The Allegheny County Support Conference — What to Expect

The First Step in Allegheny County Support Cases

A support conference is the first formal proceeding after a support complaint is filed and served. In Allegheny County, support conferences are conducted by telephone — all parties and the domestic relations support officer on a single call. This replaced the prior in-person conference format, which was held in cubicles at the courthouse.

The conference is typically scheduled 30-45 days after the support complaint is filed and served. You will receive a notice from the Domestic Relations Section with the date, time, and phone number to call. The conference is usually limited to one hour per matter.

What the Domestic Relations Officer Does

The domestic relations support officer reviews income and expense information submitted by both parties, runs the guideline calculation using the current support schedule (effective January 1, 2026), and presents the guideline amount to the parties. Each party then has the opportunity to dispute the income figures, raise specific issues, or present grounds for deviation from the guidelines.

If the parties agree to the guideline amount — or agree on a different amount with justification — a consent order is entered at the conference level and the matter is closed. This is the most efficient outcome.

If there is no agreement — over the income figures, the custody schedule, a request for deviation, or any other issue — the conference ends without an order and a support hearing date is scheduled before a hearing officer. The hearing is in person and held on a separate date.

What to Submit Before the Conference

Because the conference is conducted by phone, documents are submitted to the Domestic Relations Section by email or fax in advance — there is nothing to physically bring on the day of the conference. Submit:

• Last 6 months of pay stubs and most recent W-2
• Documentation of health insurance costs for the child
• Documentation of work-related childcare costs
• The existing custody schedule if custody time is relevant to the calculation
• Any self-employment income documentation if applicable

What Happens Next: The Support Hearing

When the parties do not reach agreement at the conference, a support hearing is scheduled before a hearing officer. This is an in-person proceeding, typically limited to 30 minutes for standard cases. Both parties testify, documents can be entered into evidence, and the hearing officer issues a recommendation that becomes a support order.

Prior to January 4, 2022, Allegheny County scheduled the conference and hearing on the same day. Since January 2022, they have been on separate dates — consistent with surrounding counties. This means two court appearances are required when the conference does not resolve the matter.

If the case is complex — business income, self-employment, high-income parties, disputed earning capacity — it should be designated complex at or before the conference so that a complex hearing (with formal discovery and extended time) is scheduled rather than the standard 30-minute hearing.