Family Court Services (FCS) assists families in divorce, adoption, or custody proceedings through mediation, family studies, and educational programs. FCS mediation is ordered when a fair deal cannot be reached, and family studies are conducted to ensure children’s basic needs are met. Adoption studies may also be carried out. FCS provides information on navigating the court system and can be contacted through local family courts.
Family Court Services (FCS) is a court-run agency that assists families going through divorce, adoption or custody proceedings. In different regions, family court services may include several programs to help educate families, mediate disputes, and provide general assistance to any person involved in a lawsuit. Participation in FCS programs can be voluntary or can be ordered by a judge.
One of the most common tasks of a family court services unit is to handle court-ordered mediation in divorce and custody proceedings. This service is usually ordered when a family cannot find a fair deal between them. If the custody is involved in a dispute, FCS mediation may be a mandatory requirement before the court allows a disputed matter to go to trial. While mediation agreements aren’t legally binding, they are generally what a judge will use to determine a final settlement. Mediation through family court services is usually not ordered if the family can reach a legal and fair settlement on their own.
In some regions, family court services may also include studies performed to determine appropriate custody or adoption permission. Family studies are often the result of a report of abuse or neglect and are an attempt to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to remove children from potentially dangerous foster care situations. Studies are typically conducted over a period of several months, but emergency studies may also be conducted if there are signs of abuse or imminent danger to underage children. The goal of family studies is to ensure that children’s basic needs are met within their current family, and may include time to correct any issues before a final decision is made.
In cases where a family wishes to adopt a child, the services of the family court may be called upon to carry out an adoption study. This is to help ensure that the adoptive family is aware of the challenges and responsibilities of adopting and to be sure the means are in place to properly care for a new baby. Adoption studies are not always necessary for a legal adoption; generally, stepparents do not need to undergo an adoption study to legally adopt their spouse’s children.
Family court services may include educational and informational help in navigating the family court system. Some offices hold educational workshops for families engaged in mediation, or those considering adoption. FCS workers can be mines of information in terms of understanding court procedures, required documents and possible outcomes of family cases. The easiest way to contact FCS is to call or visit a local family court; appointments may be required in some jurisdictions.
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