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Domestic Relations Department
The Domestic Relations Department is comprised of several programs aimed at assisting parents and children involved with:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce),
- Paternity proceedings and
- Orders of Protection in the St. Louis County Courts.
- The State Prosecuting Attorney’s Child Support Docket
- Unrepresented litigants seeking a divorce or paternity judgment
Domestic Relations Services
Domestic Relations Services (DRS) mediators help parents minimize the traumatic effect of divorce and separation upon children. In divorce, separation, paternity, family access or adult abuse matters, Family Court judges may refer parents to DRS for assistance in developing parenting plans.
Parenting Plans
Staff of the Domestic Relations Services assist with the Court’s Pro Se Docket, for cases where both parents who are seeking a dissolution of marriage are not represented by attorneys. All case files on this docket, where there is a child in common, are reviewed by DRS staff to assure that the proposed parenting plan is completed correctly.
Exchange Center
Program
The Exchange Center provides a safe and nurturing environment for children to go from one parent to the other according to the terms of parenting plans that have been ordered in divorce, paternity or adult abuse proceedings in the St. Louis County Courts.
Domestic Violence
Court
The St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court was created to increase safety for victims and their children, increase accountability for offenders and establish a coordinated community response to domestic violence from the justice system and partner agencies.
Supervised
Visitation
Staff of the Domestic Relations Unit provide up to one hour per week supervised visitation for parents who are ordered by a judge in St. Louis County to participate in the service.