Pennsylvania Child Custody and Parenting Time Resources

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Custody in Pennsylvania is decided in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division. Most states split the question in two: who makes the big decisions for the child, and what the day to day schedule looks like. Both usually end up written into one order or parenting plan the judge approves.

The wording differs from state to state, so read the official Pennsylvania documents below rather than assuming a term you heard elsewhere means the same thing here. Courts decide these cases on the best interests of the child, and the official forms are written to collect the facts a judge needs.

Official Pennsylvania custody resources

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Pennsylvania family law forms (official index) (Pennsylvania judicial branch): The official statewide collection of Pennsylvania family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public

Pennsylvania court 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

Pennsylvania mediation and dispute resolution (Pennsylvania judicial branch): Official information on mediation and other ways to settle a Pennsylvania family case without a trial. https://www.pacourts.us/learn/protection-orders/mediation

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/

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

Verified official Pennsylvania custody documents

These official documents cover asking for custody, setting a schedule, and putting a parenting plan in front of the judge.

Complaint for Custody (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/170851-complaintforcustody-010126.pdf

Official 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

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. Pennsylvania organizes its Courts of Common Pleas into judicial districts, mostly one per county.

Does Pennsylvania favor one parent over the other?

Custody decisions are made on the best interests of the child, not on which parent asks first. Judges look at things like stability, each parent's involvement, the child's needs, and whether a parent supports the child's relationship with the other parent. Read the official Pennsylvania forms and self-help material for the factors this state asks about.

Do we have to go to mediation first?

Many courts send custody disputes to mediation before a hearing, and some require it. The official Pennsylvania mediation page linked above explains what this state offers and when it applies.