The issue of child custody can be the most challenging and upsetting element of any divorce. As your lifestyle changes, it can be easy to feel that your relationship with your children is at risk. We bring the full weight of our experience and intelligence to bear on resolving custody issues in ways that have your children's and your family's best interests at heart.
In a custody proceeding, the role of the court is to determine the “best interests” of the child. We strongly believe that no court can determine the best interests of a child as effectively as the child's own parents. For more information about the factors the courts take into account in determining the best interests of a child, read our article "In the Best Interest of the Child." With the substantial revisions to the Pennsylvania custody law enacted in the new custody statute that became effective January 2011, we now have expanded tools to reach outcomes that are best for the children and family involved.
Every child in every family is unique. Our goal is to know you and your children well enough to paint a picture for the court that helps the judge make the right decision about best interests. You're the one who knows your family, your children and what works best. Our first step is always to take that information into account and find a way to settle the case without litigation because often this results in happier parents and children, and more financial resources available to the family.
When it comes down to litigating custody cases, our team is one of the most successful in the state. We're tough-minded, aggressive litigators who excel with complex, high conflict cases. We regularly go to court for cases that involve addiction, mental health issues, and domestic violence to ensure that our clients can protect their children and raise them in an environment where they flourish. We love to hear from our clients a year or two after the divorce and the custody case when they call and let us know how well their children are doing.
Our attorneys lecture statewide on issues related to child custody and have experience working as a court-appointed parenting coordinators in high-conflict custody cases.
High-Conflict Custody Cases
We excel at litigating cases where the parents are unable to communicate and there may be psychological or addiction issues present. We work well with psychological experts and can effectively cross-examine them when necessary. We're comfortable analyzing the testimony of these experts and bringing the focus of the case around to the best interests of the child.
Grandparent Rights
In the state of Pennsylvania, grandparents have rights to visitation and in some cases custody of their grandchildren. The new custody statute, effective January 2011, specifically addresses the issue of when grandparents may file for custody. We pursue these cases with the same wealth of experience and relentless pursuit of what's best for the child as we do any of our other custody cases.
Custody Disputes for Unmarried and Same-Sex Couples
We handle cases with third party standing, which means that a non-biological parent, the third-party, has the legal ability to file for custody because of their long-term relationship with the child. This is the case for a couple living together where one member isn't a biological parent but has helped raise the child, including unmarried and same-sex couples. A third-party can also be a family member, like an aunt or uncle, who has participated in the upbringing of the child and has reason to seek custody. The steps of the case are the same as for a divorcing couple's custody case. When it's in the child's best interests for a third-party to have custody, we will strategize, negotiate and if necessary fight for that custody arrangement to be legalized.
Adoption
We represent step-parents and co-parents in adoptions both when the biological parent consents to terminate rights and when a hearing is necessary to terminate those rights.
Please visit our Resources page for answers to the following questions: