Dauphin Cnty. C.P. Rule 1915.15(c) - Seminar Attendance and Custody Conferen...

RULE 1915.15(c) EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR ATTENDANCE AND CUSTODY

CONFERENCE SCHEDULING ORDER - CUSTODY

COMPLAINT, CUSTODY COUNT IN DIVORCE COMPLAINT OR

PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OR PETITION FOR CONTEMPT

In addition to the information required by Pa.R.C.P. 1915.15(a) or 1915.15(b),

each Custody Complaint, Petition for Modification, Petition for Contempt, or custody

count in a Divorce action relating to child custody shall include an Educational Seminar

Attendance and Custody Conference Scheduling Order in substantially the following

form:

: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

: DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Plaintiff:

: CIVIL ACTION

: CUSTODY

:

Defendant: NO.

EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR AND CUSTODY CONFERENCE SCHEDULING ORDER

AND NOW, upon consideration of the attached Complaint, Petition for

Modification or Petition for Contempt of a Custody Order, it is hereby ordered that the

parties and their respective counsel appear before Custody Conference Officer

________________________ on ________________________, 20___ at _____ ___M,

Dauphin County Courthouse, 3rd Floor, 101 Market Street, Suite 300, Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania for a Custody Conference.

At such Conference, an effort will be made to conciliate and resolve the issues in

dispute, or if this cannot be accomplished, to define and narrow the issues to be heard

by the Court and to recommend an interim order pending pretrial/trial. Failure to appear

may also result in an interim order being entered.

Children should not attend the conference unless requested by the Custody

Conference Officer.

All parties are ORDERED to attend a four hour educational seminar (Seminar for

Families in Change and Conflict). File with the Prothonotary and bring with you to the

Custody Conference your Seminar Certificate of Attendance you will receive at the

Seminar. The Plaintiff is scheduled to attend on _________________________at

_______ ____M and the Defendant is scheduled to attend on

__________________________at ______ ____M. Any requests for rescheduling must

be directed to the provider of the Seminar and you will be required to attend the next

available Seminar. (See attached information sheet regarding the Seminar).

FAILURE TO ATTEND AND COMPLETE THE SEMINAR WILL BE BROUGHT TO

THE ATTENTION OF THE COURT AND MAY RESULT IN THE FINDING OF

CONTEMPT OF COURT PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND OTHER APPROPRIATE

SANCTIONS.

IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT THE CUSTODY CONFERENCE WITHOUT PROPER

CAUSE SHOWN, THE CUSTODY CONFERENCE OFFICER SHALL REFER THE

MATTER TO THE COURT FOR A CONTEMPT HEARING WHICH CAN RESULT IN

AN INTERIM CUSTODY ORDER, THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS INCLUDING

FINES, ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS.

You must complete and file with the Prothonotary a Criminal or Abuse History

Verification regarding you and anyone living in your household on or before

________________. The Criminal or Abuse History Verification is attached and is also

available at www.dauphincounty.org/government/Court-Departments/Self-Help-Center.

You must mail a copy of your Criminal or Abuse History Verification to all other parties

by ______________________.

No party may change the child(ren)’s residence which significantly impairs the

ability of the other party to exercise custodial rights without first complying with all of the

applicable provisions of 23 Pa.C.S. §5337 and Pa.R.C.P. No. 1915.17 regarding

relocation.

If any party to this custody action is incarcerated at any stage of the proceedings, the

Custody Conference Officer or Judge will make reasonable efforts to arrange for the

incarcerated party to participate by telephone or video conference. If you, as an

incarcerated party, do not think such arrangements have been made, please contact the

Court Administrator’s office at (717) 780-6624 or by mail at 3rd floor, Dauphin County

Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

If any party needs an interpreter at either the custody conference or trial,

please contact the Court Administrator’s office at (717) 780-6640 or email

interpreterrequest@dauphinc.org as soon as possible. It takes a minimum of five

days to schedule an interpreter and failure to make a timely request could delay

the proceedings.

FOR THE COURT:

Date ______________________ By ________________________

Custody Conference Officer

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS ORDER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER AND WANT A LAWYER TO REPRESENT YOU,

IMMEDIATELY CONTACT MIDPENN LEGAL SERVICES AT (717) 232-0581 TO

OBTAIN LEGAL REPRESENTATION OR REFERRAL TO THE DAUPHIN COUNTY

BAR ASSOCIATION LAWYER REFERRAL.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990

The Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County is required by law to comply with

the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For information about accessible facilities

and reasonable accommodations available to disabled individuals having business

before the court, please contact the Court Administrator’s Office at (717) 780-66[30]08.

All arrangements must be made at least 72 hours prior to any hearing or conference.