Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
Pennsylvania Complaint for Custody
(Separate Website)
This custody form is for PARENTS only. Click this link to go to a website where you can create a "Complaint for Custody" that you can use to start a NEW custody case. The site will ask you a series of questions about your custody situation and then create a custody complaint for YOU based on YOUR ANSWERS. This complaint can then be printed and filed in your local court. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word as your word processor.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Pennsylvania Petition for Modification or Contempt of a Custody Order
(Separate Website)
This custody form is for PARENTS only. Click this link to go to a website where you can create a "Petition for Modification or Contempt of a Custody Order" that can be used to ask a court to change or enforce a custody order that is ALREADY IN EFFECT. The site will ask you a series of questions regarding your custody situation and existing order and then create a petition for YOU based on YOUR ANSWERS. This petition can then be printed and filed in your local court. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word as your word processor.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Allegheny County: Family Law Forms for Download
(Separate Website)
Family Law Forms available for download from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.
By: Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Dauphin County Pro Se Litigant Self Help Center
(Separate Website)
Information on the Dauphin County Pro Se Litigant Self Help Center where forms and instructions are available.
By: Dauphin County
Lancaster Court Self-Help Center
(Separate Website)
The Lancaster County Court Self Help Center opened in July, 2004. The main purpose of the Center is to provide one central location where self-represented litigants can obtain some of the information and forms that they may need to represent themselves in certain types of court actions.
By: Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
Family Division Forms - Philadelphia Courts, First Judicial District
(Separate Website)
Forms for custody and domestic relations cases that may be used in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
By: Philadelphia Courts, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Custody Forms
Forms with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section for use in custody proceedings taking place in Philadelphia courts.
By: Philadelphia Bar Association
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Custody and Visitation of Children
Information on rights relating to custody and visitation of chlidren.
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Read this in:
Spanish / Espaņol
General Pennsylvania Law About Custody
(Separate Website)
General information on custody law in Pennsylvania
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Custody - Myths & Facts
Informational Brochure
By: MidPenn Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Overview of Custody - Guidelines of Conduct
Informational brochure on the guidelines of conduct surrounding child custody.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
General Information On Custody and Visitation
Informational Brochure
By: Northwestern Legal Services
General Custody Information
(Separate Website)
General information about custody, custody terms and custody procedures.
By: Laurel Legal Services, Inc.
Child Custody
(Separate Website)
Information on child custody proceedings and the child custody process.
By: Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.
Custody and Visitation in PA (Audio-MP3)
(Separate Website)
Episode of Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" Radio show broadcast on JET 1400 AM in Erie, PA.
5/22/2008 - Robert Oakley, NWLS Director interviews Judge Stephanie Domitrovitch, Erie County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, and Karen Klapsinos, NWLS Staff Attorney regarding custody in Pennsylvania. Information is provided on what a Custody Order is, what it means, how to obtain one, and issues to consider when pursuing custody or visitation. (24:06)
Click on the title above to listen to the program.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Grandparents - Partial Custody or Visitation
(Separate Website)
Information on the custody rights of grandparents.
By: Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.
Grandparents' Custody/Visitation Rights in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information about the rights of grandparents in relation to the custody and visitation of their grandchildren.
By: Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Read this in:
Spanish / Espaņol
Subsidized Child Care Program - Improved Changes
Fact sheet outling the new and improved changes to DPW's Subsidized Child Care Program
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Simplified Outline of Basic PA Family Law Procedure in Allegheny County
(Separate Website)
Outline of family law procedure in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Custody Education Program Detailed manual on the child custody procedure used in Westmoreland County.
By: Laurel Legal Services, Inc.
Custody and Visitation for Grandparents and Other Elders Raising Children
(Separate Website)
Information on custody and visitation issues for grandparents and other seniors.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Child Custody
(Separate Website)
Consumer information pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
By: Pennsylvania Bar Association
Read this in:
Spanish / Espaņol
Custody
(Separate Website)
Information on the law concerning child custody from the Erie County Bar Association.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Divorce and Custody (Video)
(Separate Website)
Information presented on the September 26, 2006 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh Today Live Show. (5:23)
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Custody and Visitation
(Separate Website)
Information that was discussed by Attorney Whitney Hughes on the July 31, 2007 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live Show.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
How to Get a Custody Order in Erie County
(Separate Website)
Information on the procedures for getting a custody order in Erie County.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Divorce, Custody, PFA, Support; Paternity Pamphlet (Adams County)
(Separate Website)
Information on family law procedures in Adams County
By: Adams County Bar Association
Child Custody in Philadelphia County
Information on filing for custody in Philadelphia County.
By: Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association
Grandparent Rights
(Separate Website)
Information on grandparent rights concerning custody and visitation from the Erie County Bar Association.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Grandparents' Rights
(Separate Website)
Information on Grandparents Rights that was discussed by Attorney Whitney Hughes on the February 19, 2008 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh Today Live.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Guardianship
(Separate Website)
Information on legal guardianship from the Erie County Bar Association
By: Erie County Bar Association
Pennsylvania Child Custody Information
(Separate Website)
Information on child custody and the procedures for securing a custody order in Pennsylvania.
By: WomensLaw.org
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