Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in District of Columbia
In the District of Columbia, divorce, custody, and support cases are filed with the Domestic Relations Branch of the Family Court Operations Division of the Superior Court. A party who needs a decision on custody, support, or another issue before the case is finished can file a motion asking for temporary, or pendente lite, relief while the case is still open. DC Superior Court uses both Associate Judges and Magistrate Judges to hear family law matters. The Family Court Self-Help Center offers free walk-in and call-in help to unrepresented people navigating divorce, custody, visitation, and child support cases. The court also runs a structured system for how hearings are conducted. Formats include in-person, remote by video or phone through the court's WebEx platform, hybrid, and virtual offsite. The specific format for a given hearing is identified on the hearing notice. All Superior Court proceedings for DC residents are centralized at the Moultrie Courthouse downtown, unlike states with courts spread across many counties.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings works under District of Columbia law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file District of Columbia paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Requesting pendente lite relief
A party in a DC divorce, legal separation, or custody case can file a motion asking the court to decide certain issues while the case is still pending. That includes temporary custody, temporary child or spousal support, or use of property. This is sometimes called pendente lite relief, meaning relief granted while the litigation is ongoing. It gives the parties a working arrangement without waiting for the case's final resolution. The Domestic Relations Branch handles these filings, including divorce, annulment, legal separation, custody, and visitation. A motion for pendente lite relief typically must be served on the other party before the court will schedule any hearing on it.
Magistrate Judges and Associate Judges
DC Superior Court's Family Court relies on both Associate Judges and Magistrate Judges to hear family law cases. Magistrate Judges are judicial officers who hear a substantial portion of the family law docket. The court maintains an application process for the position, reflecting how central the role is to the court's operations. Which judicial officer is assigned to a particular hearing depends on the case type and the court's internal assignment practice. The hearing notice a party receives identifies who will preside. A party who disagrees with a Magistrate Judge's order can generally file a motion for review by an Associate Judge.
The Family Court Self-Help Center
The Family Court Self-Help Center is a free walk-in and call-in service located at the Moultrie Courthouse. It provides unrepresented people with general legal information about DC family law matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, and child support. Staff can explain legal rights and options, help identify which forms are appropriate, and describe what to expect in court. They cannot provide legal advice or represent anyone. The center also points people to interactive online interviews for family law forms, and to guides on discovery and evidence in DC Family Court.
In-person, remote, and hybrid hearings
DC Superior Court hearings can be held in several formats. In-person means everyone appears in the courtroom. Remote means the judge is in the courtroom but participants appear by video or phone. Hybrid means some participants appear in person and others remotely. Virtual offsite means the judge and participants all appear virtually. The court uses its WebEx video conferencing platform, along with phone access, for remote participation. The hearing notice for a specific case identifies the format. The court also publishes online tools to search case calendars and find scheduled hearings. Some family and juvenile matters are confidential and closed to the public regardless of format.
What happens at a pendente lite hearing
A hearing on pendente lite relief addresses the specific interim issue raised in the motion, such as temporary custody or support. It does not resolve the entire case. Depending on how contested the request is, the hearing may be relatively brief. It may involve more extensive testimony and documentation if the parties disagree. The judicial officer's ruling stays in place only until the court modifies it or the case reaches a final resolution. At that point, the final judgment controls custody, support, and property instead. A party can generally return to court to ask for a change if circumstances shift significantly during the case.
Sources: DC Courts, Domestic Relations Branch, Family Court Operations Division, DC Courts, Family Court Self-Help Center, DC Courts, Hearing Information (in-person, remote, hybrid, virtual offsite formats; WebEx), DC Courts, Superior Court Divisions overview (Magistrate Judge Application link)
Not independently confirmed
- The specific D.C. Code section governing pendente lite/temporary relief in domestic relations cases (commonly cited as D.C. Code section 16-911) was not confirmed against a directly fetched copy of the statute for this page.
- The precise scope of what Magistrate Judges versus Associate Judges are each authorized to decide in domestic relations motions was not independently confirmed for this page.
- Whether pendente lite motions specifically default to a particular hearing format (in-person, remote, hybrid, or virtual offsite) was not confirmed; the general hearing-format framework applies court-wide per the Hearing Information page.
- The specific procedure and deadline for requesting review of a Magistrate Judge's order by an Associate Judge was not confirmed against a directly fetched rule for this page.
Court Hearings in District of Columbia: frequently asked questions
How do I ask for temporary custody or support in a DC divorce case?+
You file a motion for pendente lite relief with the Domestic Relations Branch of the Family Court, asking the court to decide the specific issue, such as temporary custody or support, while the case is pending. The Family Court Self-Help Center can help identify the right form for the request.
Who hears family law motions in DC Superior Court?+
Both Associate Judges and Magistrate Judges hear family law matters. Magistrate Judges handle a substantial share of the docket. Which judicial officer is assigned to a given case depends on the case type and the court's internal practice. The hearing notice identifies who will preside, and a party can generally ask for review of a Magistrate Judge's order by an Associate Judge.
Can I attend a DC Superior Court family hearing by video?+
Often, yes. DC Superior Court hearings can be in-person, remote by video or phone through the court's WebEx platform, hybrid, or virtual offsite. The specific format is stated on the hearing notice. The court also provides online tools to look up scheduled hearings and case calendars.
What is the Family Court Self-Help Center in DC?+
It is a free walk-in and call-in service at the Moultrie Courthouse that helps unrepresented people understand DC family law matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, and child support. Staff can explain the process and help identify the right forms, but cannot give legal advice or represent anyone in court.
How long does pendente lite relief last in a DC divorce?+
It applies only while the case is pending, unless the court changes it earlier. Once the case reaches a final resolution, the pendente lite order is replaced by the final judgment's terms on custody, support, and property.
Are DC family court hearings open to the public?+
Most Superior Court hearings are open. Certain family and juvenile matters are confidential and closed to the public, regardless of whether the hearing is held in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format.
This page is general information about court hearings in District of Columbia, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with District of Columbia's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in District of Columbia. Virdix does not prepare or file District of Columbia divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in District of Columbia.
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