How to Modify a Child Custody Plan in Pennsylvania
Coming to a child custody arrangement with your child’s other parent was more than likely difficult when you chose to live your lives separately. Sometimes, these plans need to be modified.
Perhaps you are having another child and your other children deserve to spend more quality time with their new sibling; or maybe you are working too many hours to be able to continue having your child overnight during the week.
There are countless reasons why you might need to modify an existing child custody plan, but before your new arrangement can take effect, you will need to obtain a new court order. Continue reading to learn more about the different types of custody plans you can enter into in Pennsylvania and how you can go about your custody modification.
Types of Custody Plans
For most families, a shared custody arrangement makes the most sense, as this allows both parents to make legal decisions for their children and spend as much quality time with them as possible.
However, if one parent is going to be spending less time with their children or simple does not have the inclination to take advantage of their parental rights, a partial or sole custody plan would be in the best interests of your children.
These types of arrangements can limit the amount of time one parent has with their children and places all of the legal decisions regarding the children on the custodial parent, rather than both parents working together to make such choices.
Modifying Your Child Custody Arrangement
To modify your current child custody plan in Pennsylvania, you will need to file a petition to modify in court. Hopefully, both parents can come to a new agreement and the judge will merely need to sign the new order.
But if both parents cannot come to a resolution, then the judge will need to hear from the party who is requesting the modification how the changes are in the best interests of their child or children. If the judge agrees, the new order will be enacted.
Work with a Pennsylvania Child Custody Lawyer
When you need to modify your existing child custody arrangement but need help convincing your child’s other parent that your requested changes are necessary and beneficial to your children, enlist the services of a highly trained Pennsylvania child custody attorney at Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C.
You can call our firm at 1-844-VARI-LAW (827-4529) or complete the contact form below, and we will be in touch to schedule your initial case evaluation.