How to Refile for Child Custody in Pennsylvania
Every state has laws governing child welfare and custody. Whenever a court hears a custody case, that court generally maintains jurisdiction over the case until the child is an adult. To re-file a custody case in Pennsylvania, you have to take the appropriate steps and file with the correct court.
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Instructions
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Meet the requirements. You'll have to be either a parent, grandparent or qualified third party to file for custody of a child. Be sure to consult with an attorney if you are a third party, as your legal rights can be complicated.
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Contact your attorney. If your previous child custody petition was filed by an attorney, you should first contact the attorney and tell him you want to refile your case. Though it isn't necessary to hire the attorney, you can use the previous paperwork as a basis for your new petition.
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Determine what you need. When refiling for child custody in Pennsylvania, you must prepare the correct documents. These can differ from county to county, so contact your local county courthouse and ask the court clerk if she has child custody templates you can use, or what forms you'll need to prepare.
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Prepare the documents. Refiling for child custody follows the same procedures as filing for custody originally, meaning you'll have to draft a custody complaint. Depending on the county, you'll also probably have to fill out a seminar registration form as well as a civil cover sheet and a Court Administration cover sheet.
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File with the court clerk. When filing for any child custody matter, the petitioner (the person filing the case) must file the custody complaint with the Family Court where the previous complaint was filed. Contact the court clerk and ask about the filing fee for the complaint.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult an attorney. Child custody issues can be complicated. You should always consult with a qualified Pennsylvania attorney before filing any custody complaint.
References
- Photo Credit children image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
