Emergency Custody Orders - Philadelphia Family Law Attorney

Center City Child Custody Attorney Protecting You and Your Children

In Pennsylvania, if a child was threatened or subjected to abuse or neglect or a parent is threatening to relocate, or has relocated without Court permission, a parent can seek an emergency custody order. This order grants a parent temporary child custody to protect the child while the abuse allegation is addressed. It is important to have an attorney represent you in these proceedings to ensure the protection of your interests and the well-being of the child.

I'm Lee A. Schwartz, a Philadelphia child custody lawyer offering 30 years of legal experience to clients throughout the five-county Philadelphia area. I represent those seeking an emergency child custody orders as well as individuals who have been accused of domestic violence. Contact me for an initial consultation.

Custody and Protection From Abuse

You may seek emergency child custody as part of a protection from abuse order (restraining order ). However, there needs to be evidence of actual physical harm or a threat of harm in order to receive protection from abuse. Emergency child custody may be granted with only the threat of harm, so it is often in your best interest to seek emergency custody right away if you suspect abusive behavior.

You will need to file a petition for emergency custody with the family court. Following the petition, there will be a hearing to determine whether there are grounds for granting the temporary custody. If the emergency custody is granted, a second hearing will follow to determine the final custody arrangement. It is important you work with an attorney who understands the laws and who can effectively guide you through this process.

Emergency custody orders can have negative consequences on the alleged offender. The person seeking custody may embellish the actual threat in order to obtain custody of the child. I have extensive experience handling complex domestic relations matters, including custody battle cases. I can help protect you and your interests.

Visitation

In Pennsylvania, visitation is when the parent without custody will visit with the child while the child is in the possession and physical control of the other parent or a designated third party. If one parent has emergency custody of a child, a visitation schedule may be arranged with the other parent to help ensure the child's protection.

Contact Lee A. Schwartz, Attorney at Law

To learn more about protecting your children from abuse by seeking an emergency child custody order, or protecting yourself from false allegations, contact me, Philadelphia family law lawyer Lee A. Schwartz. I am associated with the Spear Wilderman Law Firm.