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PA Shield
Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania
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Family Division
Banner image

Custody Department

Address

440 Ross Street
Suite 130
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
directions

PHONE

412.350.4311
412.350.4370 fax

EMAIL

Custody Department

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Eligibility (Standing) for Filing

What is it?

Standing is the determination of whether a specific person is the proper party to bring a matter to the court. (Ask: Do I have standing to bring this custody action?)

Who has it?

In Pennsylvania, standing requirements limit who may seek custody of a child to the following individuals:

1. A parent of the child
2. A person who stands in loco parentis to the child (A third party who acts as a parent)
3. A grandparent or great-grandparent of the child under certain conditions
4. Other individuals under certain condition

When?

A standing determination must be made before proceeding to a custody action. This means you need to have standing in order to file for custody.

Why?

The concept of standing ensures that a party has a substantial, direct, and immediate interest in the subject matter of the litigation. Here, that means that a party seeking custody has a substantial interest in attaining that custody and caring for the child involved. A strict application of standing principles serves to protect the interest in keeping a family unit free from intrusion by those that are merely strangers, however well-meaning.

Do I have Standing?

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