Site Content

Child Custody is divided into two major areas, physical child custody and legal child custody.  Physical Child custody is the time that the child is with a specific parent/ person. Legal Child Custody is the right to make educational, religious, medical and other decisions on behalf of a child.  Child Custody can be difficult in determining if the parties should have equal physical and legal child custody rights or if a party should have more physical and or legal child custody than the other party. 

If a child custody court order has not been previously entered in your case, you will need to file for child custody. Child custody begins with a legal pleading called a complaint. The child custody complaint includes the names and addresses of the parents, grandparents and sometimes other interested parties. The child custody complaint includes the relationship of each child with each parent, with whom the child has previously lived and the child's age. Finally, the child custody complaint includes any issues that have occurred and a statement of the filing parties desired outcome. 

If the parties can agree to a custody order the parties can request that the agreement be signed by a Judge as Child Custody Order. The parties need to consider:

Physical Child Custody

Legal Child Custody

Weekly Child Custody Schedule

Vacation Child Custody Schedule

Transportation

Holiday Child Custody Schedule

and other important issues

The process as follows:

Initial meeting attorney

Filing child custody complaint

Serving other party with Child Custody Complaint

Attending a county ordered child custody seminar

Child Custody Conference

Child Custody Trial

If an issue arises that places the child in immediate danger, the court may grant an Emergency Child Custody Order. This type of order is not easily granted and is meant for the more dangerous, hazardous and otherwise unavoidable situations. 

Child support can be stressful and aggravating. The party filing for child support is attempting to care for a child and provide for needs. The party paying child support is trying to care for the child while in the custody of that party while paying a significant portion of their income in child support. We will help you navigate this important child support issue. 

Offices at

116 North Center Avenue 

Somerset, Pa 15501

17 North Diamond Street

Mt. Pleasant, Pa 15666

814-701-2835

snydervalentinepc@snydervalentinepc.com