8. The ENTRY OF APPEARANCE must be filed in the Prothonotary's Office and you must file a new form every time your address or telephone number changes.

C. Instructions for completing the ORDER OF COURT– Form #3. The ORDER OF COURT has blank spaces and boxes for you to fill in the appropriate information or select an option. Below is a step by step guide for completing the ORDER OF COURT.

1. CAPTION

  • Print your name on the Plaintiff line and the name of the other parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child on the Defendant line(s).
  • The line for the Case No. should be left blank because the Prothonotary will fill in this blank when you bring your completed form to their office, along with your COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY.

2. ORDER OF COURT

  • Print the name of the Defendant(s) on the line provided.
  • Circle “obtain” custody.
  • List the initials of all child(ren).

DO NOT FILL IN ANYTHING FURTHER.

THE COURT WILL FILL IN THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR THE CUSTODY PRESENTATION AND CHILD(REN) SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO CUSTODY PRESENTATION.

AFTER THE COURT FILLS IN THE DATE AND TIME FOR THE CUSTODY PRESENTATION, THE ORDER WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PROTHONOTARY.

ONCE THE PROTHONOTARY RECEIVES THE COURT ORDER, YOU MUST PICK UP COPIES OF THE ORDER AND SERVE THE "ORDER OF COURT FOR COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY," AS WELL AS YOUR "ENTRY OF APPEARANCE," YOUR "COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY," YOUR "PLAINTIFF'S CRIMINAL RECORD / ABUSE HISTORY VERIFICATION," AND BLANK "DEFENDANT'S CRIMINAL RECORD / ABUSE HISTORY VERIFICATION" ON THE DEFENDANT(S). NEITHER THE COURT NOR THE PROTHONOTARY WILL SERVE THESE DOCUMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE PROTHONOTARY MAY MAIL A COPY OF THE ORDER TO THE PARTIES, THIS IS NOT PROPER SERVICE AS REQUIRED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING SERVICE IN THIS SECTION.

IF YOU DO NOT SERVE THE “ORDER OF COURT FOR COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY,” “ENTRY OF APPEARANCE,” “COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY,” AND “CRIMINAL RECORD / ABUSE VERIFICATIONS,” OR IF YOU DO NOT SERVE

Instructions