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.
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Child Support Law Overview (NW Pennsylvania)
(Separate Website)
Information on child support for northwestern Pennsylvania residents, how to get or change an order, and how the support is calculated.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
THE "LEGAL" BABY'S DADDY: What Men Need to Know
Information on the paternity of children for potential fathers.
By: Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Other Formats:
PDF File
THE "LEGAL" BABY'S DADDY: What Women Need to Know
Information on paternity of children for mothers.
By: Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Other Formats:
PDF File
Paternity and Child Support
(Separate Website)
Information on paternity determinations and child support.
By: Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.
Welfare and Child Support [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Information on the relationship between receiving child support and receiving welfare benefits
By: North Penn Legal Services
Have You Been a Victim of Domestic Violence? You Can Claim "Good Cause" Not to File for Support
(Separate Website)
Information on domestic violence exemptions to the requirement that you file for child support when applying for public assistance.
By: Community Legal Services
You Can be Excused from Welfare Department Rules Because of Domestic Violence
(Separate Website)
Information on obtaining a waiver from welfare rules based on domestic violence.
By: Community Legal Services
Custody - Myths & Facts
Informational Brochure
By: MidPenn Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Allegheny County Support Tips
(Separate Website)
Information on pursuing Child Support in Allegheny County, PA
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
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
Paternity of Children in Philadelphia County When Parents Are Not Married
(Separate Website)
Information on paternity determinations, as conducted in Philadelphia county.
By: Women's Law Project
Domestic Violence and Welfare Support Requirements Information about the requirement that families who receive cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or General Assistance (GA) programs apply for child or spousal support unless excused for good cause.
By: Women's Law Project
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Child Support
(Separate Website)
Information on child support law from the Erie County Bar Association.
By: Erie County Bar Association
Frequently Asked Questions - Divorce and Child Support
(Separate Website)
Answers to common questions about divorce and child support.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Child Support in Philadelphia County
Information on filing for child support in Philadelphia County.
By: Family Law Section of the Philadelphia 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 Support Program
(Separate Website)
This website provides a wide range of information regarding Pennsylvania's child support program including child support collection and disbursement.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Child Support Terms
(Separate Website)
This is a short glossary of child support terms for your reference.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Child Support FAQs
(Separate Website)
Frequently asked questions regarding child support in Pennsylvania.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Child Support Guidelines
(Separate Website)
Information on child support guidelines from the Office of Income Maintenance of PA DPW
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Pennsylvania EPPICard e-Disbursement Frequently Asked Questions
(Separate Website)
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Pennsylvania EPPICard program.
By: Pennsylvania Child Support Program
Handbook on Child Support Enforcement
(Separate Website)
This handbook provides an overview of establishing a support order, paternity, and working across state lines, and how to enforce your order.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Handbook on Child Support Enforcement
(Separate Website)
This guide has information on the Child Support Enforcement Program and services that are available to you.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook
(Separate Website)
Information on the process for establishing child support for your child.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Establishing Paternity for Your Child is in Your Hands
(Separate Website)
Information on establishing paternity of children
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Health Care Coverage
(Separate Website)
Information on child support services available to obtain health care coverage for children from a non-custodial parent.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Support Witholding from UC Benefits
(Separate Website)
A brochure providing information on support withholding from Unemployment Compensation Benefits.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement
(Separate Website)
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
A Caseworker's Guide to Child Support Enforcement and Military Personnel
(Separate Website)
The purpose of this guide is to assist child support enforcement caseworkers when one of the parents in a case is an active duty member of the Armed Services.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Child Support Services for Head Start Families
(Separate Website)
This brochure describes child support services available to assist Head Start parents that can assist you to establish the legal paternity of your son or daughter or help you to establish a child support order requiring the non-custodial parent to contribute to the financial support of their children.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Mifflin County Domestic Relations Client Handbook
(Separate Website)
This manual explains how the Domestic Relations Section of the Family Court of Mifflin County works. Although it has other duties, the Domestic Relations Section is mainly responsible for working with families to establish and collect support for children and spouses.
By: Mifflin County Government
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
Allegheny County: Child Custody Client Information Packet
(Separate Website)
The custody client information packet is available for you to download and print if you want more information on how custody cases move through the system and what steps you need to follow. If you are considering filing a custody complaint or have more questions about the program, it is an excellent place to start.
By: Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Crawford County - Self-Help Custody Videos & Custody Forms
(Separate Website)
Forms include Custody Complaint; Petition To Proceed In Forma Pauperis Pursuant To Pa.R.C.P.240; and Affidavit In Support Of Petition To Proceed Informa Pauperis Pursuant To Pa.R.C.P.240.
Videos include
By: Crawford County Website
Crawford County - Custody Form Instructions Video (Court Video)
(Separate Website)
Video from the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County explaining how to complete the forms necessary to file in the Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County to begin a custody action.
By: Crawford County Website
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
Erie County: Self-Help Custody Videos & Custody Forms
Self-Help forms with instructional videos from Northwestern Legal Services to guide you in the process of filing a custody action in Erie County, PA. May 2010.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
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