Adopting triage to transform family justice
Family court systems nationwide are embracing triage to improve case management, prioritize urgent issues, and better support families. Our pathways model and related guidance from our experts promote early assessment and streamlined resolutions, with proven benefits for courts, litigants, and communities.
Who should review this guidance?
- Judges & court administrators: Gain practical guidance on using triage to improve case flow, screening processes, and service referrals. Gain clarity on the oversight each case requires to allocate time effectively. Strategically assign resources — such as personnel, time, and schedules — ensuring a balanced caseload that promotes efficiency while preventing any single case or group of cases from disproportionately consuming court resources
- Court staff: Efficiently determine the appropriate level of intervention and calendar cases to optimize limited court time
- Self-help staff: Assist parties in understanding legal processes and provide decision-makers with the information needed to move cases forward
Why this guidance matters
Research and expert insights show how courts can better serve families by using triage tools that match services to needs, improve outcomes, and fuel lasting reform.
Pathways for triage
A pathways approach manages cases based on the type of intervention or support required. We offer these "models," but courts can establish more nuanced pathways as circumstances and resources permit.
Streamlined
For cases with simple or limited issues that require minimal court intervention. Examples include: cases where parties seek an order approving a stipulated result; default proceedings or post-decree modifications of support; and minor parenting-time disputes or uncontested matters.
Tailored services
Designed for cases requiring moderate assistance, such as mediation or case planning. Examples include: disputes involving legal issues that do not qualify for the streamlined track but do not demand specialized intervention; and cases that benefit from traditional case management practices but may involve community resources or support services.
Judicial/specialized
For complex cases involving significant legal, safety, or social issues. Examples include: cases involving domestic violence, substance abuse, child neglect, or other high-stakes issues; and matters requiring early intervention by judges and specialized professionals, such as custody evaluators, guardians ad litem, or victim advocates.
Steps for triage
Obtain screening tools to gather information
To assign cases to the appropriate pathway, courts need effective triage tools. Gathering party information to determine case handling is more important than the form of the intake.
Adopt a court rule to implement triage
While courts inherently possess the authority to direct internal proceedings, some may find it useful to establish specific court rules to support triage practices. Such rules not only provide legal backing for new procedures but also ensure uniform application.
Determine & define your court's pathways
Once a case is triaged, it is essential for the court to act decisively to calendar and manage the case according to its designated pathway — streamlined, tailored, or judicial/specialized.
Impacts of triage success
A series of recent studies explored how triage models can improve safety, efficiency, and case management across different court settings.
- Connecticut (domestic violence focus): Early screening helped courts act quickly in high-risk cases and offered more support when violence was a factor
- Massachusetts (efficiency analysis): The study found that triaged cases moved faster and with fewer trials, improving timelines and satisfaction for judges and families
- Miami-Dade County, Fla. (case management enhancements): New tracks and tools accelerated low-conflict cases and improved scheduling and processing
- Johnson County, Kan.: Triage questions addressed during filing helped courts tailor support while protecting privacy, with early feedback from users strongly positive
- Maricopa County, Ariz.: Data tools helped identify cases for early intervention, helping courts better allocate time and resources
Lessons learned from courts
Starting in 2020, pilot sites around the country tested triage-based practices to gauge their real-world impact. Each court employed unique strategies tailored to fit the specific needs of their communities. These courts included: King County, Wash.; Miami-Dade County, Fla.; Cuyahoga County, Ohio: and Pima County, Ariz.
Since that time, courts in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Kansas have also adopted triage-based pathways and demonstrated clear gains in efficiency and case outcomes. Connecticut's model led to a dramatic increase in cases resolved within 90 days of filing. Massachusetts courts saw faster time to judgment and improved post-decree oversight.
In Johnson County, Kansas, triage was embedded directly into filing processes, prompting statewide interest and showing how structured intake can guide effective court management from the outset. These examples confirm that triage is not only feasible — it is a proven strategy for improving both access and performance in family courts.
Let triage work for you
Our team can help you discover how triage can create new case management efficiencies and bring timely resolution to family cases.
Screening for intimate partner violence
Learn how to effectively screen for intimate partner violence (IPV) in the triaging process and consider recommendations for how to use the IPV screening results. Our report also explores how IPV screening results impact the assignment of cases into pathways in the triaging process.
Triage resources for your court
The advantages of automated triage
This guide outlines a detailed vision for an automated triage portal that simplifies the family court intake process. By using guided interviews and smart decision flows, courts can efficiently sort cases, reduce staff burden, cut delays, and be more accessible and equitable — especially for unrepresented families.
Tracking your court’s triage progress
This guide provides practical, scalable ways to track how well family courts are implementing reforms. It outlines process and outcome measures that reflect timeliness, fairness, cost, and complexity to help support smarter decisions and continuous improvement.
Data makes a difference
Built on National Open Court Data Standards, this guide identifies essential information your court can use to support triage, track outcomes, and respond to changing family dynamics with confidence and clarity. Clear, consistent data collection can help your court adapt to evolving family needs and continue meeting national standards for quality and comparability.
Measuring performance
Evaluate the impact of your triage efforts for ongoing improvement. Review timeliness; complexity and conflict; procedural fairness; cost; and judge and court perspectives during your review.
Where do we go from here?
The next phase of family justice focuses on automation, tech-driven triage, and service delivery. Courts nationwide are building tools that link families with resources while reducing delays and judicial workload.
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