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
This custody form is for PARENTS only. Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive 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 the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive 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 about your custody situation and the 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
Pennsylvania Petition for Guardianship of Minor Children
(Separate Website)
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a "Petition for Guardianship of Minor Children", which is for people who have children in their care, but are NOT the parents of the children. Guardianship is appropriate when the parents of the children are no longer available or able to care for the children, such as when the parents are dead or missing, or have serious drug, alcohol, or mental problems.
The site will ask you a series of questions about the children's situation and then create a petition for YOU based on YOUR ANSWERS. The 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
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Petition to Waive Court Costs
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a Petition to Waive Court Fees which can be used to ask the Pennsylvania Court for permission to file legal papers for free. This form can be used in most types of court cases in Pennsylvania. Approval to waive fees is not automatic. You will need to ask the Court to approve your Petition. Instructions will be included. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form; you will need to answer questions while connected to the Internet.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word to print your documents.
By: North Penn Legal Services
County-Specific Online Resources, Self-Help Resources and Forms
(Separate Website)
Click on the title ro view resources from the "Self Help (Pro Se) Forms and Information" subtopic.
By: PALawHELP.org
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Child Custody
Information on rights relating to custody and visitation of chlidren.
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Other Formats:
PDF File
Overview of Custody - Guidelines of Conduct
Informational brochure on the guidelines of conduct surrounding child custody.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Custody
(Separate Website)
Chapter 5 of Family Law Manual, developed by North Penn Legal Services.
Full Manual. By: North Penn Legal Services
Family Law Manual
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family
Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family
Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
North Penn Legal Services Child Custody Video Workshop
This video workshop from North Penn Legal Services provided basic information about child custody and visitation and describes how custody disputes are handled throgh the courts or through negotiation or mediation.
By: North Penn Legal Services
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
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)
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 / Español
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
Erie County: Steps in the Custody Process in Erie County (Video and PDF)
Attorney Karen Klapsinos of Northwestern Legal Services provides an overview of the steps involved in the custody process in Erie County, Pennsylvania for people filing a self-help custody action.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
McKean County: Self-Help Custody Video and Forms
In this video Attorney Chris Antalics of Northwestern Legal Services presents McKean County pro se custody information including Petition to Proceed Informa Pauperis (IFP) to waive the filing fee, Petition for Modification, Complaint for Custody. A link where forms can be downloaded is included with the video.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Venango County Self-Help Custody Videos and Forms
These videos are presented by Northwestern Legal Services and the Venango County Court of Common Pleas to explain the custody process in the court. Attorney David Hull from NWLS, President Judge H William White and other members of the court staff explain the some issues relating to custody proceedings, the process for starting a custody action and how the proceeding works in order to demostrate how you can obtain a coustody order.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Warren County - Self-Help Custody Video and Forms
Attorney Keith Kirsch presents these self-help videos regarding how to file for custody in Warren County, Pennsylvania.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Custody Education Program Detailed manual on the child custody procedure used in Westmoreland County.
By: Laurel Legal Services, Inc.
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 / Español
Custody
(Separate Website)
Information on the law concerning child custody from the Erie County Bar Association.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Custody in Dauphin County (Video)
(Separate Website)
This video from the Dauphin County Bar Association Pro Bono program outlines the custody process in Dauphin County.
By: Dauphin County Bar Association
Legal Briefs: 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
Legal Briefs: Custody and visitation
(Separate Website)
Information discussed by Attorney Whitney Hughes on the July 31, 2007 edition of Legal Briefs on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live Show concerning
child custody issues.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Legal Briefs: 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
Parent Coordination
(Separate Website)
Information on the Parent Coordination program in Erie County, an alternative dispute resolution method for high-conflict custody cases where a Parent Coordinator, who is generally a mental health or legal professional, can be appointed by the Court or with the consent of the parents to assist in resolving custody disputes.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Same Sex Relationships
(Separate Website)
Information on legal rights and options for individuals engaged in a same sex relationship in Pennsylvania.
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
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PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
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