Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Section 1905 - Instruments executed in satisfaction of abolished claims prohibited - (a) Contracts and instruments void.--All contracts and instruments of every...

Chapter 21 - Preliminary Provisions

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 21 was added October 15, 1980, P.L.934, No.163,...

Section 2101 - Short title of part - This part shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 2102 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this part...

Chapter 23 - Jurisdiction and Parties

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 23 was added October 15, 1980, P.L.934, No.163,...

Section 2301 - Court - The court of common pleas of each county shall exercise...

Section 2302 - Venue - Proceedings for voluntary relinquishment, involuntary termination and adoption may be...

Section 2311 - Who may be adopted - Any individual may be adopted, regardless of his age or...

Section 2312 - Who may adopt - Any individual may become an adopting parent.

Section 2313 - Representation - (a) Child.--The court shall appoint counsel to represent the child...

Chapter 25 - Proceedings Prior to Petition to Adopt

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 25 was added October 15, 1980, P.L.934, No.163,...

Section 2501 - Relinquishment to agency - (a) Petition.--When any child under the age of 18 years...

Section 2502 - Relinquishment to adult intending to adopt child - (a) Petition.--When any child under the age of 18 years...

Section 2503 - Hearing - (a) General rule.--Upon presentation of a petition prepared pursuant to...

Section 2504 - Alternative procedure for relinquishment - (a) Petition to confirm consent to adoption.--If the parent or...

Section 2504.1 - Confidentiality - The court shall take such steps as are reasonably necessary...

Section 2505 - Counseling - (a) List of counselors.--Any hospital or other facility providing maternity...

Section 2511 - Grounds for involuntary termination - (a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to...

Section 2512 - Petition for involuntary termination - (a) Who may file.--A petition to terminate parental rights with...

Section 2513 - Hearing - (a) Time.--The court shall fix a time for hearing on...

Section 2514 - Special provisions when child conceived as a result of rape or incest - Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when...

Section 2521 - Effect of decree of termination - (a) Adoption proceeding rights extinguished.--A decree terminating all rights of...

Section 2530 - Home study and preplacement report - (a) General rule.--No intermediary shall place a child in the...

Section 2531 - Report of intention to adopt - (a) General rule.--Every person now having or hereafter receiving or...

Section 2532 - Filing of report - The report required by section 2531 (relating to report of...

Section 2533 - Report of intermediary - (a) General rule.--Within six months after filing the report of...

Section 2534 - Exhibits - The report of the intermediary shall have attached to it...

Section 2535 - Investigation - (a) General rule.--When a report required by section 2531 (relating...

Section 2551 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter...

Section 2552 - Pennsylvania Adoption Cooperative Exchange - There shall be a Pennsylvania Adoption Cooperative Exchange in the...

Section 2553 - Registration of children - (a) Mandatory registration.--PACE shall register and be responsible for the...

Section 2554 - Responsibilities of PACE - PACE shall be responsible for the following: (1) Registration of...

Section 2555 - Responsibilities of public and private agencies - All public and licensed private child service agencies shall register...

Section 2556 - Related activities of agencies unaffected - This subchapter shall not be construed to limit or delay...

Section 2557 - Regulations and staff - The department shall promulgate necessary regulations and shall hire the...

Section 2558 - Retroactive application of subchapter - This subchapter shall apply retroactively to all children for whom:...

Chapter 27 - Petition for Adoption

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 27 was added October 15, 1980, P.L.934, No.163,...

Section 2701 - Contents of petition for adoption - A petition for adoption shall set forth: (1) The full...

Section 2702 - Exhibits - The petition shall have attached to it the following exhibits:...

Section 2711 - Consents necessary to adoption - (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this part, consent...

Section 2712 - Consents not naming adopting parents - A consent to a proposed adoption meeting all the requirements...

Section 2713 - When other consents not required - The court, in its discretion, may dispense with consents other...

Section 2714 - When consent of parent not required - Consent of a parent to adoption shall not be required...

Section 2721 - Notice of hearing - The court shall fix a time and place for hearing....

Section 2722 - Place of hearing - The hearing shall be private or in open court as...

Section 2723 - Attendance at hearing - The adopting parent or parents and the adoptee must appear...

Section 2724 - Testimony and investigation - (a) Testimony.--The court shall hear testimony in support of the...

Section 2725 - Religious belief - The intermediary may honor the preference of the natural parents...

Section 2731 - Purpose of subchapter - The purpose of this subchapter is to provide an option...

Section 2732 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter...

Section 2733 - Parties to agreement - (a) Prospective adoptive parents and birth relatives.--A prospective adoptive parent...

Section 2734 - Consent of a child - If the child is 12 years of age or older,...

Section 2735 - Filing and approval of an agreement - (a) General rule.--An agreement shall be filed with the court...

Section 2736 - Failure to comply - Failure to comply with the terms of an agreement that...

Section 2737 - Modification of agreement - (a) General rule.--Only the adoptive parent or a child who...

Section 2738 - Enforcement of agreement - (a) General rule.--Any party to an agreement, a sibling or...

Section 2739 - Discontinuance of agreement - (a) General rule.--A party to an agreement or a child...

Section 2740 - Procedures for facilitating and resolving agreements involving a county child welfare agency - (a) Department to develop procedures.--In termination of parental rights and...

Section 2741 - Counsel - (a) General rule.--In proceedings under sections 2737 (relating to modification...

Section 2742 - Costs - If the court finds that an action brought under section...

Chapter 29 - Decrees and Records

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 29 was added October 15, 1980, P.L.934, No.163,...

Section 2901 - Time of entry of decree of adoption - Unless the court for cause shown determines otherwise, no decree...

Section 2902 - Requirements and form of decree of adoption - (a) General rule.--If satisfied that the statements made in the...

Section 2903 - Retention of parental status - Whenever a parent consents to the adoption of his child...

Section 2904 - Name of adoptee - If requested by the petitioners, the decree may provide that...

Section 2905 - Impounding of proceedings and access to records (Repealed) - 2010 Repeal. Section 2905 was repealed October 27, 2010, P.L.961,...

Section 2906 - Docket entries - Upon the filing of any decree under this part, the...

Section 2907 - Certificate of adoption - The clerk shall issue to the adopting parent or parents...

Section 2908 - Foreign decree of adoption - (a) Registration.--When a minor is adopted by a resident of...

Section 2909 - Medical history information (Repealed) - 2010 Repeal. Section 2909 was repealed October 27, 2010, P.L.961,...

Section 2910 - Penalty for unauthorized disclosure - Any officer or employee of the court, other than a...

Section 2911 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter...

Section 2912 - Combined request for information - An individual authorized to receive both nonidentifying information and identifying...

Section 2913 - Reasonable fees - Any court or agency may charge reasonable fees for services...

Section 2914 - Immunity from liability - (a) General rule.--A person or agency, including the Commonwealth and...

Section 2915 - Court and agency records - (a) General rule.--All court and agency records shall be maintained...

Section 2916 - Attorney records - An attorney representing a party to an adoption proceeding or...

Section 2921 - Establishment of registry - The department shall do all of the following: (1) Establish...

Section 2922 - Informational material - The department shall publicize the availability of the registry and...

Section 2923 - Filing information with registry - An adoptee, an adoptive parent and a birth parent may...

Section 2924 - Who may request information from registry - The following individuals may request information from the registry: (1)...

Section 2925 - Providing information from registry - (a) Nonidentifying information.--Nonidentifying information, if available, shall be provided to...

Section 2926 - Rules and regulations - The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement...

Section 2931 - Access to information - (a) Who may access information.--The following individuals may file a...

Section 2932 - Nonidentifying information - (a) Notice of receipt of request.--When the court or agency...

Section 2933 - Identifying information - (a) Notice of availability of records.--The court or agency shall,...

Section 2934 - Statement of medical and social history information - (a) Filing places.--A statement regarding medical and social history information...

Section 2935 - Confidentiality - (a) General rule.--In conducting a search, the court or agency...

Section 2936 - Refusal to search - (a) Agency.-- (1) If an agency is satisfied that a...

Section 2937 - Original birth record - (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an adoptee...

Section 2938 - Rules and regulations - The department shall promulgate rules and regulations implementing a standardized...

Chapter 31 - Preliminary Provisions

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 31 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 3101 - Short title of part - This part shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 3102 - Legislative findings and intent - (a) Policy.--The family is the basic unit in society and...

Section 3103 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this part...

Section 3104 - Bases of jurisdiction - (a) Jurisdiction.--The courts shall have original jurisdiction in cases of...

Section 3105 - Effect of agreement between parties - (a) Enforcement.--A party to an agreement regarding matters within the...

Section 3106 - Premarital agreements - (a) General rule.--The burden of proof to set aside a...

Chapter 33 - Dissolution of Marital Status

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 33 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 3301 - Grounds for divorce - (a) Fault.--The court may grant a divorce to the innocent...

Section 3302 - Counseling - (a) Indignities.--Whenever indignities under section 3301(a)(6) (relating to grounds for...

Section 3303 - Annulment of void and voidable marriages - (a) General rule.--In all cases where a supposed or alleged...

Section 3304 - Grounds for annulment of void marriages - (a) General rule.--Where there has been no confirmation by cohabitation...

Section 3305 - Grounds for annulment of voidable marriages - (a) General rule.--The marriage of a person shall be deemed...

Section 3306 - Proceedings to determine marital status - When the validity of a marriage is denied or doubted,...

Section 3307 - Defenses - (a) General rule.--Existing common-law defenses are retained as to the...

Section 3308 - Action where defendant suffering from mental disorder - If a spouse is insane or suffering from serious mental...

Section 3309 - General appearance and collusion - The entry of a general appearance by, or in behalf...

Section 3321 - Hearing by master - The court may appoint a master to hear testimony on...

Section 3322 - Jury trial - (a) Application for jury trial.--After service of the complaint in...

Section 3323 - Decree of court - (a) General rule.--In all matrimonial causes, the court may either...

Section 3331 - Limitations on attacks upon decrees - The validity of a decree of divorce or annulment issued...

Section 3332 - Opening or vacating decrees - A motion to open a decree of divorce or annulment...

Section 3333 - Res judicata and estoppel - The validity of a divorce or annulment decree granted by...

Chapter 35 - Property Rights

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 35 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 3501 - Definitions - (a) General rule.--As used in this chapter, "marital property" means...

Section 3502 - Equitable division of marital property - (a) General rule.--Upon the request of either party in an...

Section 3503 - Effect of divorce on property rights generally - Whenever a decree or judgment is granted which nullifies or...

Section 3504 - Disposition of property after termination of marriage - Unless provided otherwise by the court, whenever a decree of...

Section 3505 - Disposition of property to defeat obligations - (a) Preliminary relief.--Where it appears to the court that a...

Section 3506 - Statement of reasons for distribution - In an order made under this chapter for the distribution...

Section 3507 - Division of entireties property between divorced persons - (a) General rule.--Whenever married persons holding property as tenants by...

Section 3508 - Conveyance of entireties property to divorced spouse - Whenever married persons have acquired real estate as tenants by...

Chapter 37 - Alimony and Support

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 37 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 3701 - Alimony - (a) General rule.--Where a divorce decree has been entered, the...

Section 3702 - Alimony pendente lite, counsel fees and expenses - (a) General rule.--In proper cases, upon petition, the court may...

Section 3703 - Enforcement of arrearages - If at any time a party is in arrears in...

Section 3704 - Payment of support, alimony and alimony pendente lite - When so ordered by the court, all payments of child...

Section 3705 - Enforcement of foreign decrees - (a) General rule.--Whenever a person subject to a valid decree...

Section 3706 - Bar to alimony - No petitioner is entitled to receive an award of alimony...

Section 3707 - Effect of death of either party - Upon the death of the payee party, the right to...

Chapter 39 - Mediation

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 39 was added April 4, 1996, P.L.58, No.20,...

Section 3901 - Mediation programs - (a) Establishment.--A court may establish a mediation program for actions...

Section 3902 - Fees and costs - (a) Imposition of fee.--A county in which the court has...

Section 3903 - Review of programs - The Supreme Court shall monitor mediation programs established by courts...

Section 3904 - Existing programs - This chapter shall not affect any existing mediation program established...

Chapter 41 - General Provisions

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 41 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 4101 - Liability for debts contracted before marriage - (a) General rule.--A spouse is not liable for the debts...

Section 4102 - Proceedings in case of debts contracted for necessaries - In all cases where debts are contracted for necessaries by...

Section 4104 - Right of married person to separate earnings - Except as otherwise provided in this title, the separate earnings...

Section 4105 - Loans between married persons - A married person may loan the other spouse money from...

Section 4106 - Construction of chapter - This chapter shall not be construed to affect Part IV...

Chapter 43 - Support Matters Generally

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 43 was added October 30, 1985, P.L.264, No.66,...

Section 4301 - Scope of chapter - (a) General rule.--Actions or proceedings provided by this chapter are...

Section 4302 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 4303 - Information to consumer reporting agency - Information regarding the name and the amount of arrearages owed...

Section 4304 - Cooperation of Commonwealth agencies (Repealed) - 1996 Repeal. Section 4304 was repealed October 16, 1996, P.L.706,...

Section 4304.1 - Cooperation of government and nongovernment agencies - (a) Cooperation of government agencies.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,...

Section 4305 - General administration of support matters - (a) Powers and duties.--Subject to any inconsistent general rules and...

Section 4306 - Duties of Title IV-D attorney - (a) General rule.--The county Title IV-D attorney shall at all...

Section 4307 - State income tax intercept - The department shall have the authority to implement a State...

Section 4308 - Lottery winnings intercept - (a) Duty of Department of Revenue.--In the case of any...

Section 4308.1 - Collection of overdue support from monetary awards - (a) General rule.--Overdue support shall be a lien by operation...

Section 4309 - Publication of delinquent support obligors - (a) General rule.--Any county, through its domestic relations section, may...

Section 4321 - Liability for support - Subject to the provisions of this chapter: (1) Married persons...

Section 4322 - Support guideline - (a) Statewide guideline.--Child and spousal support shall be awarded pursuant...

Section 4323 - Support of emancipated child - (a) Emancipated child.--A court shall not order either or both...

Section 4324 - Inclusion of spousal medical support - In addition to periodic support payments, the court may require...

Section 4325 - Payment of order of support - Unless procedures established by the department for the State disbursement...

Section 4326 - Mandatory inclusion of child medical support - (a) General rule.--In every proceeding to establish or modify an...

Section 4327 - Postsecondary educational costs - (a) General rule.--Where applicable under this section, a court may...

Section 4341 - Commencement of support actions or proceedings - (a) Procedure.--A support action or proceeding under this chapter shall...

Section 4342 - Expedited procedure - (a) General rule.--The Supreme Court shall by general rule provide...

Section 4343 - Paternity - (a) Determination.--Where the paternity of a child born out of...

Section 4344 - Contempt for failure of obligor to appear - A person who willfully fails or refuses to appear in...

Section 4345 - Contempt for noncompliance with support order - (a) General rule.--A person who willfully fails to comply with...

Section 4346 - Contempt for noncompliance with visitation or partial custody order (Repealed) - 2010 Repeal. Section 4346 was repealed November 23, 2010, P.L.1106,...

Section 4347 - Security for attendance or performance - At any stage of the proceedings under this chapter, upon...

Section 4348 - Attachment of income - (a) Existing and certain future orders.--All orders of support existing...

Section 4349 - Consolidation of proceedings - In order to facilitate frequent and unimpeded contact between children...

Section 4350 - Effect of appeal - An appeal from an order of support entered pursuant to...

Section 4351 - Costs and fees - (a) General rule.--If an obligee prevails in a proceeding to...

Section 4352 - Continuing jurisdiction over support orders - (a) General rule.--The court making an order of support shall...

Section 4353 - Duty to report - (a) Notice of changes affecting support.--An individual who is a...

Section 4354 - Willful failure to pay support order - (a) Offense defined.--An individual who willfully fails to comply with...

Section 4355 - Denial or suspension of licenses - (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (d.1), where the...

Section 4361 - Execution of support order against entireties property - (a) Entry of order.--Whenever married persons hold real property by...

Section 4362 - Plaintiff's share of proceeds of sale - (a) General rule.--The plaintiff spouse shall be entitled, out of...

Section 4363 - Trustee to distribute proceeds of sale - (a) Appointment of trustee.--The court shall, at the time of...

Section 4364 - Credit to plaintiff who purchases property - (a) General rule.--If the plaintiff spouse becomes the purchaser at...

Section 4365 - Rights of divorced person in entireties property sold for support - (a) General rule.--After the divorce of any spouse who is...

Section 4366 - Other enforcement remedies preserved - This subchapter and other provisions of this chapter do not...

Section 4371 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter...

Section 4372 - Establishment of Title IV-D program - (a) Designation of Title IV-D agency.--The department is the Title...

Section 4373 - Administration of Title IV-D program - (a) Parent locator service.--The department shall maintain a parent locator...

Section 4374 - State disbursement unit - (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish and operate a State disbursement...

Section 4375 - Access to records - (a) Access to be granted.--The secretary or his designees in...

Section 4376 - Central registry - (a) Central registry created.--A central registry of records shall be...

Section 4377 - Power to expedite support cases - (a) Administrative powers.--The department shall have Statewide jurisdiction to issue...

Section 4378 - Assistance recipients to seek support - (a) Seeking support required.--Prior to authorization, every applicant for assistance...

Section 4379 - Cooperation required - In accordance with a child support plan approved by the...

Section 4380 - Enforcement of cooperation requirements - (a) Cooperation required.--It is essential to the effective and responsible...

Section 4381 - Garnishment of wages of Commonwealth employees - Notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys due from or...

Section 4391 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter...

Section 4392 - Employer reporting - (a) General rule.--For purposes of enhancing child support enforcement activities,...

Section 4393 - Use of information - (a) Access to information.--The domestic relations sections and the department...

Section 4394 - Guidelines - The Department of Labor and Industry shall develop guidelines for...

Section 4395 - Confidentiality - All information received pursuant to this subchapter shall be confidential...

Section 4396 - Penalties - An employer that fails to report pursuant to this subchapter...

Chapter 45 - Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Orders (Repealed) -

Chapter 46 - Support of the Indigent

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 46 was added July 7, 2005, P.L.196, No.43,...

Section 4601 - Scope of chapter - This chapter relates to support of indigent persons.

Section 4602 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 4603 - Relatives' liability; procedure - (a) Liability.-- (1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2),...

Section 4604 - Property liable for expenses - (a) General rule.--Except as limited by subsection (c), the following...

Section 4605 - Recovery of money - (a) Recovery.--Whenever any person shall become a public charge or...

Section 4606 - Guardian - (a) Petition.--Any public body or public agency caring for or...

Chapter 51 - General Provisions

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 51 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 5101 - Attainment of full age - (a) Age for entering into contracts.--Any individual 18 years of...

Section 5102 - Children declared to be legitimate - (a) General rule.--All children shall be legitimate irrespective of the...

Section 5103 - Acknowledgment and claim of paternity - (a) Acknowledgment of paternity.--The father of a child born to...

Section 5104 - Blood tests to determine paternity - (a) Short title of section.--This section shall be known and...

Section 5105 - Fingerprinting of children - Notwithstanding the provisions of 54 Pa.C.S. § 702(b) (relating to...

Chapter 52 - Uniform Child Abduction Prevention

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 52 was added January 22, 2014, P.L.8, No.5,...

Section 5201 - Scope of chapter - This chapter relates to uniform child abduction prevention.

Section 5202 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 5203 - Cooperation and communication among courts - Sections 5410 (relating to communication between courts), 5411 (relating to...

Section 5204 - Actions for abduction prevention measures - (a) Court.--A court on its own motion may order abduction...

Section 5205 - Jurisdiction - (a) General rule.--A petition under this chapter may be filed...

Section 5206 - Contents of petition - A petition under this chapter must be verified and include...

Section 5207 - Factors to determine risk of abduction - (a) Evidence supporting risk.--In determining whether there is a credible...

Section 5208 - Provisions and measures to prevent abduction - (a) Contents of discretionary orders.--If a petition is filed under...

Section 5209 - Warrant to take physical custody of child - (a) Ex parte.--If a petition under this chapter contains allegations...

Section 5210 - Duration of abduction prevention order - An abduction prevention order remains in effect until the earliest...

Section 5211 - Uniformity of application and construction - In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given...

Section 5212 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act - To the extent permitted by section 102 of the Electronic...

Chapter 53 - Child Custody

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 53 was added November 23, 2010, P.L.1106, No.112,...

Section 5321 - Scope of chapter - This chapter applies to disputes relating to child custody matters.

Section 5322 - Definitions - (a) This chapter.--The following words and phrases when used in...

Section 5323 - Award of custody - (a) Types of award.--After considering the factors set forth in...

Section 5324 - Standing for any form of physical custody or legal custody - The following individuals may file an action under this chapter...

Section 5325 - Standing for partial physical custody and supervised physical custody - In addition to situations set forth in section 5324 (relating...

Section 5326 - Effect of adoption - Any rights to seek physical custody or legal custody rights...

Section 5327 - Presumption in cases concerning primary physical custody - (a) Between parents.--In any action regarding the custody of the...

Section 5328 - Factors to consider when awarding custody - (a) Factors.--In ordering any form of custody, the court shall...

Section 5329 - Consideration of criminal conviction - (a) Offenses.--Where a party seeks any form of custody, the...

Section 5329.1 - Consideration of child abuse and involvement with protective services - (a) Information sharing.--In accordance with section 6340(a)(5.1) (relating to release...

Section 5330 - Consideration of criminal charge - (a) Expedited hearing.--A party who has obtained information under 42...

Section 5331 - Parenting plan - (a) Purpose.--In a contested custody proceeding, the court may require...

Section 5332 - Informational programs - (a) Attendance.--The court may direct the parties to attend informational...

Section 5333 - Counseling as part of order - (a) Attendance.--The court may, as part of a custody order,...

Section 5334 - Guardian ad litem for child - (a) Appointment.--The court may on its own motion or the...

Section 5335 - Counsel for child - (a) Appointment.--The court may appoint counsel to represent the child...

Section 5336 - Access to records and information - (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c):...

Section 5337 - Relocation - (a) Applicability.--This section applies to any proposed relocation. (b) General...

Section 5338 - Modification of existing order - (a) Best interest of the child.--Upon petition, a court may...

Section 5339 - Award of counsel fees, costs and expenses - Under this chapter, a court may award reasonable interim or...

Section 5340 - Court-appointed child custody health care or behavioral health practitioners - No party to a child custody matter in which the...

Chapter 54 - Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 54 was added June 15, 2004, P.L.236, No.39,...

Section 5401 - Short title of chapter - This chapter shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 5402 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 5403 - Proceedings governed by other law - This chapter does not govern an adoption proceeding or a...

Section 5404 - Application to Native American tribes - (a) Primacy of Indian Child Welfare Act.--A child custody proceeding...

Section 5405 - International application of chapter - (a) Foreign country treated as state.--A court of this Commonwealth...

Section 5406 - Effect of child custody determination - A child custody determination made by a court of this...

Section 5407 - Priority - If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under...

Section 5408 - Notice to persons outside Commonwealth - (a) General rule.--Notice required for the exercise of jurisdiction when...

Section 5409 - Appearance and limited immunity - (a) General rule.--A party to a child custody proceeding, including...

Section 5410 - Communication between courts - (a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth may communicate with...

Section 5411 - Taking testimony in another state - (a) General rule.--In addition to other procedures available to a...

Section 5412 - Cooperation between courts; preservation of records - (a) Assistance of another state.--A court of this Commonwealth may...

Section 5421 - Initial child custody jurisdiction - (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in section 5424 (relating...

Section 5422 - Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction - (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in section 5424 (relating...

Section 5423 - Jurisdiction to modify determination - Except as otherwise provided in section 5424 (relating to temporary...

Section 5424 - Temporary emergency jurisdiction - (a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth has temporary emergency...

Section 5425 - Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder - (a) General rule.--Before a child custody determination is made under...

Section 5426 - Simultaneous proceedings - (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in section 5424 (relating...

Section 5427 - Inconvenient forum - (a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth which has jurisdiction...

Section 5428 - Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct - (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in section 5424 (relating...

Section 5429 - Information to be submitted to court - (a) General rule.--Subject to the rules set forth in Chapter...

Section 5430 - Appearance of parties and child - (a) General rule.--In a child custody proceeding in this Commonwealth,...

Section 5441 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter...

Section 5442 - Enforcement under Hague Convention - Under this subchapter a court of this Commonwealth may enforce...

Section 5443 - Duty to enforce - (a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth shall recognize and...

Section 5444 - Temporary visitation - (a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth which does not...

Section 5445 - Registration of child custody determination - (a) General rule.--A child custody determination issued by a court...

Section 5446 - Enforcement of registered determination - (a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth may grant any...

Section 5447 - Simultaneous proceedings - If a proceeding for enforcement under this subchapter is commenced...

Section 5448 - Expedited enforcement of child custody determination - (a) Verification.--A petition under this subchapter must be verified. Certified...

Section 5449 - Service of petition and order - Except as otherwise provided in section 5451 (relating to warrant...

Section 5450 - Hearing and order - (a) General rule.--Unless the court issues a temporary emergency order...

Section 5451 - Warrant to take physical custody of child - (a) General rule.--Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement...

Section 5452 - Costs, fees and expenses - (a) General rule.--The court shall award the prevailing party, including...

Section 5453 - Recognition and enforcement - A court of this Commonwealth shall accord full faith and...

Section 5454 - Appeals - An appeal may be taken from a final order in...

Section 5455 - Role of prosecutor or public official - (a) General rule.--In a case arising under this chapter or...

Section 5456 - Role of law enforcement - At the request of a prosecutor or other appropriate public...

Section 5457 - Costs and expenses - If the respondent is not the prevailing party, the court...

Section 5471 - Intrastate application - The provisions of this chapter allocating jurisdiction and functions between...

Section 5481 - Application and construction - In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given...

Section 5482 - Severability - If any provision of this chapter or its application to...

Chapter 55 - Liability for Tortious Acts of Children

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 55 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 5501 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 5502 - Liability of parents - Any parent whose child is found liable or is adjudged...

Section 5503 - Establishing liability in criminal or juvenile proceedings - (a) General rule.--In any criminal proceeding against a child and...

Section 5504 - Establishing liability in civil proceedings - (a) Petition.--If a judgment has been rendered against the child...

Section 5505 - Monetary limits of liability - (a) General rule.--Liability of the parents under this chapter shall...

Section 5506 - Double recovery for same injury prohibited - In no case shall there be a double recovery for...

Section 5507 - Indemnity or contribution from child prohibited - The parent shall have no right of indemnity or contribution...

Section 5508 - Liability of parent not having custody or control of child - (a) General rule.--No liability may be imposed upon a parent...

Section 5509 - Other liability of parent or child unaffected - The liability imposed upon parents by this chapter shall not...

Chapter 56 - Standby and Temporary Guardianship

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 56 was added November 24, 1998, P.L.811, No.103,...

Section 5601 - Short title of chapter - This chapter shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 5602 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 5603 - Scope - The provisions of Chapter 53 (relating to custody) and 20...

Section 5611 - Designation - (a) General rule.--A custodial parent, a legal custodian or legal...

Section 5612 - Petition for approval of a designation - (a) General rule.--A petition for court approval of a designation...

Section 5613 - Authority of standby guardian - (a) General rule.--The standby guardian shall have authority to act...

Section 5614 - Revocation - (a) Prepetition.--Prior to a petition being filed under section 5612...

Section 5615 - Conflicting documents - If a parent has appointed a testamentary guardian of the...

Section 5616 - Bond - In no event shall a standby guardian be required to...

Section 5621 - Designation - (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a custodial...

Section 5622 - Petition for approval of designation - (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a petition...

Section 5623 - Authority of temporary guardian - (a) Authority.-- (1) The temporary guardian shall have the authority...

Section 5624 - Period of temporary guardianship - (a) Initial period.--Temporary guardianship under this subchapter shall be limited...

Section 5625 - Termination of temporary guardianship - (a) Conditions.--A court shall terminate a temporary guardianship if any...

Chapter 57 - Sex Trafficking and Missing and Abducted Children

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 57 was added December 28, 2015, P.L.559, No.94,...

Section 5701 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 5702 - County responsibilities - (a) Report of possible sex trafficking victims.--A county agency shall...

Section 5703 - Law enforcement responsibilities - When law enforcement receives information from a county agency about...

Chapter 61 - Protection from Abuse

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 61 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 6101 - Short title of chapter - This chapter shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 6102 - Definitions - (a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used in...

Section 6103 - Jurisdiction - (a) General rule.--The court shall have jurisdiction over all proceedings...

Section 6104 - Full faith and credit and foreign protection orders - (a) General rule.--A court shall recognize and enforce a valid...

Section 6105 - Responsibilities of law enforcement agencies - (a) General rule.--The police department of each municipal corporation, the...

Section 6106 - Commencement of proceedings - (a) General rule.--An adult or an emancipated minor may seek...

Section 6107 - Hearings - (a) General rule.--Within ten business days of the filing of...

Section 6108 - Relief - (a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (a.1), the court may grant...

Section 6108.1 - Return of relinquished firearms, other weapons and ammunition and additional relief - (a) General rule.--Any court order requiring the relinquishment of firearms,...

Section 6108.2 - Relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful transfer or safekeeping - (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a defendant...

Section 6108.3 - Relinquishment to third party for safekeeping - (a) General rule.--A defendant who is the subject of a...

Section 6108.4 - Registry or database of firearm ownership - (a) Confidentiality.--Information retained to ensure compliance with this chapter and...

Section 6108.5 - Penalties for release of information - Any person who violates section 6108(a)(7)(v) (relating to relief) by...

Section 6108.6 - Penalty for failure to secure firearms - In addition to any other penalty provided by 18 Pa.C.S....

Section 6108.7 - Order to seal record from public view - (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an...

Section 6109 - Service of orders - (a) Issuance.--A copy of an order under this chapter shall...

Section 6110 - Emergency relief by minor judiciary - (a) General rule.--When: (1) in counties with less than four...

Section 6111 - Domestic violence counselor/advocate - A domestic violence counselor/advocate may accompany a party to any...

Section 6112 - Disclosure of addresses - During the course of a proceeding under this chapter, the...

Section 6113 - Arrest for violation of order - (a) General rule.--An arrest for violation of an order issued...

Section 6113.1 - Private criminal complaints for violation of order or agreement - (a) General rule.--A plaintiff may file a private criminal complaint...

Section 6114 - Contempt for violation of order or agreement - (a) General rule.--Where the police, sheriff or the plaintiff have...

Section 6114.1 - Civil contempt or modification for violation of an order or agreement - (a) General rule.--A plaintiff may file a petition for civil...

Section 6115 - Reporting abuse and immunity - (a) Reporting.--A person having reasonable cause to believe that a...

Section 6116 - Confidentiality - Unless a victim waives the privilege in a signed writing...

Section 6117 - Procedure and other remedies - (a) General rule.--Unless otherwise indicated in this chapter, a proceeding...

Section 6118 - Full faith and credit (Repealed) - 2001 Repeal. Section 6118 was repealed June 22, 2001, P.L.576,...

Section 6119 - Immunity - (a) General rule.--Law enforcement agencies and their employees, including police...

Section 6120 - Inability to pay - (a) Order for installment payments.--Upon plea and proof that a...

Section 6121 - Warrantless searches - Except as provided in section 6113 (relating to arrest for...

Section 6122 - Construction - Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preclude an...

Chapter 63 - Child Protective Services

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 63 was added December 19, 1990, P.L.1240, No.206,...

Section 6301 - Short title of chapter - This chapter shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 6302 - Findings and purpose of chapter - (a) Findings.--Abused children are in urgent need of an effective...

Section 6303 - Definitions - (a) General rule.--The following words and phrases when used in...

Section 6304 - Exclusions from child abuse - (a) Environmental factors.--No child shall be deemed to be physically...

Section 6305 - Electronic reporting - (a) Departmental procedures.--The department shall establish procedures for the secure...

Section 6306 - Regulations - The department shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement this chapter....

Section 6311 - Persons required to report suspected child abuse - (a) Mandated reporters.--The following adults shall make a report of...

Section 6311.1 - Privileged communications - (a) General rule.--Subject to subsection (b), the privileged communications between...

Section 6312 - Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse - Any person may make an oral or written report of...

Section 6313 - Reporting procedure - (a) Report by mandated reporter.-- (1) A mandated reporter shall...

Section 6314 - Photographs, medical tests and X-rays of child subject to report - A person or official required to report cases of suspected...

Section 6315 - Taking child into protective custody - (a) General rule.--A child may be taken into protective custody:...

Section 6316 - Admission to private and public hospitals - (a) General rule.--Children appearing to suffer any physical or mental...

Section 6317 - Mandatory reporting and postmortem investigation of deaths - A person or official required to report cases of suspected...

Section 6318 - Immunity from liability - (a) General rule.--A person, hospital, institution, school, facility, agency or...

Section 6319 - Penalties - (a) Failure to report or refer.-- (1) A person or...

Section 6320 - Protection from employment discrimination - (a) Basis for relief.--A person may commence an action for...

Section 6331 - Establishment of Statewide database - There shall be established in the department a Statewide database...

Section 6332 - Establishment of Statewide toll-free telephone number - (a) General rule.--The department shall establish a single Statewide toll-free...

Section 6333 - Continuous availability of department - The department shall be capable of receiving oral reports of...

Section 6334 - Disposition of complaints received - (a) Receipt of reports by county agencies and law enforcement.--After...

Section 6334.1 - Responsibility for investigation - The department shall establish procedures regarding the following different responses...

Section 6335 - Access to information in Statewide database - (a) Request for information.--A county agency or law enforcement official...

Section 6336 - Information in Statewide database - (a) Information authorized.--The Statewide database shall include and shall be...

Section 6337 - Disposition and expunction of unfounded reports and general protective services reports - (a) General rule.--When a report of suspected child abuse is...

Section 6338 - Disposition of founded and indicated reports - (a) General rule.--When a report of suspected child abuse is...

Section 6338.1 - Expunction of information of perpetrator who was under 18 years of age when child abuse was committed - (a) General rule.--The name of a perpetrator who is the...

Section 6339 - Confidentiality of reports - Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter or by the...

Section 6340 - Release of information in confidential reports - (a) General rule.--Reports specified in section 6339 (relating to confidentiality...

Section 6340.1 - Exchange of information - (a) Certified medical practitioners.--In circumstances which negatively affect the medical...

Section 6341 - Amendment or expunction of information - (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding section 6338.1 (relating to expunction of information...

Section 6342 - Studies of data in records - (a) Studies.--The department may conduct or authorize the conducting of...

Section 6343 - Investigating performance of county agency - (a) General rule.--If, within 30 days from the date of...

Section 6343.1 - Citizen review panels - (a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a minimum of three citizen...

Section 6344 - Employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster parents - (a) Applicability.--Beginning December 31, 2014, this section applies to the...

Section 6344.1 - Information relating to certified or licensed child-care home residents - (a) General rule.--In addition to the requirements of section 6344...

Section 6344.2 - Volunteers having contact with children - (a) Applicability.--This section applies to an adult applying for or...

Section 6344.3 - Continued employment or participation in program, activity or service - (a) (Reserved). (b) (Reserved). (c) (Reserved). (d) (Reserved). (e) Noninterference...

Section 6344.4 - Recertification - New certifications shall be obtained in accordance with the following:...

Section 6345 - Audits by Attorney General - The Attorney General shall conduct a mandated audit done randomly...

Section 6346 - Cooperation of other agencies - (a) General rule.--The secretary may request and shall receive from...

Section 6347 - Reports to Governor and General Assembly - (a) General rule.--No later than May 1 of every year,...

Section 6348 - Regulations - The department shall adopt regulations necessary to implement this chapter....

Section 6349 - Penalties - (a) Failure to amend or expunge information.-- (1) A person...

Section 6361 - Organization for child protective services - (a) Establishment.--Every county agency shall make available child protective services...

Section 6362 - Responsibilities of county agency for child protective services - (a) General rule.--The county agency shall be the sole civil...

Section 6363 - County plan for protective services - The county agency shall include provisions for protective services in...

Section 6364 - Purchasing services of other agencies - Any other provision of law notwithstanding but consistent with sections...

Section 6365 - Services for prevention, investigation and treatment of child abuse - (a) Instruction and education.--Each county agency shall make available among...

Section 6366 - Continuous availability to receive reports - Each county agency shall receive 24 hours a day, seven...

Section 6367 - Reports to department and coroner - (a) Reports to department.--Upon the receipt of each report of...

Section 6368 - Investigation of reports - (a) Response to direct reports.--Upon receipt of a report of...

Section 6369 - Taking child into protective custody (Repealed) - 2014 Repeal. Section 6369 was repealed April 15, 2014, P.L.417,...

Section 6370 - Voluntary or court-ordered services; findings of child abuse - (a) General rule.--Based on the investigation and evaluation conducted pursuant...

Section 6371 - Rehabilitative services for child and family - The county agency shall provide or arrange for and monitor...

Section 6372 - Protecting well-being of children maintained outside home - The county agency shall be as equally vigilant of the...

Section 6373 - General protective services responsibilities of county agency - (a) Program objectives.--Each county agency is responsible for administering a...

Section 6374 - Principles and goals of general protective services - (a) Primary purpose.--The primary purpose of general protective services is...

Section 6375 - County agency requirements for general protective services - (a) Duties of county agency.--The county agency shall make available...

Section 6376 - Appeals with respect to general protective services - (a) Right to appeal.--A custodial parent or person who has...

Section 6377 - Caseloads - The department by regulation shall set forth staff-to-family ratios for...

Section 6378 - Purchase of services - Except for the receipt and assessment of reports alleging a...

Section 6381 - Evidence in court proceedings - (a) General rule.--In addition to the rules of evidence provided...

Section 6382 - Guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings (Repealed) - 2000 Repeal. Section 6382 was repealed May 10, 2000, P.L.74,...

Section 6383 - Education and training - (a) Duties of department and county agencies.--The department and each...

Section 6384 - Legislative oversight - A committee of the Senate designated by the President pro...

Section 6385 - Reimbursement to county agencies - The department shall certify in accordance with the needs-based budgeting...

Section 6386 - Notification to department and development of plan of safe care for children under one year of age - (a) Notification to department.--For the purpose of assessing a child...

Section 6387 - Pandemic of 2020 - (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,...

Section 6388 - Task Force on Child Pornography - (a) Establishment.--The Task Force on Child Pornography is established. (b)...

Chapter 65 - Newborn Protection

Extra - Chapter Notes - Enactment. Chapter 65 was added December 9, 2002, P.L.1549, No.201,...

Section 6501 - Short title of chapter - This chapter shall be known and may be cited as...

Section 6502 - Definitions - The following words and phrases when used in this chapter...

Section 6503 - Nonliability - A parent of a newborn shall not be criminally liable...

Section 6504 - Health care providers accepting newborns - (a) General rule.--A health care provider at a hospital shall...

Section 6504.1 - Police officers accepting newborns - (a) Duties.--A police officer at a police station shall do...

Section 6504.2 - Emergency services providers accepting newborns - (a) Duties.--In accepting a newborn under this chapter, an emergency...

Section 6504.3 - Incubators for newborns - (a) Provision optional.--A hospital, police station or other entity employing...

Section 6505 - Reporting acceptance of newborns - A health care provider at a hospital shall in all...

Section 6506 - Failure to report acceptance of newborns - A health care provider at a hospital who intentionally or...

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Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS