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In the case of an emergency custody matter in Montgomery County. a party (whether a parent, grandparent(s), or other party under the legal doctrine of “in loco parentis” must file the “Complaint in Custody”...

Chester County Local Rules for Protection from Abuse Cases in West Chester The practice and procedure for Protection from Abuse (PFA) cases in Pennsylvania is governed by statutory Pennsylvania law.  Specifically, the...

After filing for custody in Montgomery County, the parties (whether parents, grandparents, or third parties) will be required to attend Mediation Orientation and the “Our Children First Seminar” prior to the child...

Where are child custody cases heard in Bucks County? Custody conferences, also referred to as custody “master’s hearings,” are held in the Masters’ Office in the lower level of the Bucks County Family Court...

How do I appeal a child custody order in Delaware County, PA? Either party has the right to appeal a Custody Order within ten (10) days of same being entered by the Hearing Officer, also known as the “custody master,”...

How do I file for child custody in Delaware County, PA? To initiate a child custody proceeding in Delaware County Family Court, a party must prepare and file a Complaint for Custody (primary or partial custody), regardless of a...

The Pennsylvania Divorce Code was previously revised to encourage local Family Courts to establish voluntary mediation in both divorce and child custody cases.  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court promulgated Rule No. 234 which...

How do I file for child custody in Montgomery County, PA? All complaints for child custody, whether included with a divorce complaint or filed as a separate complaint, must include the information required by the Pennsylvania...

Victims of domestic violence seek Protection from Abuse orders for various reasons.  Obvious reasons include trying to prevent potential future domestic violence, harassment, and similar concerns, if not trying to...

Defendants in PFA cases in Philadelphia may (or may not) be caught off guard when they are served with a complainant’s Protection from Abuse petition, often by the Philadelphia Police Department.  Whether or not a PFA...

How is child custody defined in Pennsylvania? In Pennsylvania, there are two kinds of child custody: physical custody and legal custody.  Approximately half the states in the nation share Pennsylvania’s definition of...

Step Number One: The Custody Master’s Hearing in Philadelphia After a party files for custody in Philadelphia, a hearing date will be set to appear before a “Custody Master” at the Domestic Relations Division of...

Chester County has “local rules” that cover Protection from Abuse practice in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  These local rules are known as “Chester County Rules of Civil Procedure” (C.C.R.C.P.). ...

Although Delaware County does not have local “practice” rules with regards to Protection from Abuse cases, the Pennsylvania Rules governing PFA actions are strictly adhered to in Delaware County. Accordingly, it is...

When Protection from Abuse (PFA) defendants are served notice of a temporary PFA order, they often have many questions.  They often do not understand what their obligations are under the law, and they are almost always...

Families’ circumstances often change over the course of a child’s life.  One such circumstance that can change is where parents reside.  A parent may find it necessary to relocate because of work, family...

Grandparents are often a critical part of a child’s life.  It takes a village to raise a child, and grandparents are one of the most important people in that village.  At a minimum, grandparents provide love and a...