THE COURTS
Title 255—LOCAL COURT RULES
CRAWFORD COUNTY
In the Matter of the Modification of Local Civil Rules of Procedure; No. AD 2008-1807
[54 Pa.B. 7116]
[Saturday, November 2, 2024]
Order And Now, October 17, 2024, the Court Orders as follows:
1. Local Rules of Civil Procedure 1915.3 and 1915.15 (concerning custody) are amended in the forms presented as follows, in which deletions are shown in bold and brackets, and additions are shown in bold and underlined;
2. Exhibit 1915.3 to Cra.R.Civ.P. 1915.3 is hereby deleted;
3. Local Rule of Civil Procedure 1915.4-1 is hereby rescinded.
4. Local Rule of Civil Procedure 1915.4-3 is hereby adopted in the form presented as follows; and
5. This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 103(d), and effective thirty days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
By the Court
JOHN F. SPATARO,
President JudgeRule L1915.3. Commencement of Action. Complaint. Order.
Order for [Mediator's] Custody Conference.
Each custody complaint shall contain [the following] a notice and order to appear before a [custody mediator:] conference officer, substantially in the form provided by the District Court Administrator and posted on the County website.
Rule L1915.4-3. Non-Record Proceedings.
(1) Custody Conference. Conference Officer.
The initial proceeding in all custody cases shall be non-record before the County custody conference officer, in conformity with Pa.R.Civ.P. 1915-4-3(a). A conference officer shall be appointed by the President Judge in all cases where the County's conference officer is unable to serve. Custody conferences shall be held at Level 4 of the Judicial Center except as otherwise directed by the conference officer.
Every party who 1) initiates a custody action by the filing of a custody complaint, 2) includes a custody count in filing a divorce action, or 3) petitions for modification of custody, shall, in addition to any filing fee assessed by the Prothonotary, pay to the Prothonotary a custody conference fee in an amount to be set from time to time by administrative order of court.
(2) Custody Questionnaire.
Each party shall complete and bring to the custody conference a questionnaire in the form provided by theDistrict Court Administrator and posted on the County website, which shall be sent to the parties by the conference officer along with a notice of the conference.
(3) Purpose.
The parties, with the aid and assistance of the conference officer, shall make a good faith effort to resolve the issues and reach an agreement that meets the best interest of the child(ren).
(4) Conference Officer's Report. Court Order.
If the parties reached an agreement, the conference officer shall submit a conference report to the court, along with a proposed order which sets forth the terms of the parties' agreement. Copies of the conference report and proposed order shall be promptly provided to the parties. The court shall issue a custody order in conformity with the proposed order, within twenty days of which custody order, any party may file a request for trial de novo.
If no agreement was reached by the parties, the conference officer shall submit a conference report and proposed order to the parties and to the District Court Administrator, who shall schedule a pretrial conference before the court, at which the presiding judge will issue an interim order pending a trial. Upon the unexcused absence of a party at the pretrial conference, the court may issue a custody order in conformity with the proposed order, and cancel the trial if already scheduled.
Rule L1915.15. Petition to Modify a [Partial] Custody [or Visitation] Order.
(1) [Order for Mediator's Conference.
Each] A petition to modify a custody [or visitation] order shall have attached thereto a notice and order to appear in the form [found on page 67 of the Crawford County Rules of Civil Procedure following Cra.R.C.P.1915.3 in lieu of the order of Court that is contained in Pa.R.C.P. 1915.15(c)] provided by the District Court Administrator and posted on the County website.
(2) [Each] A petition to modify must include the current addresses and telephone numbers of the parties.
[(3) Mediation.
The mediation process set forth in Cra.R.C.P. 1915.4-1 shall apply to petitions to modify a partial custody or visitation order.]
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-1571. Filed for public inspection November 1, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]
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