Management of the non-judicial operations of the Court system.
Establishment and enforcement of child and spousal support orders.
Provide equal access to justice to all litigants who have limited English proficiency.
Works with juvenile offenders to protect the community, restore victims, reduce risk to reoffend, and assist in providing long-term behavior change.
Provides a comprehensive collection of legal resources to the public.
Issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records dating back to 1885.
Legal proceedings regarding child custody, divorce, and protection from abuse cases.
Specialized Court that handles cases with minors who are involved in legal matters.
First level of the judicial system dealing primarily with summary offenses, preliminary hearings for more serious criminal cases, civil claims up to $12,000, landlord/tenant disputes, and emergency protection orders.
Documents used in child and spousal support matters.
Miscellaneous documents used in child custody, divorce, and protection from abuse cases.
Judge Thomas A. Capehart graduated from Emmaus High School in 1982 and graduated from Dickinson College in 1986 with a degree in History. He received his law degree from the University of Akron School of Law in May, 1989 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in November, 1989.
Before joining the bench, Judge Capehart was engaged in general private practice in Lehigh County for approximately 32 years with an emphasis on real estate (residential and commercial sales and title issues), business formation and governance, loan transactions, creditors' rights/bankruptcy/collections, municipal law, estate planning and administration/Orphan's Court matters, as well as worker's compensation. Judge Capehart was elected to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in November 2021 and has been assigned to the Court's Civil/Family/Orphan's Court division
Over the years, Judge Capehart sought to improve our community by serving as a Board member of The Literacy Center, the Lehigh Conference of Churches, the Emmaus Lions Club (past president), the East Penn Chamber of Commerce (past president and solicitor), St. John's UCC Church in Emmaus (Elder and past president), Lazarus House, and as a PIAA football official.
He is the proud husband of his wife, Michelle, and they are the proud parents of two children.
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