Civil Caseload
Civil filings increased slightly during 2002. General civil plus small claims cases increased 5.34% from 2001 levels. The increase was mainly in small claims filings.
Domestic relations case filings decreased 4.9%. Support proceedings make up 46.7% of all domestic relations case filings. Divorce filings account for 26.8%, adult abuse filings 12.9%, custody filings 1.1%, adoption 3.1%, paternity 9.1%, and termination of parental rights account for .2% of the domestic caseload.
Divorce filings were up 1.1% to 2,680 cases in 2002. Adult abuse case filings increased 8.8% to 1,291. Paternity case filings were down 6.4% with 913 cases filed, while support proceedings decreased 11.6% with 4,674 cases filed, compared to 5,286 cases in 2001.