Tools for Pittsburgh Guardians ad Litem, Therapists and Mediators

A co-parenting app and case tools you can recommend to the Pittsburgh families you work with, whether you serve as a guardian ad litem, a therapist, or a mediator. Messaging between co-parents is free for both parents, and every message is time-stamped and tamper-evident.

Families in Pittsburgh who end up in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Family Division, Fifth Judicial District rarely arrive at a mediation, a therapy session, or a home visit with their records in order. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform built for those parents. Below is what it does for them, what it means for you as a guardian ad litem, therapist, or mediator, and what to know about family court in Pittsburgh.

Area covered: Allegheny County.

Court for custody cases: Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Family Division, Fifth Judicial District.

Appointed for the child: Guardian ad litem.

Custody mediation: Depends on the county or judge.

Parenting coordinators: Set by state law or court rule (Pa.R.C.P. 1915.11-1).

Parenting class: Depends on the county or judge.

State family law: Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 - Domestic Relations.

Co-parent messaging (Free): One time-stamped, tamper-evident thread, free for both parents, with a Tone Meter that offers calmer rewrites.

Invite a professional into the conversation (Free): A parent can add a guardian ad litem or mediator to the co-parent conversation with a single-use link.

Parenting plan, built and shared (Free to build): Parents draft a parenting plan and can share it with you to read and comment on.

Verify a chat export (Free): Check that an exported message record (the JSON file) has not been changed. No account needed.

Court-Grade Journal (Paid plan): A dated, no-delete journal; a parent can send you a packet of chosen entries.

Expense Tracker (Paid plan): Shared child costs with receipts; a parent can give you a view-only look.

Parents can create an account and message their co-parent for free, with no credit card. Building a parenting plan is free; sharing, downloading, and printing it, and the tools marked as a paid plan, are part of a monthly plan a parent can start and stop.

For guardians ad litem in Pittsburgh

In Pennsylvania, the court can appoint a guardian ad litem in a custody case. What the role involves is in the FAQ below.

On FamilyCourtHelp.com you see what a parent chooses to share. A parent can invite you into the co-parent conversation with a single-use link, which you accept with your own free account; from there you can read the thread, post in it, and review the shared calendar's requests and approvals. A parent can also share the parenting plan with you to read and comment on.

For therapists and counselors in Pittsburgh

Court-involved and reunification therapists, co-parenting counselors, and custody evaluators in Pittsburgh do not get an account view here, and that is deliberate: each parent keeps their own record and chooses what to bring you. The free messenger keeps the week's facts in one time-stamped thread, and its Tone Meter flags a heated message and suggests a calmer one before it is sent.

For mediators and parenting coordinators in Pittsburgh

In Pennsylvania, custody mediation is set county by county. Parenting coordinators are set by state law or court rule (Pa.R.C.P. 1915.11-1). The details are in the FAQ below.

Sessions in Pittsburgh start further along when the draft is already on the table. Parents can share their parenting plan with you to read and comment on, and invite you into their conversation with a single-use link. Agreements then live in one time-stamped thread, and every schedule change is a request on the shared calendar that the other parent approves or declines.

Parenting coordinators can be added to a shared plan as a viewer who reads and comments.

Family court programs in Pittsburgh

Custody cases in Pittsburgh are heard in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Family Division, Fifth Judicial District. The court-connected programs below were checked against official sources.

Divorce and custody papers are e-filed through the Department of Court Records.

Generations Program: Required each time a custody complaint or petition is filed. Parents first take a 4 hour online co-parenting class, then attend a remote mediation session without attorneys.

Scheduling a Custody Case: The Custody Department's guide to how a custody case moves through the Family Division.

If you searched for a guardian ad litem, a family therapist, or a custody mediator in Pittsburgh, the court that has your case, the order in it, or your lawyer is the place to find who is appointed or approved. This site does not appoint professionals or refer you to one. What you can do here is come prepared: keep every message with your co-parent in one time-stamped thread, write down what happened with dates while it is fresh, and work on a parenting plan before the meeting.

Free help for parents in Pittsburgh: the court help desks and legal aid offices below were checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

Allegheny: Client Service Center, (412) 350-5600. Help desk where people without a lawyer (pro se litigants) get help with family court procedures.

Allegheny legal aid: Neighborhood Legal Services Association, (866) 761-6572.

FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help platform, not a law firm and not a court, and nothing on this page is legal, clinical, or mediation advice. Court rules and local programs change, so confirm anything that matters for a case with the court, the order that appointed you, or the program itself.

Frequently asked questions

Where are custody cases heard in Pittsburgh?

The Family Division at the Family Law Center in Pittsburgh hears custody, divorce, support and related cases for Allegheny County.

Is there a court mediation program in Pittsburgh?

Yes. Families with a case in the local court can use the Generations Program. What it offers, and the official link, are in the family court programs section above.

Where can parents in Pittsburgh get free help with a family court case?

Free court help for parents without a lawyer: Client Service Center. Free legal aid: Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Phone numbers and links are in the parents section above, checked link by link for the site's free pro se help directory.

How can parents prepare for custody mediation in Pittsburgh?

Bring the family calendar, a draft parenting plan, a list of the issues still open, and a list of shared costs with receipts. Parents can put all of that together on FamilyCourtHelp.com before the first session. Families with a case in the local court can ask about the Generations Program.

What does a guardian ad litem do in a Pittsburgh custody case?

In a custody case the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to look into the facts and speak for the child's best interests, including a written report to the court. The court may also appoint counsel for the child to represent the child's legal interests, and substantial claims of abuse are a reason to do so. You may also see "counsel for the child" and "GAL". The rule is in 23 Pa.C.S. § 5334 (guardian ad litem); 23 Pa.C.S. § 5335 (counsel for child). This is general information, not legal advice; the order in the case controls.

Is custody mediation required in Pennsylvania?

Statewide rules let a court order parents to a mediation orientation session, and mediation itself goes forward with the parents' consent. Each county runs its own program. Orientation may not be ordered where there has been domestic violence or child abuse within the 24 months before filing or while the case is open.

Does Pennsylvania use parenting coordinators?

After a final custody order, a judge may appoint a parenting coordinator in high conflict cases to help parents settle day to day disputes and recommend a resolution to the court if they cannot agree. Counties that run a program keep a roster. A parenting coordinator must be a Pennsylvania licensed attorney or a mental health professional with at least a master's degree and five years of experience.

Do parents in Pennsylvania have to take a parenting class?

There is no single statewide parenting class. State law lets courts direct parents to attend informational programs, and many counties require a co-parenting class when a custody case is filed.