Beaver County Child Custody Process
Since August, 1988, all custody cases filed in Beaver County are scheduled for an initial conference before a Custody Conference Officer. It is a mechanism which brings the parties together for the first time after the filing of the custody complaint and attempts to get the parties to resolve issues regarding custody and visitation without the need for formal court proceedings. Since its inception, the Child Custody Program has helped the vast majority of litigants resolve their custody disputes without Court intervention.
Beginning the Process
An action for custody begins with the filing of a custody complaint with the Prothonotary of Beaver County, which is the filing office for civil cases. Court approved forms are available at the Beaver County Law Library and on the Law Library's webpage (www.beavercountypa.gov/lawlibrary). A custody conference date is obtained from the Court Administrator’s office, located on the second floor of the Beaver County Courthouse, for an initial conference at Juvenile Services before a Custody Conference Officer. Juvenile Services staff are not able to assist parties with the filing process nor are they qualified or permitted to give legal advice. Refer any problems or questions related to child custody issues to your attorney.
The Custody Conference
It is at the custody conference that the Custody Conference Officer works with the parties in an attempt to a resolution at this stage. If there is an agreement reached between the parties, a signed agreement and Order of Court are submitted to the Court of Common Pleas for review and signature by a judge.
If the parties cannot reach a resolution, the Custody Conference Officer will submit a proposed Order and memorandum detailing the rationale for the recommendation to the Court of Common Pleas. Once an Order is signed by the Court of Common Pleas and filed, each party has 20 days to file exceptions to that Order if they are not in agreement. The exceptions are heard by a Court of Common Pleas judge. Approximately 85% of child custody cases filed in Beaver County are resolved throough the custody conciliation process. If the issues cannot be resolved after a pretrial conference on the exceptions, the case may go to trial.
Enforcement and Contempt
Juvenile Services staff cannot enforce orders of court in child custody matters. Allegations that one or both parties are in contempt of a custody order are filed with the Court of Common Pleas, not with Juvenile Services. However, a conference will be scheduled with a Custody Conference Officer at Juvenile Services after a contempt petition has been properly filed in an effort to resolve contempt issues. If that conference is not successful, then a hearing is scheduled before a judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
