Family Relations Division - Court Services Representative

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 38,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Allen County is seeking a Court Services Representative for the Superior Court – Family Relations Division. The role focuses on facilitating, scheduling, and executing intake, hearings, and case management for domestic relations, adoption, and CHINS cases, including coordinating mediation and self-represented litigant services.

Responsibilities include receiving pleadings, issuing orders, maintaining records in INCite/Odyssey/Quest, and assisting the public.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED with specialized training beyond High School in Paralegal or Criminal Justice Fields
• Familiarity with Indiana Code Title 31/CHINS, adoption, paternity, dissolution, and child support, as well as court policies and procedures governing domestic relations filings
• Understanding of federal, state, and local trial rules and statutes governing CHINS and domestic relations case processing and scheduling
• Ability to type at least 40 WPM

Responsibilities

• Receives pleadings and issues court orders as authorized by the Judge on domestic relations and adoption cases
• Reviews adoption cases for accuracy and completeness of paperwork
• Enters orders related to cases into statewide software applications
• Coordinates alternative dispute resolution services in Domestic Relations cases
• Coordinates self-represented litigant services in Domestic Relations cases
• Assists in scheduling dependency/domestic relations and adoption cases for three judicial officers
• Prepares memos, letters, statistical reports, and other department correspondence
• Assists the public, answers phones, returns calls, and schedules
• Coordinates the court’s Mental Health Track and other court improvement programs

Skills

Court-related experience

Typing speed 40 WPM

Strong computer skills

Pleadings intake familiarity

Education

High School Diploma or GED with specialized training beyond High School in Paralegal or Criminal Justice Fields

Tools

INCite

Odyssey

Quest Case Management Systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Allen County

Job Descriptions

COURT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

Department: Superior Court – Family Relations Division FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Classification/Level: B4 Date Last Reviewed: 5/2023

Under the direction of the Administrator of CHINS, the Court Services Representative is responsible for facilitating, scheduling, and executing essential functions of the Family Relations Division, in particular the intake and resolution of domestic relations, adoption, and Children in Need of Services (CHINS) abuse/neglect cases. This position is covered under the Superior Court Employee Handbook. This is an employee-at-will position.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for receiving pleadings and issuing court orders as authorized by the Judge on domestic relations and adoption cases.
• Reviews adoption cases for accuracy and completeness of paperwork to ensure that files are ready for final hearing.
• Enters orders related to cases filed in the Family Relations Division, including findings, notices, letters, and related correspondence, into statewide software applications.
• Responsible for conducting abuse and neglect case facilitations in compliance with local trial rules and in coordination with initial and dispositional hearing schedules.
• Coordinates Alternative Dispute Resolution services in Domestic Relations cases, including the development and maintenance of the court’s civil arbitration program.
• Coordinates self-represented litigant services in Domestic Relations cases, including operational coordination of the court’s self-represented litigant clinic.
• Assists in scheduling dependency/domestic relations and adoption cases for three judicial officers.
• Prepares memos, letters, statistical reports, and other department correspondence.
• Responsible for assisting the public, answering telephones and returning calls, performing scheduling tasks, and accessing court case files.
• Coordinates the court’s Mental Health Track, Family Court Project, and other court improvement programs.
• Participates in special events that contribute toward public awareness of and utilization of Court services, including Adoption Day, pro se days, mediation days, CLE training, and Conference on Youth.
• Performs all other duties as assigned, including overtime as required.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED with specialized training beyond High School in Paralegal or Criminal Justice Fields, and more than one year of court-related experience
• Ability to pass applicable Indiana Supreme Court and case management certifications to use INCite, Odyssey, and Quest Case Management Systems
• Familiarity with intake of pleadings and issuance of notices, pleadings, and certain court orders to assist litigants and attorneys with the filing and processing of accurate pleadings
• Familiarity with Indiana Code Title 31/CHINS, adoption, paternity, dissolution, and child support, as well as court policies and procedures governing domestic relations filings
• Understanding of federal, state, and local trial rules and statutes governing CHINS and domestic relations case processing and scheduling
• Strong computer skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office and other job-related software
• Ability to use computer, court recording equipment, copier, scanner, fax, and other job-related equipment
• Familiarity with electronic document production and filing techniques
• Ability to type at least 40 WPM

Difficulty Of Work

The Court Services Representative performs work that is moderately complex when receiving pleadings and issuing court orders as authorized by the judge. Understanding of court policies, procedures, and federal and state statutes related to CHINS, domestic relations, and adoption cases to review cases for accuracy and completeness of paperwork.

Responsibility

The Court Services Representative performs work that requires some analysis and judgment when conducting abuse and neglect case facilitations and reviewing domestic relations cases. Errors in work are not immediately apparent, but are revealed through adverse effects on subsequent operations.

Personal Work Relationships

The Court Services Representative maintains frequent contact with other County employees, personnel from related government and social agencies, and members of the general public when facilitating, scheduling, and executing essential functions of the Family Relations Division.

Working Conditions

The Court Services Representative works in and out of an office setting with frequent sitting and the ability to move about freely. Frequent lifting of up to forty pounds and some bending, pushing/pulling loads, reaching overhead, and kneeling are required. Frequent mental/visual effort and detailed inspection exist, and very frequent typing, attention to detail, monitoring of equipment, and proofreading are to be expected.

Supervision

None

Licensing

None

Immediate Supervisor

Administrator of CHINS

Hours

8:00 am – 4:30 pm; 37.5 hours/week; overtime as required

Eeo Category

0106

Workers’ Comp Code

8820

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). Accordingly, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, disability or medical condition, national origin, and veteran status, and all other categories protected by federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Reasonable accommodations for persons with a known disabling condition will be considered in accordance with State and Federal Law.