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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
