The Child Custody Office processes cases regarding custody, partial custody or visitation of children. The Child Custody Office is committed, in any resolution of dispute regarding custody of minor children, to focus on the best interests of the children.

If a person cannot afford an attorney to start a custody action or change an existing Order, the Child Custody Office provides an intake worker to help people in filling out the necessary paperwork, scheduling either a mediation session or custody conference, and providing instructions in filing and serving the papers. Any person interested in this service may stop in or call the Child Custody Office at (610) 782-3390 to schedule an intake appointment.

Lehigh Valley Legal Services, 65 East Elizabeth Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, holds a Custody Workshop to provide advice and assistance to low-income persons in custody matters. Interested persons may call (610) 317-8757 to see if they are financially eligible.

The Custody Office attempts to schedule a mediation session or conference within thirty (30) days after the pleading commencing the action or seeking a modification or contempt has been filed. Mediation provides an alternative to the judicial system. In mediation, the parents are viewed as cooperative adults who are attempting to take charge of their lives and resolve child custody issues between themselves with the assistance of an impartial mediator. The Custody Office screens those cases not suitable for mediation at the time of scheduling. Cases not suitable for mediation are those in which:

	(1)	there is a significant alleged history of physical, sexual, or substance abuse or of mental illness;
	(2)	a party is incarcerated;
	(3)	third-party standing (such as grandparents) is at issue;
	(4)	a party's physical or medical condition, residence, or employment, would constitute a hardship.

If it is determined at the time of scheduling that a case is not appropriate for mediation, a conference is scheduled before a Child Custody Officer, who meets with the parties and attorneys, if any. The Hearing Officer then prepares either an agreed order or a recommended order, to which the parties may object (pursuant to procedures set forth in the order) and ask to be heard by a Judge. Cases which are not resolved by mediation or conference may be scheduled for full hearing before a Judge of the Family Court Division. In some cases, evaluations of the parties' home environments, psychological evaluations of the parties and children, and/or drug and alcohol evaluations may be recommended, if necessary.

All parties to custody, divorce, and other domestic relations action (excluding domestic violence, contempt, and support actions, where the interests of children under the age of eighteen years are involved) must attend the Co-Parent Education Program (COPE), a four-hour program which is offered every other month on a Wednesday evening, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on one Saturday each month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The fee is $25.00 per party, which may be lowered or waived in cases of financial hardship. Attendees receive a Certificate of Attendance, a copy of which is filed with the Clerk of Courts-Civil Division. Registration forms are available in the Custody Office and the Office of the Clerk of Courts - Civil Division (Courthouse, Room 202).

Child Custody Officers are Nancy A. Longenbach, Esquire and Judith A. Dexter, Esquire. Mediators are Deborah R. Gaber, Esquire, Don S. Klein, Esquire, Joanne L. Fossett, LSW, and Susan E. Smith, LSW. For conferences and mediations, report to Room 729 of the Lehigh County Courthouse, 455 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Anyone needing assistance with custody matters may call the Custody Office between the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, at (610) 782-3390.

Other Child Custody Office Information: