PAVictimsHelp.org
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Child Custody
Information from Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network on rights relating to custody and visitation of children.
Custody - Myths & Facts
Information from MidPenn Legal Services on the true facts regarding child custody law.
Family Law Handbook
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. (2021)
Tips and Techniques for Effective Co-Parenting (Video)
This video from the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law section is designed to to help parents and attorneys develop better outcomes for parents and their children as parents work through the process of learning how to share parenting responsibilities and decisions after separating. (2022)
Custody Proceedings - Representing Yourself: Forms and Information from the Pennsylvania Courts
Free online information is available from the Pennsylvania Courts website to assist the growing number of Pennsylvanians who want to file their own family law cases in courts across the state. Standardized court forms for child custody proceedings may be obtained on this page of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania’s website. Included are forms for both parents and third parties, including grandparents.
How to File a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, provides an explanation of what In Forma Pauperis is (a request to file legal papers without having to pay the filing fee because you cannot afford to pay the fees) and line-by-line instructions on completing a petition to request permission to proceed without paying filing fees. (2020) Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Philadelphia County: Domestic Relations Information Sheet
Form from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section for use in domestic relations proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Exceptions to Recommendation of Custody Master
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion Cover Sheet
Form with instructions from the Family Division of the Court of Common Please of Philadelphia that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion for Home Investigation
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion for Mental Health Assessment
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion for Protracted Custody Hearing
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition for Contempt of Custody Order
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts
Philadelphia County: Petition for Emergency Relief - Custody
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition for Expedited Relief - Custody
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition for Reconsideration of Custody Order
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts
Philadelphia County: Petition to Modify Custody Order
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition to Relocate With Child
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Custody Proceedings - Representing Yourself: Forms and Information from the Pennsylvania Courts
Free online information is available from the Pennsylvania Courts website to assist the growing number of Pennsylvanians who want to file their own family law cases in courts across the state. Standardized court forms for child custody proceedings may be obtained on this page of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania’s website. Included are forms for both parents and third parties, including grandparents.
Filling out an Affidavit of Service (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to complete and file an Affidavit of Service in a custody proceeding after servicing legal papers on the opposing party in your case. The video covers situations where a person is personally served by giving them a copy of the papers and when the service is done by mail. (2020) Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
How to File a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, provides an explanation of what In Forma Pauperis is (a request to file legal papers without having to pay the filing fee because you cannot afford to pay the fees) and line-by-line instructions on completing a petition to request permission to proceed without paying filing fees. (2020) Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Child Custody
Information from Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network on rights relating to custody and visitation of children.
Custody - Myths & Facts
Information from MidPenn Legal Services on the true facts regarding child custody law.
Family Law Handbook
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. (2021)
Filling out an Affidavit of Service (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to complete and file an Affidavit of Service in a custody proceeding after servicing legal papers on the opposing party in your case. The video covers situations where a person is personally served by giving them a copy of the papers and when the service is done by mail. (2020) Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
How to File a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, provides an explanation of what In Forma Pauperis is (a request to file legal papers without having to pay the filing fee because you cannot afford to pay the fees) and line-by-line instructions on completing a petition to request permission to proceed without paying filing fees. (2020) Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Inside Custody Court: Factors Relevant to Custody Decisions (Video)
This video produced by Penn Law School with the assistance of Philadelphia Legal Assistance, provides an introduction to the factors relevant to custody decisions in Pennsylvania.
Preparing for a Custody Hearing - Pennsylvania (Video)
This video explains what happens at a child custody hearing, describes the "best interest of the child" standard, and gives you tips on how to obtain the custody order you want. The video is part of Philadelphia Legal Assistance's "Make Your Case" video series. This video is available in multiple languages at the link.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Tips and Techniques for Effective Co-Parenting (Video)
This video from the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law section is designed to to help parents and attorneys develop better outcomes for parents and their children as parents work through the process of learning how to share parenting responsibilities and decisions after separating. (2022)
Custody Proceedings - Representing Yourself: Forms and Information from the Pennsylvania Courts
Free online information is available from the Pennsylvania Courts website to assist the growing number of Pennsylvanians who want to file their own family law cases in courts across the state. Standardized court forms for child custody proceedings may be obtained on this page of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania’s website. Included are forms for both parents and third parties, including grandparents.
Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Costs to record, or “file” documents such as the complaint, vary from the type of document, or pleading, to the county in which you begin your case. Some court filing costs may be in the hundreds of dollars. If you cannot afford to pay these fees to the court, you will need to complete this form, In Forma Pauperis, a Latin term, referring to someone who cannot pay.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Philadelphia County: Domestic Relations Information Sheet
Form from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section for use in domestic relations proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Exceptions to Recommendation of Custody Master
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion Cover Sheet
Form with instructions from the Family Division of the Court of Common Please of Philadelphia that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion for Home Investigation
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion for Mental Health Assessment
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Motion for Protracted Custody Hearing
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition for Contempt of Custody Order
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts
Philadelphia County: Petition for Emergency Relief - Custody
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition for Expedited Relief - Custody
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition for Reconsideration of Custody Order
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts
Philadelphia County: Petition to Modify Custody Order
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts.
Philadelphia County: Petition to Relocate With Child
Form with instructions from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in custody proceedings taking place in Phildelphia courts
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Washington County: Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County
Information on the Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County.