Enforce a Pennsylvania Family Court Order

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When the other parent ignores a Pennsylvania court order, the remedy is a filing in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division, in the same case that produced the order. Most states call it a motion for contempt or a motion to enforce.

Bring dates, records, and specifics. Courts act on a clear pattern that is written down, not on a general complaint that someone is being difficult. The official Pennsylvania documents for this are linked below.

Official Pennsylvania enforcement 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

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 enforcement documents

These official documents are used to ask a Pennsylvania court to enforce an order or hold the other side in contempt.

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

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 Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.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

What can the court do if my time with my child is being denied?

Courts can order make-up time, shift costs, require classes, and in serious cases revisit the schedule itself. The request usually starts with the enforcement or contempt document for your state.

Do I need a lawyer to file for enforcement?

Many parents file these themselves using the official forms. Contempt hearings can carry real consequences for both sides, so consider at least a consultation when the stakes are high.