Pennsylvania Family Court Forms and Filing Resources
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Pennsylvania publishes its own official family law forms, filing instructions, and self-help materials, but they are spread across several government sites. This page organizes the official Pennsylvania sources in one place so you can go straight to the right court page for forms, e-filing, rules, and locations.
Pennsylvania's core family statutes live in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 - Domestic Relations. Many counties, including Philadelphia, run their own e-filing for family cases and some allow people without lawyers to use them. Where there is no county system, you file on paper at the courthouse.
How the Pennsylvania court system handles family cases
Family cases in Pennsylvania are heard in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division. Divorce, custody, and support are heard in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas.
Pennsylvania organizes its Courts of Common Pleas into judicial districts, mostly one per county.
Appeals from a family case generally go first to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and the state's highest court is the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has two middle courts; family appeals go to the Superior Court (the Commonwealth Court hears government cases).
Besides the judge, a Hearing Officer / Master may handle parts of a family case. Support and some custody matters are first heard by a hearing officer or master who recommends an order.
In Pennsylvania the 'Superior Court' is a MIDDLE appeals court, not a trial court - the trial court is the Court of Common Pleas.
Official Pennsylvania resources
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Pennsylvania state courts website (Pennsylvania judicial branch): The official home of the Pennsylvania court system, with statewide news, rules, and links to every court. https://www.pacourts.us
Pennsylvania family law forms (Pennsylvania judicial branch): The official statewide collection of family law forms published for Pennsylvania cases. Start here when you need the current version of a form. https://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public
Pennsylvania self-help resources (Pennsylvania courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Pennsylvania family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.palawhelp.org
PACFile plus county e-filing systems (PA Courts): PACFile mainly covers Pennsylvania's appellate courts plus certain filings in some county trial courts. Divorce, custody, and support filings are handled county by county, so check your county court's website or ask the prothonotary's office. https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
PA Courts of Common Pleas by county (Pennsylvania judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your county, with locations and contact details. https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas
Pennsylvania rules of procedure (Pennsylvania judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in Pennsylvania. https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210503/171514-domesticrelationsprocedural-002641.pdf
Pennsylvania mediation and dispute resolution (Pennsylvania judicial branch): Official information on mediation and alternative dispute resolution options for Pennsylvania family cases. https://www.pacourts.us/learn/protection-orders/mediation
Pennsylvania financial affidavit and disclosure forms (pacourts.us): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most Pennsylvania family cases ask for. https://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public
Pennsylvania child support guideline resources (pacourts.us): Official Pennsylvania child support guideline materials, worksheets, or calculators. https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/csws/child_support_estimator.aspx
Pennsylvania UJS Portal (Pennsylvania courts): Look up existing case records. Access is listed as free and the system is organized statewide. https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
Frequently used official Pennsylvania forms
These links open official Pennsylvania government form documents directly. Courts revise forms, so if a direct link stops working, use the statewide forms collection above to find the current version.
Complaint in Divorce (3301(c) or (d)) (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/164631-form1noticetodefendanddivorcecomplaint-004563.pdf
Affidavit of Consent (Mutual Consent No-Fault Divorce, 3301(c)) (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/164646-affidavitofconsent-008013.pdf
3301(d) Affidavit (Separation No-Fault Divorce) (Divorce / Dissolution), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/165500-3301daffidavit-008017.pdf
Complaint for Custody (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/170851-complaintforcustody-010126.pdf
Petition for Modification of a Custody Order (Form 4), form Form 4 (Modification), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/170904-form4petitionformodificationofacustodyorder-003887.pdf
Petition for Civil Contempt for Disobedience of Custody Order (Form 6), form Form 6 (Contempt / Enforcement), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/170917-form6petitionforcivilcontemptfordisobedienceofcustodyorder-003889.pdf
Petition for Protection from Abuse (Domestic Violence), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/223233-petitionforprotectionfromabuse-007702.pdf
Filing fees: Divorce filing fee: ~$200-$350 by county.
E-filing link data for Pennsylvania was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find official Pennsylvania family court forms?
The official statewide source is the Pennsylvania judicial branch forms collection linked on this page. Always download forms from the official site so you have the current version, and check whether your county adds local forms or cover sheets.
Can I e-file my own family case in Pennsylvania?
PACFile mainly covers Pennsylvania's appellate courts plus certain filings in some county trial courts. Divorce, custody, and support filings are handled county by county, so check your county court's website or ask the prothonotary's office. Many counties, including Philadelphia, run their own e-filing for family cases and some allow people without lawyers to use them. Where there is no county system, you file on paper at the courthouse.
How much does it cost to file a family case in Pennsylvania?
Divorce filing fee: ~$200-$350 by county. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver or indigency application; every state has a process for requesting one.
Which court hears family cases in Pennsylvania?
Family cases in Pennsylvania are heard in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division. Divorce, custody, and support are heard in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas.