In a local CSSD case, a CSSD investigator or an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) delivers a document entitled “Notice of Hearing and Order Directing Appearance” (NOHODA). Delivery typically occurs when the CSSD investigator or MPD officer personally serves the respondent with the NOHODA or leaves the document with an adult at the respondent's home or work who accepts it on the respondent's behalf.
A notice to appear in court also may be given to a respondent who comes to court for a child support hearing and, while there in court, signs and receives a copy of a “Notice to Return to Court” document that provides notice of the next hearing date.
Additionally, a respondent may receive notice of an upcoming hearing by coming into the CSSD office and accepting service of a child support petition and a NOHODA.
Upon learning that a bench warrant has been issued, the following steps are recommended:
- Go immediately to the DC Superior Court.
- Find the court information window, and inform the clerk of the desire to surrender to the court in response to the bench warrant.
- Report to the courtroom of the judge who issued the warrant or another judge, if directed.
In most cases, the judge will “quash” the warrant and provide notice of a new court date for the respondent to sign. (Note that, in some instances, CSSD staff may proceed with the case on that new hearing date, if there is sufficient information, whether or not the respondent appears in court.)
A parent can be taken into custody by MPD once a bench warrant is active. This often happens during traffic stops by the police. Once a parent is arrested, that person will be taken to the cellblock at DC Superior Court. If the parent or another person is able to post the bond, the parent will be released from custody. In most child support cases, if the bond cannot be paid, the parent either will be presented to a judge in the child support contempt courtroom or in the cellblock courtroom. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the judge may release the parent and set a new court date, continue to keep the parent in custody, or conduct a child support hearing at that time.