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ALERT! In observance of the holiday: County of Berks offices and buildings will close to the public from 12 PM, December 24, 2024, through December 25, 2024 (reopening 8 AM, December 26, 2024) and 12 PM, December 31, 2024, through January 1, 2025 (reopening 8 AM, January 2, 2025).

Please note – 24/7 operations at the county courthouse and services center will remain operational.

Docketing/Fiscal Unit

Docketing/Fiscal Unit

The mission of the Docketing Office is to maintain the official court records in order to provide timely disposition of support documents to clients, law and judicial communities, and Domestic Relations Section staff. Incoming filing from clients, attorneys and judicial staff is accepted in the Docketing Office. The Docketing Office also accepts payments for support allocations and court costs.

Making a Payment

Normal Support payments should be sent directly to the Pennsylvania State Collection and Disbursement Unit (SCDU):

PA SCDU
P.O. Box 69110
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9110

Please include your Member ID and PACSES Case ID on any check or money order sent to SCDU.

Credit/Debit cards are accepted at the kiosk located in the DRS Lobby, 6th Floor, County Services Center and online. 

Click on our Support Payment Options link below for additional payment options. 

Support Payment Options 

Purge Payments 

Purge Payments must be made in CASH ONLY and are accepted in-person in the Docketing Office Monday through Friday, excluding Holidays, between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:30PM.

Manual Distribution of Payments

Per PA Rule of Civil Procedure 1910.17(d), Domestic Relations may not apply payments to a specific case or allocation. All money posted will distribute per the distribution hierarchy.

Distribution Hierarchy of Payments - Pa.R.C.P. 1910.17(d)

  1. Current Support- Child and Family

    1. Child and family support

    2. Medical support/child care/ other misc. support

    3. Spousal/alimony on a IV-D (child support) case

  2. Ordered on Arrears

    1. Child and family support

    2. Medical support/child care/ other misc. support

    3. Spousal/alimony on a IV-D (child support) case

  3. Current Support- Spousal & Alimony Non-IVD case

  4. Retroactive Arrears- Child and Family

    1. Child and family support

    2. Medical support/child care/ other misc. support

    3. Spousal/alimony on a IV-D (child support) case

  5. Normal Arrears - Child and Family

    1. Child and family support

    2. Medical support/child care/other misc. support

    3. Spousal/alamony on a IV-D (child support) case

  1. Ordered on Arrears- Spousal & Alimony Non-IVD case
  2. Retroactive Arrears- Spousal & Alimony Non-IVD case
  3. Normal Arrears- Spousal & Alimony Non-IVD case

  4. Genetic Testing Fee

    1. Current arrears
    2. Ordered on arrears
    3. Retroactive Genetic Test Fee arrears
    4. Normal Genetic Test Fee arrears

  5. Fees

    1. Current
    2. Ordered on Arrears
    3. Retroactive fee arrears
    4. Normal fee arrears
  6. Future Support- Child and Family Support, medical, child care, other misc. support, spousal and alimony support and fees

***If a Defendant has multiple cases: During distribution, the total support due for obligations with the same priority are totaled on each case and compared to the obligor’s total of those same priority obligations for all of his/her cases to determine what percentage each case represents of the total obligation. The support collection is prorated based upon the percentage in the event the amount of the support payment is insufficient to satisfy all obligations in full.

*** “Family First” Arrears Payment Distribution: If a family was previously on welfare, often there are support arrears owed to the family AND arrears owed to Welfare. In such cases, PACSES distributes arrears payments to the family first.

IRS Payment Information

The Domestic Relations office may not offer advice or guidance pertaining to Allocated and Unallocated orders, what can be claimed, or what is deductible. These questions can be answered at one of the following resources:

  1. The IRS: 1-800-829-1040 or www.irs.gov
  2. A tax accountant
  3. Internal Revenue Code, Section 71
  4. The PA Rules of Civil Procedure: Pa.R.C.P.1910.16-4(f)

Federal Tax Intercept Information

If welfare arrears are in excess of $150.00 (including Birthing Expenses) and/or plaintiff arrears are in excess of $500.00, Federal Income taxes will be intercepted

Qualifying arrears for tax intercept are determined on a combined total basis for all of the defendant’s cases.

If the defendant is married and files jointly, his or her spouse should file an Injured Spouse form at the time they file their taxes. The defendant’s portion of the intercept will be held for six months before it is distributed to the plaintiff. If the defendant’s spouse files the injured spouse form immediately upon having their taxes completed, his or her portion will be returned to them and the defendant’s portion could be released as early as 90 days to the plaintiff. Form 8379 will be needed to file and injured spouse claim. The form can be acquired by calling 1-800-829-1040 or by visiting www.irs.gov

State Tax Intercept Guidelines

State Taxes will be intercepted if more than $11.00 in arrears is owed on a case.

If filed taxes jointly, the parties will receive a letter that they must sign to either agree to let Domestic Relations intercept it or they will have to file separately. If the letter is not answered the intercepted monies will be held for six months.

Double Dips

If wages have been garnished by two different sources; for example a full-time and part-time employer or a part-time employer and unemployment compensation, please call 610-478-2900 to discuss your options. 

Fees

The Federal Government charges a processing fee of $12.65. The County intercept processing fee is $12.35. This $25.00 for fees is deducted from the defendant’s balance. 

Filing and Fee Schedule

Interstate Cases

The initiating state (the state providing services to the plaintiff) submits qualified arrears for intercept. It is up to the other state to notify our office if they are intercepting taxes.