Eleventh Judicial District of Pennsylvania 2024 Annual Report Domestic Relations Section Court Of Common Pleas Of Luzerne County LUZERNE COUNTY COURT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 THE HONORABLE MICHAEL T. VOUGH, PRESIDENT JUDGE THE HONORABLE DAVID W. LUPAS THE HONORABLE TINA POLACHEK GARTLEY THE HONORABLE LESA S. GELB THE HONORABLE FRED A. PIERANTONI, III THE HONORABLE JENNIFER L. ROGERS THE HONORABLE JOSEPH F. SKLAROSKY, JR. THE HONORABLE RICHARD HUGHES THE HONORABLE STEPHANIE J. SALAVANTIS THE HONORABLE TARAH H. TOOHIL DOMESTIC RELATIONS SECTION STAFF AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 **** 7 * ***** A. LISA PIEROTTI, ESQUIRE, DIRECTOR SEAN HOPKINS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR VINCENT J. ALESSANDRI, FIRST ASSISTANT SUPPORT STAFF PATRICE DOUGHERTY, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR DAVID AIKENS, ESQUIRE, HEARING OFFICER SUPPORT OFFICERS THOMAS KOSIN WILLIAM ZAROLA CRAIG KITTRICK KATELYN MEYERS LEE MEYERS DONALD SWAINBANK MARY WALTERS OSCAR FLORES ALBERT SERINO MICHAEL QUINN KASSANDRA REISINGER GARY GRANTEED NICK WERON ROBERT MCMANUS GINA EVANGELISTA BRIANNA SCHADDER KATHLEEN HOOKS JOHN TIGUE PATERNITY OFFICER LAUREN SHARKEY PROBATION/ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS JOSEPH COTTER, SUPERVISOR RICK GEBHARDT JOSEPH PARA ROBERT AUSTIN NATHAN PITCHER FISCAL CHRISTA BRATLEE-FISCAL/PACSES SUPERVISOR ALICE DREXINGER LORI BESECKER INTAKE SPECIALISTS ROXANNE POPLARCHICK STEPHANIE BRODOSKY MELISSA PEREZ EMELY VALENZUELA CLERK TYPISTS MELISSA ELLSWORTH SALLY ATKINS REBEKAH KONDRASKI KATHY MAJIKAS LISA NESLER DOCKETING CLERKS HEATHER BURKE VICTORIA CELLA RECEPTIONISTSICLERKS BARBARA PACOLITCH REGINA MEJIA To The Honorable Judges of Luzerne County: A. Lisa Pierotti, Esquire, Director, respectfully submits the 2024 Annual Report of the Luzerne County Domestic Relations Section. This office, under the jurisdiction of the Court of Common Pleas, is performing the services reflected by the statistics presented herein. During the past year, collections and disbursements totaled $32,643,355.68. while our caseload total for the year is 6865. Our percentage of collection of court ordered support was 80.0%. The most recent Federal Report indicates the national rate was 64.6%. NEW CASE DATA Divorce Complaint Requesting Support 25 Civil Complaint for Support 843 Interstate Family Support Act (Initiating) 66 Interstate Family Support Act (Responding) 77 Uniform ntrastate Family Support Act (Initiating) 234 Uniform Intrastate Family Support Act (Responding) 37 Registration of Foreign Support Order to Luzerne County 102 Request Registration to Other States 35 Request Registration to Other Counties 20 Transfer to Other Counties 18 Transfer from Other Counties 26 TOTAL 1483 SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT & ENFORCEMENT DATA (INCLUDING MEDICAL) Conferences to establish or modify support amounts 1822 Enforcement appointments 3338 Agreements signed and Orders entered for payments 1,238 Cases terminated, Petitions dismissed or Orders vacated 1879 Cases continued generally or suspended 22 Medical support packets provided 133 Medical support issues resolved 15 Qualified Medical Support Orders Issued 10 Medical support disputes filed & resolved before the Master 0 PROBATION AND ENFORCEMENT DATA Incarceration: Defendants lodged as of December 31, 2023 4 Defendants lodged 63 Defendants released 63 Defendants lodged as of December 31, 2024 4 Bench Warrants: Warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2023 474 Warrants Issued 300 Warrants executed or withdrawn 380 Warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2024 394 Personal Service 79 Defendants on Probation as of December 31, 2024 36 COURT DATA Cases referred to Court for Exceptions to Master's Recommendation: Cases pending as of December 31, 2023 3 Cases referred 7 Case disposed 7 Cases pending as of December 31, 2024 2 Contempt Court: Court sessions 24 Cases heard 769 Cases disposed 769 Cases undisposed 0 MiscelaneousPatenty Court Hearings: Cases heard 21 Cases disposed 21 Cases pending as of December 31, 2024 J It should be noted that although all support payments are disbursed through the Statewide Collection & Disbursement Unit in Harrisburg, PA. the Fiscal section of the Department collected $2,132,359.94 in cash and Credit/Debit card payments. Our sincere gratitude is extended to the Luzerne County Court especially the Honorable Stephanie J. Salavantis, who presides as the Domestic Relations Judge and President Judge Michael Vough for his kindness and guidance throughout the year. We also acknowledge and appreciate the assistance we receive from the Agencies and County Departments, whose services are necessary to us in carrying out our duties. Special thanks are extended to Tommi Williams of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Bureau of Child Support Enforcement for her Assistance throughout the year. In conclusion, I offer my thanks to the staff of the Luzerne County Domestic Relations Section as the foregoing statistics are only a small indication of their effort on behalf of our clients, the majority of which are citizens of Luzerne County. Respectfully submitted, A. Lisa Pierotti, Esquire Director