How many custody & visitation resources are in Pennsylvania?

Women's Corner tracks 17 custody & visitation resources for women in Pennsylvania.

Are custody & visitation resources in Pennsylvania free?

15 of the 17 listed custody & visitation resources in Pennsylvania are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Pennsylvania have custody & visitation resources?

Listings span cities including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norristown, Media, Doylestown, Harrisburg.

What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Pennsylvania?

Featured entries include Pennsylvania Courts — Self-Help Resources, Philadelphia Family Court, Allegheny County Family Division — Pittsburgh, Montgomery County Family Court, Delaware County Family Court.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

8 of 17 Pennsylvania custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.

Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?

No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.

How does the court decide who gets custody?

Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.

What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?

Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.

Can I get sole custody?

Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.

Best Custody & Visitation in Pennsylvania — 17 resources

About Custody & Visitation for Women

Custody and visitation cases for women are handled in state and county family courts under each state's 'best interest of the child' standard. Mothers seeking sole, joint, or primary physical custody can use free self-help centers inside most courthouses to file petitions, parenting plans, and modification requests without an attorney. The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Women's Law Project track state-by-state custody trends, and organizations like the Battered Mothers Custody Conference advocate where abuse intersects with custody. This directory combines official state court self-help portals, county family law facilitators, women-focused family law firms, and maternal advocacy organizations.

Custody & Visitation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Courts of Common Pleas handle family matters in each of its 60 judicial districts. The Pennsylvania Child Support Program operates through county domestic relations sections. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, and Reading are the major metros. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Neighborhood Legal Services, MidPenn Legal Services, and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) serve women.

17 Resources

1. Pennsylvania Courts — Self-Help Resources — Free

Official court forms, guides, and instructions for custody and family law for mothers and women across Pennsylvania. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Available online 24/7 at pacourts.us with no registration required.

(888) 227-2788 · Online statewide resource · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

2. Philadelphia Family Court — Free

Handles custody, divorce, and child support for Philadelphia County for mothers and women. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(215) 686-3747 · 1501 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19102 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

3. Allegheny County Family Division — Pittsburgh — Free

Family court for the Pittsburgh metro area for mothers and women. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(412) 350-4441 · 440 Ross St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

4. Montgomery County Family Court — Free

Custody and family law for Montgomery County for mothers and women in Norristown. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(610) 278-3338 · 2 E Airy St, Norristown, PA 19401 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

5. Delaware County Family Court — Free

Family court for Delaware County for mothers and women in Media. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(610) 891-4370 · 201 W Front St, Media, PA 19063 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

6. Bucks County Family Court — Free

Custody and mediation for Bucks County for mothers and women in Doylestown. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(215) 348-6191 · 55 E Court St, Doylestown, PA 18901 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

7. PA Bar Association — Lawyer Referral

Connects women with family law attorneys in Harrisburg. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(800) 692-7375 · 100 South St, Harrisburg, PA 17108 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

8. Pennsylvania Council of Mediators

Directory of family mediators for custody disputes for mothers and women across Pennsylvania. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Available online 24/7.

Statewide directory · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

9. Dauphin County Family Court — Harrisburg — Free

Family court for the state capital region for mothers and women in Harrisburg. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Bring photo ID, birth certificates, and any prior court orders to your filing or hearing. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

(717) 780-6530 · 101 Market St, Harrisburg, PA 17101 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

10. WomensLaw.org — Custody Information — Free

Free online legal resource written specifically for women in plain, accessible language by attorneys. Covers custody, protective orders, divorce, and survivor rights in every state. Available 24/7 at womenslaw.org. Includes an email hotline for confidential legal questions.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. ABA Family Law Section — Find a Lawyer — Free

American Bar Association family law section with a searchable attorney directory and free public resources on custody, divorce, and child support at americanbar.org.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Federal Office of Child Support Services — Free

Federal Office of Child Support Services coordinates state programs and provides a directory of every state agency at acf.hhs.gov/css for opening or enforcing cases.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. USA.gov — Child Custody and Support — Free

Official US government portal for child custody and support information with clear explanations and direct links to every state agency. Available 24/7 at usa.gov without registration.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. ChildWelfare.gov — Custody Resources — Free

Federal child welfare information gateway providing research-backed custody resources, kinship care guidance, and parenting plan templates. Free at childwelfare.gov.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges — Free

NCJFCJ — research, training, and resources on family court including custody best practices for mothers and women. Self-help materials, standardized forms, and clerk assistance are available for unrepresented women. Available online 24/7 at ncjfcj.org with no registration required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. Cornell Legal Information Institute — Family Law — Free

Free legal reference database maintained by Cornell Law School covering custody, divorce, and family law topics with statutes, case summaries, and plain-language explanations.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. FindLaw — Child Custody — Free

Free public legal information on child custody, modifications, relocation rules, and enforcement written in plain language by legal editors covering every state.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many custody & visitation resources are in Pennsylvania?: Women's Corner tracks 17 custody & visitation resources for women in Pennsylvania.
Are custody & visitation resources in Pennsylvania free?: 15 of the 17 listed custody & visitation resources in Pennsylvania are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Pennsylvania have custody & visitation resources?: Listings span cities including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Norristown, Media, Doylestown, Harrisburg.
What are some examples of custody & visitation resources in Pennsylvania?: Featured entries include Pennsylvania Courts — Self-Help Resources, Philadelphia Family Court, Allegheny County Family Division — Pittsburgh, Montgomery County Family Court, Delaware County Family Court.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 8 of 17 Pennsylvania custody & visitation listings include phone numbers.
Do I need a lawyer to file for custody?: No — you can file pro se using forms from your county's Family Court Self-Help Center or Family Law Facilitator at no cost. A lawyer is strongly recommended if your ex is contesting custody, there's a history of abuse, or you need to relocate. Legal aid organizations cover custody cases for income-qualifying mothers.
How does the court decide who gets custody?: Judges apply the 'best interest of the child' standard, weighing each parent's caregiving history, stability, work schedule, the child's bond with each parent, any abuse or substance use, and (for older children) the child's preference. Being the primary caregiver — the parent who handles school, doctor visits, and daily routines — carries significant weight.
What if my ex won't follow the parenting plan?: Document every missed exchange, denied visit, or violation with dates, screenshots, and witnesses, then file a Motion for Contempt or Motion to Enforce with the court that issued your order. Courts can order make-up time, fines, or even change custody for repeated violations. Don't withhold the child in retaliation — that can hurt your case.
Can I get sole custody?: Yes, but courts presume joint custody is best unless you can show the other parent is unfit — documented abuse, untreated addiction, abandonment, or serious mental illness that endangers the child. Bring police reports, medical records, CPS findings, and witness statements. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to investigate.