Change an Existing Pennsylvania Family Court Order

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A Pennsylvania family court order is not permanent, but changing one is its own filing in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division, normally inside the case that produced the original order.

Courts generally want to see that something real has changed since the last order, not simply that you have changed your mind. For support, an updated financial affidavit almost always rides along with the request. The official documents below are what Pennsylvania publishes for this.

Official Pennsylvania modification 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 financial affidavit and disclosure forms (pacourts.us): The official source for the financial disclosure paperwork most Pennsylvania family cases ask both sides to complete. 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 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/

Verified official Pennsylvania modification documents

These official documents are used to ask a Pennsylvania court to change an order that already exists.

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

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 Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.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

Do I start a new case to change my order?

Usually not. A modification is normally filed inside the existing case, and the other parent has to be served with it. Check the official Pennsylvania instructions above for how this state handles it.

What counts as enough of a change?

Courts look for a real, lasting change in circumstances, such as a significant income change, a move, or a serious change in the child's needs. The judge decides whether your facts clear the bar.

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.