Child Custody Lawyers in State College, PA
Contact Topinka Law today to request a confidential consultation about your custody options.
How Topinka Law Fights for Your Parental Rights
Our child custody attorney has over a decade of experience helping State College and Centre County parents resolve custody disputes. Protecting your parental rights and your children’s well-being guides every case we handle:
- Representing parents in contested custody hearings
- Filing for custody modifications when circumstances change
- Advocating for parental rights in relocation matters
- Pursuing emergency custody orders when safety is at risk
Types of Custody in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law has two categories of custody. Courts can reward each as a shared or sole interest. Both affect your child’s daily life and long-term future:
- Legal Custody: The right to make major decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, and religious upbringing.
- Physical Custody: Determines where the child lives on a day-to-day basis and how time is divided between parents.
Best Interests Standard
Every custody decision in Pennsylvania focuses on the child’s best interests. Under 23 Pa. C.S. § 5328, courts consider 16 factors, including each parent’s willingness to support the other parent’s relationship with the child, sibling relationships, and any abuse history.
Child Custody Modifications
A custody order can change when life changes. Courts consider modifications if a parent shows a substantial change in circumstances since the last order, including:
- Changes in the child’s educational or medical needs
- Safety concerns in the current living arrangement
- A significant shift in a parent’s work schedule or availability
Types of Custody Cases Topinka Law Handles
No two families are the same. Our firm handles all types of custody issues in Centre County. Whether your case is simple or complex, we are ready to advocate for your family:
- Unmarried parent custody actions
- Grandparents’ rights petitions
- Stepparent adoptions
- Relocation and move-away cases
- Emergency custody petitions
If you have an ongoing custody case, we can offer new perspectives and strategies that may change the outcome. No matter how complicated things get, we work with families to resolve disputes and reach the best possible outcome for you and your children.
Act Now to Protect Your Family
Call 814-561-6067 or contact Topinka Law online to schedule your consultation.