A custody order may have worked when it was first entered, but life can change. A new job can affect a parent’s availability. A child’s school schedule can shift. When significant changes make the current arrangement difficult to follow, a custody modification may provide a path forward. A custody modification attorney in Harrisburg, PA, from Mette Law can help you pursue an updated custody arrangement through Pennsylvania courts.

Reasons for Modification

Custody modification is different from enforcement. A parent can seek enforcement if one parent fails to follow the existing custody order. Modification involves a parent asking the court to change the existing custody order if life circumstances have changed, such as:

• Changes in a parent’s work schedule

• Changes in the child’s school schedule, after-school activities, or transportation needs

• A parent moving to a new home

• Frequent conflicts between the parents, missed exchanges, or transportation difficulties

• Changes in the child’s daily care needs 

Mette Law can help document life changes and explain how a proposed custody schedule could provide greater stability and consistency for the child. If the other parent is seeking a change, our attorneys can present arguments opposing the proposed modification.

Best Interests of the Child

The court may update the custody order when the modification is in the child’s best interest. The court considers all relevant circumstances, with particular importance given to the child’s safety. The court also considers how well the parents communicate and work together. This includes which parent is more likely to support the child having an ongoing relationship with the other parent and if a parent has tried to turn the child against the other parent. 

The court looks at each parent’s ability to provide proper care, stability, and consistency, as well as considering the child’s need for stability. Other factors can include the child’s relationships with other family members, the child’s preference if they are at a maturity level to express it, how close the parents live to each other, and each parent’s work schedule.

Emergency Changes

Some custody situations cannot wait for a standard modification case to move forward. When a child faces an immediate threat to their safety, a parent may seek emergency custody or emergency relief. 

To seek emergency custody in Harrisburg, you can consult with our team to determine an appropriate course of action. Dauphin County requires an attorney to notify the Deputy Civil Court Administrator’s Office when an emergency petition will be filed and provide an expected filing date and time.

You must then file the petition with the Prothonotary’s Office at the Dauphin County Courthouse. The petition should explain exactly what has happened, why the child is at immediate risk, and why the court needs to act before the parents attend a regular custody conference. The petition is then sent to the Court Administrator’s Office and promptly presented to a Family Court Judge, who will typically provide an order or contact you if a hearing is scheduled.

Modifying a Custody Order in Pennsylvania With Experienced Family Law Attorneys

Mette Attorneys at Law provides focused representation for parents seeking to modify custody arrangements in Harrisburg and throughout Pennsylvania. We take the time to help you feel prepared for the legal process while keeping your child’s needs and your interests at the center of the case. If you need to modify a custody order in PA, contact our team today by calling 717-232-5000 or by using our online contact form.