COMPLETE THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT. Complete the fill-in-the-blank Custody Agreement included in this package. The first thing you should do is fill in the case caption at the top of the first page using the names of the Plaintiff and the Defendant exactly as they appear on the existing custody order (whoever is listed as the Plaintiff in the existing custody order is still the Plaintiff, and whoever is listed as the Defendant in the existing custody order is still the Defendant). You should also use the same docket number previously assigned to your case. When you are done, the caption should look something like this: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF TIOGA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Xxxx X. Xxx : Plaintiff : v. : Xxxx X. Xxx : NO: 799 FS 2018 :
COMPLETE THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT. The Caption: Fill in the name of the county in which you are filing. Fill in the names of the Plaintiff and the Defendant. Leave the Civil Action No. blank empty; the Clerk of Court will assign a number to the case. Introductory paragraph: insert the names of the father and mother of the child(xxx). Paragraph 1: Non-interference with parental relationships Check the box to indicate your intentions to encourage a positive relationship between each parent and the child(ren). Paragraph 2: Legal and Physical Custody Legal custody means the authority to make decisions about the children. Physical custody means the physical care of the children—who are the children living with. There are three ways to divide up custody: Sole legal and physical custody. In this arrangement, one parent assumes the decision-making responsibility, and the children spend most of their time with that parent. Shared legal custody and sole physical custody. Parents share decision-making authority, but the children spend most of their time with only one parent. There is often a provision that in the event of a disagreement about a decision, one parent will be the “tie-breaker.” Shared legal custody and shared physical custody. Parents share decision-making authority, and the children divide their time equally between their parents. Check box a) if you intend for one parent to have sole legal and physical custody. Check box b) if you intend for the parents to share legal custody, but for one parent to have sole physical custody. In the blanks provided, explain any details of your arrangement for primary physical custody. If you want for one party to have secondary physical custody, check the box and explain the details of your arrangement. Check box c) if you intend for the parents to share both legal and physical custody. In the blanks provided, explain the details of your arrangement for sharing physical custody. If you want to have a tie-breaker in the event of a disagreement, check the boxes to indicate who the tie-breaker will be. If you want to limit the tie-breaker provision only to certain issues, write down what those issues are. Paragraph 3: Visitation
COMPLETE THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT. Complete the fill-in-the-blank Custody Agreement included in this package. On the top of the first page you should fill in the case caption the same way you filled in the case caption on the top of the Confidential Information Form (see the instructions at the beginning of “Step 1”). When you are done, the case caption on the Custody Agreement should look something like this: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF TIOGA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Xxxx X. Xxx Plaintiff
