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Pennsylvania court preparation · reviewed August 21, 2026

Preparing for Pennsylvania Family Court

A careful statewide checklist that sends county- and court-specific fees, forms, and procedure to the receiving court.

Legal information, not legal advice. Pennsylvania law and local practice can change. Verify forms, fees, filing methods, service, and hearing procedure with the court of common pleas and family court clerk receiving your case.

Before filing

  • Identify the correct Court of Common Pleas county and division
  • Ask the prothonotary / family court clerk for current forms, filing method, and local rules
  • Filing fees vary by county; confirm the current amount
  • If you cannot afford filing fees, ask the court to proceed In Forma Pauperis (IFP) with an indigency petition
  • File the criminal-record / abuse-history verification form with a custody complaint
  • Complete any ordered parenting / informational program
  • Confirm how emergency / interim requests are presented
  • Serve the other party in the manner the rules require and file a proof of service

Before the hearing

  • Read every notice and temporary order
  • Meet the actual exhibit, witness, disclosure, and subpoena deadlines
  • Confirm the courtroom, remote link, check-in, security, and device rules
  • Prepare a short list of requested orders and the evidence supporting each
  • Bring only what the court permits; arrange child care unless the court directs otherwise
No invented statewide numbers. Pennsylvania has a Court of Common Pleas in every county with varying local rules, forms, fees, and standing orders. This page intentionally does not publish unsupported universal filing fees, response times, or hearing deadlines.
Official sources reviewed August 21, 2026

Always confirm current local forms, fees, and filing procedure with the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas / family court clerk handling your case.

Confirm current court fees and deadlines. Court fees, filing and response deadlines, hearing timing, notice periods, and local procedures can change or vary by Pennsylvania county and court. Before relying on any amount or time period on this page, confirm the current amount or deadline with the county court clerk handling your case.