In Pennsylvania, judges do not simply select the parent who spends more time with a child or earns more money than the other and award them custody. Instead, they focus on findingpast arrangements that best support a child’s safety, stability and development. Judges accomplish this by examining key factors in each custody case.
Which factors do courts consider?
Courts often examine custody cases to help them decide which parent best serves a child’s welfare. Pennsylvania prioritizes the best interests of a child so they can receive proper care and support from their family and grow up in a safe and stable environment. There are 16 factors that Pennsylvania courts consider:
- Which parent supports the child’s relationship with the other parent
- Which parent can provide security and safety for the child
- Ability to meet daily parenting responsibilities
- Need for stability and continuity
- Support from extended family
- Relationship with siblings
- Preference of the child
- Attempts from one parent to turn the child against the other
- Ability to provide a stable and loving environment
- Attention to the child’s emotional needs
- Physical proximity of the parents’ homes
- Availability to care for the child
- Degree of conflict and ability to cooperate
- History of drug or alcohol misuse
- Mental and physical health of household members
- Any other relevant considerations
In some cases, courts can award joint physical custody, allowing a child to grow up with the support of both parents. Courts can also award joint legal custody, which allows parents to cooperate and make joint decisions that can affect the child’s future. For example, parents can decide where the child goes to school or what their religious upbringing should be.
What can you do to strengthen your custody case?
To strengthen your case, you will need to prioritize your child and prove to the court that your home is a safe and stable environment, and that you can provide for them and nurture their mental and physical development.
Pennsylvania judges often value stable housing, consistent school attendance and workable schedules, which means it might strengthen your case if you made a realistic parenting plan. Such plans should include school-week details, transportation and an outline of rules regarding communication.
By developing a routine, you can strengthen your case by proving to the court that you have your child’s best interests i
n mind. This way, you can receive the custody schedule you seek, allowing you and your child to continue spending time with each other.