Family Law Publications

Resources for Individuals to Represent Themselves

Family Law Forms and Instructions: These forms and instructions were prepared under the sponsorship of the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Informational Brochures

The following brochures were developed by the Philadelphia Bar Association Family Law Section Consumer Education Committee in collaboration with the Domestic Relations Division of the Philadelphia Family Court. They are available online and at the Philadelphia Family Court at 34 South 11th Street in Philadelphia.

Child Custody in Philadelphia County

Child Support in Philadelphia County

Divorce in Philadelphia County

Domestic Violence and Welfare Support Requirements (Philadelphia County)

Emergency Domestic Violence Site (Philadelphia County)

Paternity of Children in Philadelphia County

Protection from Abuse in Philadelphia County

Deciding Child Custody When There is Domestic Violence: A Benchbook for Pennsylvania Courts
(Revised 2/15/2008)

Jointly prepared and published by the Women’s Law Project and the Support Center for Child Advocates, this Benchbook has been distributed to family law judges throughout Pennsylvania to assist them in making custody decisions about children in families where there is domestic violence. The Benchbook highlights and summarizes applicable Pennsylvania statutory provisions and appellate decisions and includes recommendations from experts regarding both procedural tools and evidentiary questions that will help ensure resolutions to custody and visitation disputes that enhance the safety of victims while serving the best interest of children. The Benchbook also includes relevant research to help the court understand the complex impact family violence has on children and to dispel common myths and stereotypes about domestic violence.

Deciding Child Custody When There is Domestic Violence: A Benchbook for Pennsylvania Courts

Appendices:

A: Supervised Visitation Centers

B: Sample Custody and Visitation Order

C: Model Mediation Screening Tool

D-1: Jeffrey L. Edleson, Problems Associated with Children's Witnessing of Domestic Violence (1999)

D-2: John W. Fantuzzo and Wanda K. Mohr, Prevalence and Effects of Child Exposure to Domestic Violence in THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN (1999)

D-3: Marjory D. Fields, The Impact of Spouse Abuse on Children and Its Relevance in Custody and Visitation Decisions in New York

E: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Navigating Custody & Visitation Evaluations in Cases with Domestic Violence: A Judge's Guide (2004, revised 2006)

F-1: PA Protection From Abuse Act

F-2: PA Protection From Abuse Rules

F-3: PA Custody Statute