{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-11-1101","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 11-1101","heading":"Jurisdiction of the Family Court.","body":"(a)\nThe Family Court of the District of Columbia shall be assigned and have original jurisdiction over —\n(1)\nactions for divorce from the bond of marriage and legal separation from bed and board, including proceedings incidental thereto for alimony, pendente lite and permanent, and for support and custody of minor children;\n(2)\napplications for revocation of divorce from bed and board;\n(3)\nactions to enforce support of any person as required by law;\n(4)\nactions seeking custody of minor children, including petitions for writs of habeas corpus;\n(5)\nactions to declare marriages void;\n(6)\nactions to declare marriages valid;\n(7)\nactions for annulments of marriage;\n(8)\ndeterminations and adjudications of property rights, both real and personal, in any action referred to in this section, irrespective of any jurisdictional limitation imposed on the Superior Court;\n(9)\nproceedings in adoption;\n(10)\nproceedings under the Act of July 10, 1957 (D.C. Code, secs. 30-301 to 30-324 [D.C. Official Code, §§ 46-701 to 46-724)];\n(11)\nproceedings to determine paternity of any child born out of wedlock;\n(12)\ncivil proceedings for protection involving intrafamily offenses, instituted pursuant to chapter 10 of title 16;\n(13)\nproceedings in which a child, as defined in § 16-2301, is alleged to be delinquent, neglected, or in need of supervision;\n(14)\nproceedings under chapter 5 of title 21 relating to the commitment of the mentally ill;\n(15)\nproceedings under chapter 13 of title 7 relating to the commitment of the at least moderately mentally retarded; and\n(16)\nproceedings under Interstate Compact on Juveniles (described in title IV of the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970).\n\n(b)\n(1)\nIn this chapter, the term “action or proceeding” with respect to the Family Court refers to cause of action described in paragraphs (1) through (16) of subsection (a).\n(2)\nAn action or proceeding may be assigned to or retained by cross-jurisdictional units established by the Superior Court, including the Domestic Violence Unit.","path":["Title 11. Organization and Jurisdiction of the Courts. [Enacted title]","Chapter 11. Family Court of the Superior Court."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/11-1101","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"76c6acd96d7884ee730e5e7dcbc6958da2d9bbb798c719dedf6a99ea9258b67d","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-11-947","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-11-1102"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}