Philadelphia Third Party Custody
In the Philadelphia area single parent families are very common. Generally, children who have one or both biological parents in their lives are very fortunate. Many times however, a biological parent is unable, unwilling, or unfit to appropriately care for his/her child. In cases such as these, Pennsylvania law allows for third parties to seek custody of the child, provided they have a pre-existing relationship with the child. A third party custody case is very complex and should only be handled by an attorney experienced in handling third party custody cases.
Who Can File For Custody Of A Child In Philadelphia
- Stepparents
- Grandparents
- Siblings
- Other Blood Relatives such as aunts, uncles or cousins
Each situation is different and nuanced regarding filing for third party custody. Working with an experienced Philadelphia child custody attorney will ensure that all options are thoroughly explained to you.
Issues Regarding Third Party Custody In Pennsylvania
Awarding custody to a third party has to be in the best interest of the child. It must be reiterated that the biological parent, or parents, cannot provide adequate care for the child. When the court is reviewing a third party custody case several factors are taken into consideration. Some of these issues can be:
- Determining dependency or neglect
- Temporary or permanent guardianship
- Third party visitation
Contact A Philadelphia Family Law Attorney
Call the experienced child custody attorneys at Jensen Bagnato, P.C. to discuss your case as well as what options you may have. In some cases, non-blood relatives of a child may have custody and visitation rights. Let Mr. Jensen and his staff protect those rights for you.
