Yes, Pennsylvania law allows shared physical custody even if parents live in different states. In shared physical custody arrangements, both parents spend significant time with the child, but a 50/50 split isn’t guaranteed. If one parent lives far away, the court will look at whether an equal split actually makes...
When you’re a parent, nothing is more important than protecting your child. Courts recognize the value of allowing a child to maintain loving and fulfilling relationships with both parents, even after divorce or separation. Often, that may mean an arrangement where a parent has visitation rights, allowing them to spend...
When parents separate or divorce, custody questions often become the center of difficult conversations. You may have heard someone say they want “full custody” of their child, or perhaps you’ve wondered if pursuing full custody is the right choice for your family. Understanding what this term actually means under Pennsylvania...
Custody schedules can be as simple or complicated as parents’ and children’s schedules allow. Several arrangements can offer parents and kids the personalization and flexibility they need to stay on track. One of those arrangements is called “one-week-one-week.” This arrangement is ideal for parents who want balanced time with their...
Pennsylvania law requires parents to support their children if they are under 18 and not emancipated. This basic duty forms the starting point for all support orders, and it does not go away when parents split custody. Even in joint custody arrangements, one parent might still pay child support to...
Supervised visitation, called supervised physical custody in Pennsylvania, allows a parent to spend time with their child while another adult observes the visit. This adult may be a trained professional or another individual with court approval. The goal of supervised visitation is to give the parent and child a chance...
When parents divorce or separate in Pennsylvania, one of the most pressing questions revolves around how much time each parent will spend with their children. Many parents wonder specifically about shared custody arrangements and how the nights are divided throughout the week. How Does Shared Custody Time Division Work? Pennsylvania...
When a couple with children separates or divorces, they typically develop a custody order with the court that determines how the parents can exercise their parental rights and when each parent can spend time with their children. In the event that one parent violates the terms of this custody order,...
The reality or threat of unemployment while going through a child custody case can feel overwhelming. Many parents worry that losing their job will automatically disqualify them from obtaining custody or meaningful parenting time with their children. The good news is that unemployment alone will not prevent you from receiving...
Fathers often worry and assume the courts will side with the mother in custody cases, but courts do not favor one parent over the other. Courts evaluate each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs. When you take the right steps in a custody case, you can secure meaningful child...
Visitation denial happens when a parent refuses to follow the visitation schedule in a court order. This might include skipping drop-offs, making the child unavailable, or blocking phone calls. A few late exchanges or honest mistakes usually don’t count as a denial of visitation. However, if one parent often cancels...
A judge may decide to speak with a child in a Pennsylvania custody case if the child’s preferences or experiences could help determine the best custody arrangement. Judges usually consider a child’s age and maturity before deciding to conduct an interview. Courts do not automatically interview children, but they may...
Child custody cases in Pennsylvania can be emotional and challenging. This is especially true when parents and guardians are dealing with a court hearing. The duration of these hearings is dependent upon a variety of issues, and knowing that ahead of time can help alleviate some of the stress that...
As parents or caregivers, few things are as important as the well-being and safety of the children we love. Unfortunately, there are situations where the rights of parents and the welfare of children come into conflict. When this happens, it’s crucial to understand your legal options and seek the assistance...
Many – if not most – adults have a strong desire to maintain a relationship with the members of their family who are minors. Yet, only a small portion of the adults who care about any individual child have legal rights related to custody and visitation based on their legal...
Holidays are excellent opportunities for children to create unforgettable memories. But, for divorced parents, holidays throughout the year can quickly become significant sources of stress. Some parents who are able to co-parent choose to spend holidays together with their children while others need to divide special times of year in...
One of the most difficult things divorcing parents have to bear is the fact that they usually have to split physical custody of their children with their co-parent. Ideally, each parent should end up with roughly the same amount of parenting time as the other – but life is often...
When getting divorced, parents must divide up custody of their children. The traditional way to do this is to set up a schedule where the children live with each parent for a set amount of time. For example, they may spend one week with their mother and then the following...
When parents get divorced, it can be difficult for them to spend as much time with their children as they want. This is particularly true when one of the parents lives at a distance or they’re constantly traveling for work. Fortunately, virtual visitation has become more possible than ever, allowing...
It is common for divorcing parents to divide parenting time with their children and also the right to make decisions about their lives. Judges tend to find ways to establish joint custody arrangements even when there is significant conflict between the parents. Psychological research has made it clear that for...
When parents decide to separate from one another, they often still have to communicate with and see each other frequently. Regular custody exchanges are a necessity for most families with minor children when co-parents are no longer in a romantic relationship. Most Pennsylvania parents comply with the terms set forth...
Your parenting plan is the document that determines when you get to see your children and how much influence you have on their lives. You may have negotiated it and reached an agreement with the other parent, or a judge may have decided how to divide decision-making authority and parenting...
Intense disagreements typically come with the territory if you share custody of your underage children as a former romantic part. No matter how calm and considerate you try to be while co-parenting with your ex, the two of you will inevitably disagree about some issues. Maybe your child wants to...
Child custody matters are often emotional for parents, especially when they learn that they won’t have custody of their children. Some individuals don’t realize that they still have rights to certain things even if they don’t have custody of their children. One of the most important things you can do...
Maybe you had to go back to school after your divorce to get a degree. Now you finally have a job offer, but it is in upstate New York. You currently share custody of your children with your ex-spouse, and you aren’t sure how supportive they will be about the...
Family law statutes are very confusing and change frequently. Just a few years ago, Pennsylvania state lawmakers made some small but noteworthy adjustments to the family code that could have a profound impact on grandparents. For the most part, as a grandparent, your relationship with your grandkids is dependent on...
It’s increasingly common for grandparents to step into a parent’s shoes all over again when their grandchildren are left without caretakers. For one reason or another, you may have custody of your grandchildren — but is that enough? You may want to consider whether you should adopt your grandchildren to...
The transfer of physical custody from one parent to another can lead to heated verbal exchanges and emotional turmoil. Even if the parents generally get along, personal factors and parenting disagreements can turn an uneventful meeting tense. While it might be impossible to account for every scenario, there are things...
For parents who are no longer together, co-parenting can often be fairly difficult and stressful. You just want to give your child the best life possible, but you’re having a hard time focusing on that as you try to work with your ex. Wondering how you can make things easier?...
Technology and internet access used to be privileges. These days, electronics are the cornerstones of teenage socialization. Even middle school students want to play video games with their classmates online, join social media and get their own phone so that they can start texting. One of the hardest things for...
Most everyone knows that custody proceedings typically occur when a couple with children divorces. However, fewer people realize that you don’t have to be married in the first place to have custody rights. Even if the other parent has been the one who has had custody so far, you have...
You and your co-parent might not have ever been interested in being in one another’s lives long term. Thankfully, creating distance between the two of you is still possible, even when you must divide parenting time. Ahead of receiving a court-approved custody arrangement, you can create rules and details you...
Divorces are sometimes the result of a mental health condition of one of the spouses. For some, this happens because of narcissism. Unfortunately, people who have a child with a narcissist will still have to deal with that individual because of the child. There are several things to remember if...
Grandparents are the great unsung heroes of family life. They provide unpaid childcare for busy parents all across Pennsylvania and bring fun and treats into many small children’s lives. Yet, sometimes a mother or father can deny you the joy of being a grandparent by preventing you from seeing their...
As you likely understand, those going through child custody proceedings in State College, PA, is an extremely difficult situation for parents and kids alike. Making an already troubling situation feel much worse, some parents learn that they must work with a guardian ad litem during custody matters. This sounds like...
Trying to decide on a custody model for the children is often complicated because there are so many options to choose from. One thing that almost all models have in common is that the children go back and forth from one parent’s home to the other parent’s home. This can...
Divorce is a very difficult situation. You and your family’s lives are being upended. The hope in the end is that this separation will lead to brighter days ahead and a new lease of life for everyone involved, but if you have children, that can be harder to navigate. Children...
Has a guardian ad litem been appointed in your child custody battle in Pennsylvania? Since the guardian ad litem’s observations and opinions tend to hold a lot of weight with the judge in a case, it’s natural to be nervous. After all, you’re an ordinary parent, not “super mom” or...
Being married to a narcissistic person is a situation that’s challenging at best. If you have children together when the marriage ends, you’re going to move into a new phase of life with a narcissist because you’re going to have to work through the child custody matters. Having to do...
There are many reasons why parents might leave their children in the care of grandparents. Perhaps you had to step up and start taking care of your grandchildren when your child got arrested and then later convicted of a crime or had their rights terminated by the state. Perhaps your...
As you deal with your unique family dynamics, surely the most important thing on your mind is your children. Fighting about custody and visitation is so difficult, yet the decision is so important. As you and your family consider what life will look like in your next stage, begin by...
Children, wind up dealing with the Pennsylvania courts for a number of reasons. Sometimes, the child themselves has had issues that have led to court intervention, such as chronic truancy or aggressive behavior toward others. Other times, the child may be a victim of abuse whose parents are the subject...
You want to see your kids, but the custody schedule you have today isn’t right for you. You’ve had to miss two or three of your visitation days because of work, and there was nothing you could do about it. This has massively disrupted your usual routine and parenting time....
In many cases, those who see the signs and report child abuse are daycare providers, teachers and doctors. These are people who have close contact with children but who are not actually connected to an individual child’s family. They may see signs like physical injuries, emotional changes and much more....
Parenting is a job that seemingly never ends. Even once your child reaches adulthood, they will likely turn to you for advice to help when things get rough. Beyond that, once they have children of their own, you may find yourself fulfilling many of the same roles you once did...
Family is the center of every child’s world. When elements of that family changes, it can be difficult for children to cope. While divorce may ultimately be the best thing for your family, it can be hard for everyone to go through in the moment. For children, keeping a routine...
Maybe your spouse alleged you were a neglectful parent. Maybe you alleged your spouse was actually abusive. For whatever reason, your custody case has escalated, and the court has appointed a guardian ad litem (GAL) for your children. A guardian ad litem’s job is to investigate the circumstances surrounding your...
Every other weekend, you and your ex meet at the local diner parking lot to exchange your kids. Here are a few tips to help make this hand-off a more peaceful one: Say hello You say hello to the cashier at the grocery store and the teller at the bank....
Exchanging custody is a necessity if you and your ex share custody of the kids after a divorce, but it may not be something you enjoy. It’s difficult to see the children leave you and go with your ex. Maybe the two of you really don’t get along. Maybe it...
No matter our differences, there is one thing that most parents and guardians can agree on: the well-being of their children is the number one priority. It’s this priority that guides us to bandage their scraped knees when they fall off a bike or make them soup when they are...
Life has a way of changing unexpectedly, especially in the aftermath of a major shift in your life like a divorce. Changes in your job responsibilities, interpersonal relationships and schedule due to shared custody can all impact the rest of your life. However, changes in your professional and personal life...
Divorce can be rough enough for the adults going through it, but it’s often worse for the kids involved. Teenagers, in particular, can be resistant to the changes that are occurring in their lives. They may deeply resent the disruption of divorce and shared custody when they’re trying to navigate...
Nothing is more important to you than your relationship with your child. Unfortunately, that relationship has been strained since you and their other parent separated. You knew divorce would be hard, but you didn’t think that it would have the impact that it has. You know that your ex-partner isn’t...
In many states, grandparents don’t have strong visitation or custody rights. While they are related to their grandchildren, the law generally protects the parents and makes sure that they have control over who sees their children. This can be at the expense of the child’s relationship with their grandparent or...
Pennsylvania courts prefer couples and families to work out their differences together. But some relationships are especially heated and volatile, and parents cannot agree on what custody, visitation, child support, and other plans are best for the child. Sometimes, there are charges of abuse and countercharges. In such cases, a...
A newborn’s care is always a top priority for parents, even when their marriage has dissolved. Whether the couple wants to share custody or opt for a primary caregiver, the newborn may struggle with this change. Having a newborn is a stressful time for any parent, especially when your household splits....
If your custody agreement involves your child moving between one home and another periodically, it can be difficult for your child to adjust to the changing settings. Though shared custody can take some time to adapt to, there are things you can do to help your child adjust to life...
Family law matters, such as child custody proceedings, can often become contentious. Those tensions can become even more volatile when children are involved. Parents routinely argue over custody, parenting styles, and agendas for raising their kids, and the children can become caught in the middle. Whether parents have genuine differences...
If a parent commits domestic violence against the other parent or a child, it can have profound and life-change effects, both ordinary and legal. Credible claims of child abuse can affect your child custody rights, for example. You could be facing a restraining order, which could keep you from living...
News reports have again shown that states still take children away from parents based on false conclusions from doctors. While the reporters say such cases are not common, they continue despite decades of medical studies and public awareness of the problem of false diagnoses of abuse. No matter how common...
When parents separate or divorce, one of the main concerns is who will retain custody of any children produced in the marriage. In cases of unmarried parents who separate, the matter becomes even more complicated. As one in four children in America is born to unmarried parents, this is an...
As difficult as divorce is for the spouses involved, it is often even more devastating for the children of the couple. A child may lose their sense of security as their family dynamic shifts and, as a result, can feel alone, scared, or even—mistakenly—to blame. These are natural and common...
As you prepare for the holidays, you look forward to spending time with your family. And with your grandchildren around, you hope to share memories and pass along family traditions. But what happens if your grandchildren’s parents don’t include you in a custody agreement? Whether your child is unmarried or...
The holidays can be a difficult time of year for parents who share custody of a child. Often, dividing time with the child is upsetting, and sharing custody presents some complications when it comes to things like giving gifts, attending family holiday functions, and traveling. These complications and the confusion...
