Child Custody for Grandparents in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the Grandparent Visitation Act expanded the rights of grandparents to seek custody in certain circumstances. There are two types of custody that can
Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC. – Philadelphia Divorce Lawyers
Child custody disputes can be some of the most emotionally and legally complex challenges parents face. The uncertainty of where your child will live, how much time you’ll have together, and how decisions about their upbringing will be made can feel overwhelming. Without skilled legal guidance from an experienced Philadelphia child custody attorney, you risk an arrangement that doesn’t reflect your needs or serve your child’s best interests.
At Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, we understand the stakes and the stress involved. A poorly structured custody order can limit your time with your child, create ongoing conflicts, and leave you feeling powerless. Navigating Pennsylvania’s custody laws alone can be frustrating, especially when the outcome has lifelong implications for your family.
Our experienced Philadelphia child custody lawyers work with you to craft solutions tailored to your family’s circumstances. Whether you’re seeking shared custody, a flexible arrangement, or need to protect your parental rights, we are here to advocate for the best possible outcome. Call 215-967-9070 or contact us here to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a custody plan that truly works for you and your child.
At Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, we take pride in our strategic, results-driven approach to child custody cases. As experienced Philadelphia family law attorneys, we provide personalized legal advocacy that prioritizes both your parental rights and your child’s well-being.
Our Pennsylvania family law firm understands that every child custody dispute is unique, and we craft customized parenting plans that consider key factors like community life, the child’s education, and visitation rights to create stability for your family.
We are highly skilled at presenting compelling arguments in court, ensuring that a judge fairly evaluates elements such as the child’s maturity, their specific age, and your child’s preference, along with other factors that influence the outcome of child custody cases. Our deep understanding of Pennsylvania’s family and child custody laws allows us to advocate for flexible visitation schedules and custody arrangements that serve your child’s best interests while protecting your role as a parent.
Whether you’re going through a divorce or need to modify an existing order, our lawyers bring a strategic edge to every case, helping you navigate challenges with confidence. By choosing Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, you gain a dedicated legal team committed to securing the best possible future for you and your child.
There are two types of Philadelphia child custody agreements: legal custody and physical custody.
Legal custody of the child is shared by the parents in most cases. Legal custody means the parents will consult with each other regarding significant decisions for the child in areas such as health, education, and religion.
Physical custody of the child lies with the parent who is in possession of the child, called the “custodial parent.” The custodial parent makes all of the day-to-day decisions for the child.
In the absence of any child custody issues like domestic abuse, neglect, substance abuse, or mental health problems, parents usually have joint legal custody of their children. One parent may have primary physical custody, meaning the child lives with that parent most of the time, in which case the other parent will have partial physical custody.
Primary custody means one parent has the “right to assume physical custody of the child for the majority of time.” (§5322(a)). This means the child resides with the custodial parent while the non-custodial parent has shared child custody or visitation rights.
Shared custody or joint custody means both parents have the right to “assume physical custody of the child, each having significant periods of physical custodial time with the child.” Additionally, both parents must agree on major decisions regarding the child’s life.
Sole custody means one parent has exclusive physical custody of the children involved. Additionally, a parent with sole custody is entitled to make all major decisions regarding the child’s life without the consent of their former spouse.
Under Pennsylvania law, supervised physical custody, formerly called “visitation,” is when the parent without custody (the “non-custodial parent”) visits with the child periodically. The child is in the possession and physical control of the other parent or a designated third party. Supervised physical custody is rarer than joint physical custody.
A custody order is a court order establishing the type of custodial arrangement the family has and what schedule they will follow. The custody schedule will cover all aspects of the child custody and parenting arrangement, including weekly visits, vacation and holiday time, and transportation issues, among others.
The Philadelphia family law attorneys at our child custody law firm regularly help couples negotiate a parenting agreement through mediation or in court as part of a divorce settlement, separation agreement, or when the parents were never married.
The court uses a “best interests of the child” analysis in Philadelphia child custody matters to determine an appropriate arrangement and will consider the following factors, among others:
As Philadelphia child custody lawyers, our goal is to ensure that the custody arrangement serves the child’s best interests, which generally means that both parents are involved meaningfully in the child’s life, however that can be arranged.
We have helped many parents modify their Philadelphia child custody orders when physical custody, supervised physical custody, or other aspects of parenting time are affected by a major life change, such as having to relocate for work, being deployed overseas, or having their work schedule changed. Again, a family law judge will determine whether the change you propose is in the best interests of the child.
You can be found in contempt of court for failing to comply with a child custody order. It is crucial that you talk to a Philadelphia child custody lawyer if the current child custody arrangements no longer work for you or your child.
Kayla Winter2025-02-22Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful experience working with Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman and 100% recommend them for your legal needs. I worked closest with Jenny Saltzman and trusted her completely. She always responded in a timely manner, had genuine concern for my case, communicated with me often about my case including my options and next steps, and overall was just very helpful. This was my 1st time needing legal services and this law firm easily guided me through it and did everything they could to take care of me. 10/10! Thank you! Cristina Sanchez2025-02-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This place is AMAZING! I had the privilege of working mostly with Jenny Saltzman but the entire team is super friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. I love that Jenny uses SMART criteria. Jenny is focused, straight to the point, doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and creates a realistic plan of action for the optimal chance of success. Jenny keeps her clients on task, focused on what’s relevant and obtainable in order to achieve the desired outcomes, and takes as much time as needed with you in order to prepare. I also love how Jenny challenges you with questions to make sure everyone is on the same page and that everything makes logical and rational sense. You can tell right away that Jenny has been in this profession for some time, as she knows exactly how the process is going to go and what to expect. I always felt very well prepared for all my court hearings and never felt caught off guard at any time. I was completely satisfied with the outcome of my proceedings and would recommend Jenny to family, friends, and anyone looking for a competent, accountable, attorney to hop in the boxing ring with them. Alexis Ogdie2025-02-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jenny is amazing - really appreciated the simplicity of working with the office, her compassionate and outstanding work, and her availability. It made the whole process easier. Jeremy Deiter2025-02-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I specifically worked with Jenny to represent me through my divorce process. She was always honest, knowledgeable and non judgmental. She worked to make the process efficient and as painless as possible. Jenny is also very experienced and connected writhing the Philadelphia area. Having worked with the other lawyer previously, she knew exactly how to manage my case to advocate for me and defend me. At the end of the day, she always advocated strongly for me and advised me based on what was in my best interest. I would highly recommend her to anyone going through the divorce and or custody process. Bryan Batista2025-02-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Caitlin Fox was incredible from start to finish. She was highly knowledgeable, compassionate, and truly understood our family’s situation. Her diligence and dedication made a stressful and overwhelming process as smooth as possible. I’ve been with this law firm for about eight years, and from day one, the entire team has been exceptionally helpful. I highly recommend their services! Steve DeLorean2024-07-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I feel that I was not advocated for, by Lee. Lee would send me divorce proposals from my wife’s attorney without reading them or giving an opinion, more than once, and there was much to be scrutinized in the proposals. I don’t feel like Lee gave me all the options available to navigate my divorce. When I called him out on some things, he got very defensive and suggested that we didn’t work together anymore. Now that I’m ready to just sign the papers and walk away from everything, I don’t even have a correct proposal to sign because he never reviewed it. The least he could do is fix his errors before he decided to drop me as a client.. He may have been a wonderful attorney back in the day, but I feel he’s complacent and lazy. Joshua Fenwick2024-05-17Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. He was very rude Meridith Greenbaum2024-04-29Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Words cannot express how caring, thorough, talented, committed and persistent this law firm was on behalf of me and my children throughout my divorce and 2 custody battles, lasting many years. Their level of dedication, patience, and experience were astounding and supportive. Kathleen Nichols2023-11-11Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My review is based on my experience with Mr. Schwartz almost twenty years ago. This bad experience still sticks with me today. He is one of the worst attorneys I have ever met. He disclosed confidential information to my ex-husband’s attorney. He also told her that he “did not like me”. All of this was then relayed to my abusive ex-husband who used it as fuel to further mentally and verbally abuse me. Mr. Schwartz did not care about or protect my interests at all. I ended up letting my ex have everything, just to get away from him.
At Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, our child custody lawyers in Philadelphia are dedicated to protecting the parental rights and best interests of your child during this pivotal time. Whether you’re navigating custody decisions during a divorce, seeking to establish a parenting plan or parenting time, or modifying an existing order, we offer the legal assistance you need. Our experienced team understands the relevant factors that influence custody actions, including the child’s preference, the relationship between the child’s parents, and the overall impact on the parent-child relationship.
We provide compassionate guidance for child custody rights, including visitation arrangements, child support, and emergency custody matters. Whether you’re collaborating with your spouse or addressing disputes with the other party, our Philadelphia family law attorneys are here to represent your interests effectively in court. Protect your family’s future with the help of a trusted custody lawyer—contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your legal rights.
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Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC., based in Philadelphia, represents clients from a wide spectrum of Delaware Valley area Pennsylvania communities and counties, including West Chester, King of Prussia, Norristown, Wayne, Pottstown, Jenkintown, Media, Doylestown, Bala Cynwyd, Villanova, Willow Grove, Ardmore, Wynnewood, Bensalem, Bryn Mawr, Conshohocken, Berwyn, Swarthmore, Coatesville, Philadelphia County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Delaware County.