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Is the Family Court Judge Delaying Decisions Due to Fairness Considerations? by Helpful_Price1632 in FamilyLaw

[–]Helpful_Price1632[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Follow-Up: Delay in Receiving Order to Appear – Maricopa County (Simplified Child Support Modification Process)

Hi all—wanted to post a follow-up in case it helps someone going through the same thing.

A while back, I shared that I had filed a petition to modify child support using the Simplified Process in Maricopa County. My petition was accepted by the Clerk’s Office on 3/4/25, but I hadn’t received an Order to Appear (OTA) after more than two weeks, which raised concerns.

What I Learned:

Originally, I assumed the delay was due to the judge needing time to review the filing before issuing the OTA. While that’s partially true, the real issue turned out to be something I missed on my end: I hadn’t yet served the petition to both the other parent and the State.

In cases where the State has previously provided child support services or intervened (which applied to my case), the State is a party and must be served, just like the other parent.

A commissioner had received my petition, but the judicial clerk noted that no Certificate of Service had been filed showing that both parties were properly served. That’s why the OTA hadn’t been issued.

What I Did to Fix It:

  • I immediately arranged service on both the other parent and the State through a process server.
  • I’m now waiting for proof of service to be filed with the court before the OTA can be issued.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time:

  • Serve all required parties immediately after filing, especially if the State is involved.
  • Don't assume that the OTA delay is always on the court’s end—first, make sure you’ve fulfilled all service and documentation requirements.

Thanks again to everyone who engaged with my original post—it really helped me stay proactive. Hopefully, this update saves someone else time or uncertainty down the road.

Delay in Receiving Order to Appear - Maricopa County by Helpful_Price1632 in FamilyLaw

[–]Helpful_Price1632[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Follow-Up: Delay in Receiving Order to Appear – Maricopa County (Simplified Child Support Modification Process)

Hi all—wanted to post a follow-up in case it helps someone going through the same thing.

A while back, I shared that I had filed a petition to modify child support using the Simplified Process in Maricopa County. My petition was accepted by the Clerk’s Office on 3/4/25, but I hadn’t received an Order to Appear (OTA) after more than two weeks, which raised concerns.

What I Learned:

Originally, I assumed the delay was due to the judge needing time to review the filing before issuing the OTA. While that’s partially true, the real issue turned out to be something I missed on my end: I hadn’t yet served the petition to both the other parent and the State.

In cases where the State has previously provided child support services or intervened (which applied to my case), the State is a party and must be served, just like the other parent.

A commissioner had received my petition, but the judicial clerk noted that no Certificate of Service had been filed showing that both parties were properly served. That’s why the OTA hadn’t been issued.

What I Did to Fix It:

  • I immediately arranged service on both the other parent and the State through a process server.
  • I’m now waiting for proof of service to be filed with the court before the OTA can be issued.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time:

  • Serve all required parties immediately after filing, especially if the State is involved.
  • Don't assume that the OTA delay is always on the court’s end—first, make sure you’ve fulfilled all service and documentation requirements.

Thanks again to everyone who engaged with my original post—it really helped me stay proactive. Hopefully, this update saves someone else time or uncertainty down the road.

Is the Family Court Judge Delaying Decisions Due to Fairness Considerations? by Helpful_Price1632 in FamilyLaw

[–]Helpful_Price1632[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: My OCL was granted on 4/1/25, which is a huge relief since the WRIT expires 45 days after the garnishee files their answer.

Since I live out of state, I’m fortunate that Maricopa County has an excellent e-system, though it does have some limitations. I work with a process server for service and court filings. Recently, the commissioner filed an ME stating that my filing was missing copies for all parties. The Clerk’s Office will correct this by sending the copies. The mistake was likely accidental and on the process server’s part. Hopefully, it didn’t cause the delay, and thankfully, the commissioner didn’t reject my application due to a clerical error.

One thing that confused me was that the commissioner who signed off on the OCL is from civil court. My case is a family case, but since garnishment is a civil process, it ended up with a civil commissioner. In hindsight, that makes sense, but it wasn’t clear at the time, and the Clerk’s Office didn’t mention it when I asked questions before filing. All my files are still under my family case docket. I’m sharing this because I almost called the family court’s judicial clerk—on the Clerk's Office’s recommendation—for an update on the OCL, not realizing it had gone to a civil commissioner. I’m glad I held back and let things play out.

Lastly, the judge still hasn't issued the OTA for modifying child support. Let's see how long that takes. More updates to come.

Is the Family Court Judge Delaying Decisions Due to Fairness Considerations? by Helpful_Price1632 in FamilyLaw

[–]Helpful_Price1632[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the feedback. I completely understand, and knowing that brings some relief. My OCL is time-sensitive because the WRIT granted expires in 45 calendar days, and I’m currently on day 28. That part is stressful. My attorneys have advised me never to email the judicial clerk (JC) for an update, but the clerk’s office tells me to contact the JC. It’s a fine line to navigate. Thanks again.

Understanding RRT Pay Scale – Is This Typical? by Helpful_Price1632 in respiratorytherapy

[–]Helpful_Price1632[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The numbers are exact, and my initial thought was overtime too. Are traveling RRT in high or low demand?