D. Instructions for completing the COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY – Form #4. The COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY 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 COMPLAINT.
Print your name on the Plaintiff line and indicate who is the other parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child on the Defendant line(s).
The line for Case No. should be left blank because the Prothonotary will fill in this blank when you bring your completed form to the Prothonotary’s Office. Take note of the case number for your records. This is the number that the Court will use to track your custody action throughout the entire process. From this point on, all documents filed with the Court should include this Case No.
DO NOT submit any other materials to the Prothonotary's Office without this Case No.
If you believe the circumstances in your case require the Court's immediate attention, please check "Yes" in the box provided.
Check “Yes” ONLY if you have an emergency situation which requires an immediate Court Order AND which cannot wait until a normally scheduled conference – usually held in about three weeks. Check “Yes” ONLY in the most extreme situations such as when the other parent is threatening to leave the area with the child and permanently hide the child from the Court or the other parent.
Please also complete PARAGRAPH 10 Request for Emergency Order (see instructions below).
Check “No” if this is NOT an emergency situation. Do NOT complete PARAGRAPH 10 if you checked “No.”
i. Print your name as Plaintiff and current address in the space provided.
i. Print the name of the other parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child on the Defendant line(s), current address(es), and indicate what relationship they have with the child.
3(a) – Check the boxes to indicate whether you are seeking sole or shared legal custody and/or primary, shared, partial, sole, or supervised physical custody of the child(ren).
3(b) – Circle whether the child(ren) were or were not born out of wedlock.