to the court that DHS WORKER MYKIA WALKER sent to me instructing me not to come to the Philadelphia Airport to get my child. Judge VF refused to accept the email ( that would have PROVEN MY INNOCENCE), and accused ne of abandonment and kidnapping.

I dont think anyone works here. Nobody picks up calls and it's just automated voice messages no matter what number you pick.

Worst service ever....... I mean no service. I have been calling and calling and No pick up . I don t know how government establishments get away with this. In addition to all of this no answering going on, they fast tracked my case during these COVID times . They are saying I am the only William Pino in Pa for a DNA testing (I searched google and the VERY FIRST William Pino that pops up is a doctor in Philadelphia) . Laziness, unorganized, disrespectful, I could go on and on.

This place is destroying lives... I'm here multiples times a month(Except when I was in coma) for 5 years, they are so stupid you have to wonder if they work with the mothers to keep fathers away. I've been Fighting for my child in what I've been told is one of the most severe custody cases in Philadelphia history. The evidence is voluminous on talking paper trail a mile long. Yet....

More is what is expected by a trial, than the time they spend in it. They do not get to the point in the trial and extend it with more dates. This system is ridiculous here.

Came on Friday to file a petition for custody, was told I had to come back because petitions had to be filed by 8AM. It is currently 7:30AM on Monday, "sorry we dont open till 8AM". This pretty much sums up how your experience will be dealing with the staff at Philadelphia Family Court.

Horrible people
Im ashamed this is Philadelphia

They never answer the phone, and their website is always down. So fustrating!!

Horrible every single time I go. Very time consuming, especially when waiting for your case. Last time I waited 8 hours for my hearing.

I've been down there seven times to file my divorce papers and each time I received a different answer as to what papers were necessary to finalize the divorce. They had no problem taking my $328.00, but I'm still married at this point. #GETALAWYER

I tried getting in contact with them they swindled me for a lot of money and refused to follow on reported criminal activity. I am disabled and cause me extreme hardship. I guess that's what Philadelphia child support is to destroy disabled people lives and it's not right.

Worst experience a mother slapping over a piece of paper better yet isnt working doing nothing with her life and she gets more time with children and doesnt spend it with them all about money the Philadelphia court system is corrupt.

I've been calling for the past two weeks trying to get in contact with someone and no one has yet to answer the phone like this is so crazy.....

PICK UP THE PHONE!! Some people live out of state, how is anyone supposed to gather information on their case, or even receive general information if YOU DO NOT PICK UP THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE LINE! I was told I had a conference hearing last minute and live out of state, yet I can t even get ahold of anyone to figure out exactly what this conference covers or to explain that I cannot just come to Philadelphia in the middle of a work week, that s unacceptable.

I've been paying child support for a long time and still have a long way to go.. they are 100% unfair and believe Liars, the man is always at fault these people do not believe Justice and like I said as long as you have a really good lie they will believe everything and anything. They are nothing but thieves and the only thing they understand is money they are corrupt I'm nothing but a bunch of crooks

I've dealt with 3 different states with child support and believe me they are way more attentive, timely, and fair than most states. I appreciate the work they do for my family.

I been calling for 2 hours straight and i still have not got no answer , and this is very important ! Thank's for nothing ;/

Family court is completely biased towards those with counsel. Without a lawyer you will not win. Cynicism runs rampart within this court system. Judges should be required to take marriage and family therapy psychology courses in order to judge over other's familial affairs.

This system a failure and not made for dads. They re all for the mom no matter what she does or how she acts.

The most non phone answering place I ever called smdh y'all gotta do better!!!!!

In person they treated me kindly I guess since I had an attorney. I went for child support case back in January and is now March and still no letter of final verdict. I check the status on website and still not updated since September. I been calling for three weeks straight and no one picks up call. Imagine that! But, when it was time to pay my file fees they were quick to receive. What a disgrace!

They never answer the freaking phone been worst place ever

1 star is 1 to many. The Philadelphia Family court denied me due process in America. That is a fact statement by Bret Lafty. I have to live with that and no one cares.

i cant stand having to deal with this place only because it so hard to contact anyone. Nobody ever answers the phone which makes it difficult and very frustrating to deal with any cases your involved in

I haven't heard a word from them since covid first started in March 2020. They don't answer the phone , they don't call back , they don't send out mail, they don't answer emails or nothing. It's March of 2021.

Absolutely impossible to get anything done with this court

I was horrified after reading the reviews, but was pleasantly surprised by how great my experience was due entirely to the staff. Everyone that I encountered from the officer who replaced the bins at the metal detector, the lawyer who I briefly chatted with trying to figure out the elevator deal, the security at the entrance of the building that I went to, the check in girls, the processing lady and lastly Ms. Andreola were absolutely delightful. I wish I remembered the lady who processed me then realized that I was overlooked by a different department after she came from her break, noticed and called me over before I realized it happened.
With that said, I could see why the reviews could go left. First, very few people are there because they want to be there and it reflects in their faces, their dispositions and their attitudes. It is hard to please people who are already pissed off and would rather be anywhere else on earth. I think the staff do the best with what they are dealt with and quite frankly after dealing with so many nasty attitudes I can see why they would be burned out and just as irritable as the people they service. So, God bless them!

Poor service no says a lot of city of phila gov't.. Thiefs nothing in your favor

Unfortunately I have been here on 7 occasions due to a PFA and other reasons. I phoned an office the other day and had secretary screech at me. I have sat as long as 5 hours waiting for a hearing. When I took a young child to the nursery the staff talked about me right in front of me. Children were wandering around aimlessly with nothing to do. From my experience both female judges I have dealt with were obnoxious and unprofessional. Do you really think it would take 9 months to get a permanent PFA in another county or state? I am tired of hearing the excuse of, "That's the city for you!"

Don t waste your time calling. Get ready for a long day if you actually go to their office.

Um yeah, that whole message where the recording says Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, please call during those hours would be wonderful if I didn t constantly have to hear it on Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Please get your act together and find a reasonably intelligent person that knows how to pick up a phone when it rings.

They have a phone but never pick it up and when they do the person with an attitude tells you hold on for 2 hours than hangs up on you trying to do a simple transfer. Do yourself a favor and write them a letter with a stamp it will get more results.

This city's entire court system is COMPLETELY CORRUPT, shady, dishonest, MORONIC, cold blooded, barbaric & useless since they are all in cahoots with each other to ONLY makes the easiest buck no matter what it takes nor whom it hurts or destroys through this city's citizens!! SOBs!!

You can never ever reach the right person. And when you finally do, they ask you to hold and it hangs up.

These people need to learn more about how to treat tax payers. We pay your salary, to do a specific job. It's not a hard job, but it's something you do poorly. I understand just how difficult it is to fire a city or state employee, for a million reasons. Lazy and REALLY rude.... like "you spect me do work yo?"

Lol give me a break... I hope the republicans get a hold of these losers and DRAIN THE SWAMP.

They don't answer the phone. I need information about child support or I'm gonna lose daycare..... It's been almost an hour and still nothing.

they never answer the phone, the customer service is horrible. if you are a public servant and you don't like your job you should find a new one, not every person that comes in is a bad parent and they shouldn't be treated as such

What's the reason to have a phone number and always be busy or not to pick it up. I forgot our tax dollars aren't to provide service to the public. Just pays for bad attitudes and ignoring the public.

I am trying to make a support payment. I never received any mail and I am trying to call and find out how I can pay online. I have been on hold for 45 minutes and no one is picking up the phone! How can I do this if you don t pick up the darn phone.

My experience was very unprofessional and the Supervisor should be reported. Horrible service.

Horrible
No organization
Timing consuming
Horrible No eating drinking rules make you lose you spot in court and wait 3 more hours.
Judge takes 1 hour lunch while you wait.
This place is a disgrace to public service.

Thanks for the hassle and unprofessionalism!!!
You guys need a real supervisor..!
I DONT NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE.

Had me on hold for over 50 min
And then gave me attitude when I asked a simple question
Just amazing

They give you a time scheduled appointment but once you inside you waiting ..But be late for them calling you & they issue a warrant

Workers are very rude. They treat you like your a dead beat and a criminal. The system is a total failure. They take wayyy too much from you then tell you find another way to live. The whole system needs to be revised. Workers and judges need to be fired.

This is a very, very, very corrupt system. There are judges who are very bias & they are well know to not follow the laws but yet they still sit up on that bench & get away with it all. Hearsay is not proof but yet they allow it even if it's ALL lies & it's against the law. They remove children from good, caring, loving homes with no physical proof whatsoever & they place them in homes with vicious drug addicts & alcoholics. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE & DONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely positively one of the worst experience of my life . The system goes down like once a week.

I spent 2hr on the phone with 1/2 hr breaks in between and no one answered the phone then when u travel to the to the office it's never any traffic inside I'm lost smh...

There are many places in this world that could be called hell on earth, but only one place has proven time and again that it has earned this description, and that place is the Philadelphia Family Court.

When the banking crisis / Great Recession destroying my business, my income dropped from about $12K per month to less than $200.

I applied to have my child support level reduced twice, and was denied both times.

Then Judge Joel S. Johnson sent me to prison.

You see, these lawyers don't care if you can't afford to pay the $1,000 per month they want in support payments. They are highly motivated to keep your payments as high as possible, because they get federal matching funds. That's right: your tax dollars being used to send innocent people to prison, with the rapists, killers, and other human filth. This is what they do.

A warrant for my arrest still exists, because I refuse to be subject to the decisions made by these animals. NO WAY. I have been studying the law for 4 years now, and I am ready for these devils. Come and get me lawyers. I'm waiting for you.

My advice to all you dads who have to deal with these lawyers: don't go. Take the bench warrant. Unless, of course, you like prison.

They are destroying families and they don't care. They know that they are contributing to the ghettoization of Black families, and they don't care. I am not exaggerating. Stay as far away from these people as possible.

Their mantra: Why fix families, when we can make more money tearing them apart?

Here are some family court animals you should avoid at all costs:

Judge Joel S. Johnson
Judge Holly J. Ford
Judge Doris A. Pechkurow
Support Master Anita N. Botchway

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Sat on the phone for over an hour just to ask a question. Got no answer.

It is utterly RIDICULOUS that one answers the phone! SMH

BTW, has anyone visited the new location yet? Is it open? (It's July 2, 2015 as I type this.)
Unless & until my situation is fixed and out of their hands, I have to say I like these people!
Seriously, I do believe there are some good, caring, helpful people there. I suppose after dealing with too many low-life scum, some workers just get fed up. That's NOT a legitimate excuse for those who are that way, but it is a reason.
Too many of the security guards need to look in a mirror & realize they aren't as bad-assed as they think.
The City needs to clean house of those who do little or nothing of benefit there as well as those who are not respectful. Likewise, the citizens need to learn some kooth and respect as well.
But overall, I really have not had a bad experience there worth mentioning.

Can not get anyone on the phone. Can not get any justice in person. Poor system at best.

The courts gave full custody of my daughter to her mother, even though I willfully paid support and my daughter s mom is disabled... Smh...horrible service. Not in the best interest of child, but always the mother...

Not great services for men. Very,very unprofessional,disrespectful and bias against us men. And the court masters/judges always seems to take THE WOMAN SIDE even If they're lying over and over again.. They need more judges that are fair,smart,un-bias, but willing to see,hear, and take all claims/proof that anyone have very seriously. They never answer the phone,but tell you to call down there. Have you waiting hours to get seen just for an simple claim. Always one person working while others laughing or joking around. Clerks/ receptionist Is very rude. Quick to lock-up or take away any licenses us men have preferably us African-American men If we're only just an few months back on childsupport. Without offering work programs first If the judge don't rule In your favor. It's truly an mad house type of courthouse down there.. That I wouldn't recommend to no one..Ishmail S.Kiah-EL Sr

I have been on the phone for over 2 hours trying to speak with customer service to simply find out how to change my address , you are unable to speak with anyone the phone just rings

This place is horrible!!! Customer services sucks! U always on hold for an hour or two and before u know it the phone hangs up on u. This court system is made for mothers. To all fathers: make sure the women that u sleep with is worthy of being a mother because once u break up and she for a to court.....IT'S RAP! Once they put u in that child support system you're DONE!! Say what I want u know. I've been in it for 15 yrs.

Horrible no one ever answers quick to take your money tho

Tried calling 2 days in a row. Phone rang 5 minutes straight

IF you have bad experience with any Judicial system and they go up for re-election you have every right IMO, to VOTE THEM OUT. People tend to VOTE for the PARTY and not the PERSON RIGHT for the JOB. I have read many posts about how UNHAPPY people are with the JUDGES. IMO, if people do what the JUDGES ask them to do, then they will be happy and won't be posting how bias and how corrupt. Then on the other hand you do have bias and corrupt JUDGES, those you do NEED and SHOULD VOTE those CAREER political JUDGES etc OUT no matter the PARTY. Good Luck on whatever your visit. Remember, give the Judge, the Court utmost respect, even though you THINK they don't deserve it, and follow what they ask you to do, even if you DISAGREE. Then you can VOTE THEM OUT. This is my opinion from someone who was born and raised up in Philadelphia and I know a lot of how things use to be, and how things are now. Follow the LAW and VOTE THEM OUT.

I feel as though 10 min was not ample time for a judge to render a decision . She also never did a backround check on the other party because if she did, she wouldn't have giving full sole custody to a woman beater. No matter how long ago it was. Sincerely, Devastated Mother..... ( never had a record, same job for 25yrs, and same home dor 13 yrs.)

Very very archaic antiquated system with a heavy bias towards mothers. So much so that I'm inspired to start some kind of movement for Father's rights in Philadelphia.
The customer service is pretty bad as others have mentioned as well but not all the staff is bad, it's the system that needs attention.

This is ridiculous, I can't miss a day of work ten I will lose the pay and I have issues with my child support case payments. Never answers their phone, case worker Sucks and I can't get them to change to one that actually wants to help and do their job. Family court, a system that makes things difficult for fathers and want to categories every dad as a dead beat. First time I had to go in, I missed a day of work just so they can ask me if I made my first payment. Really? So I missed a days pay for that instead of getting called and people actually doing their jobs and checking the system.

Do any one ever answer phone s in this place!! Is it possible to give negative stars!?!