[PA] I’m a stay-at-home dad with an estranged wife and no legal assistance available in my county. How can I file for divorce and custody in Pennsylvania?
I've been struggling with my estranged wife, and both divorce and custody. My county has no legal assistance for stay-at-home male parents who have been abandoned. I was called to the school of our youngest today when she was unreachable and the child was sick. I need some kind of assistance filing—both intuitive and financial.
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If you need to file for a divorce in your county, you go to your local county courthouse and fill out the divorce complaint. You file it and have a copy served on your spouse. You would need to request custody, property distribution, and any other claims that you may have in the divorce.
You can request legal help from a pro bono attorney in your area using this link from the Pennsylvania Bar Association: Perry County Pro Bono Legal Help
You can also ask your courthouse if they have a pro se divorce packet. These packets provide detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to file and navigate your case.
If at any time you need an attorney to assist you, you can:
- Contact the local bar association – ask for a referral to a family law attorney who handles custody/divorce.
- Reach out to legal aid services – such as MidPenn Legal Services which offers free and low-cost legal help in your region.
- Contact law schools – like Penn State Dickinson Law or Widener Commonwealth, which may have legal clinics.
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I've been struggling with my estranged wife, and both divorce and custody. My county has no legal assistance for stay-at-home male parents who have been abandoned. I was called to the school of our youngest today when she was unreachable and the child was sick. I need some kind of assistance filing—both intuitive and financial.
Lexi, Chatbot
I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you're facing with your estranged wife and the custody situation. Have you already started the divorce process or filed for custody?
No, I have only a part-time job, as I was the primary caregiver. She filed a false report with law enforcement and then fled when it was time for court. I have only my birth certificate, as she stole both copies of my Social Security card and all my copies of the children’s documents.
Lexi, Chatbot
Are you looking for legal assistance specifically tailored to stay-at-home male parents who have been abandoned, or are you open to general family law support?
Yes.
Lexi, Chatbot
Is there anything else the Family Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with your divorce and custody.
Yes. She has made an extensive effort to ruin my reputation and stole directly from my accounts in order to try and push me into homelessness.
Charlie
Hello, my name is Charlie and I am a licensed attorney. I would like to welcome you to AskaLawyer! I am sorry you are experiencing these issues, but I will be happy to assist you with your questions today. Please allow me a moment to review your question. Which state do you live in?
Pennsylvania.
Charlie
How long have you been married?
12 years.
Charlie
Understood. Has a divorce already been filed?
No, not that I'm aware of. There was a custody case, but I didn’t get papers until afterwards, and she was a no-show.
Charlie
How can I help you?
Well, I was referring to the Ask a Lawyer site for divorce and custody filing problems. I have no relief help because I was a stay-at-home dad in Perry County, PA.
I have no lawyer, and I am poor, as I was only working a part-time job when my estranged wife took off with my kids.
Charlie
If you need to file for a divorce in your county, you go to your local county courthouse and fill out the divorce complaint. You file it and have a copy served on your spouse. You would need to request custody, property distribution, and any other claims that you may have in the divorce.
You can request legal help from a pro bono attorney in your area using this link from the Pennsylvania Bar Association: Perry County Pro Bono Legal Help
You can also ask your courthouse if they have a pro se divorce packet. These packets provide detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to file and navigate your case.
If at any time you need an attorney to assist you, you can:
- Contact the local bar association – ask for a referral to a family law attorney who handles custody/divorce.
- Reach out to legal aid services – such as MidPenn Legal Services which offers free and low-cost legal help in your region.
- Contact law schools – like Penn State Dickinson Law or Widener Commonwealth, which may have legal clinics.
Charlie
Again, I am sorry to hear of this issue. If you have any follow-up questions, I will be very happy to assist you.
yeah, I have hours worth of questions
First of all, how do I go about filing custody without a lawyer and on assistance. second, what charges do I file for abuse when it's financial and emotional, including harassment and disparity. How do I file to get a restraining order for said offenses. And how do I deal with a false claim against me for abuse at the police station. How do I get ahold of the records of her cases with cps, as she claimed there were none on her original custody case.
Charlie
You file the divorce using the steps above and requesting custody in the divorce petition. Any other questions would require a new chat to be opened as they are not related to the original question that has been asked and answered.
Hello again, this is Charlie from AskaLawyer. I just wanted to come back into the chat and see if you had any follow up questions or concerns for me? If you do, I will be very happy to assist you further! Thank you!
Charlie
Hello again, this is Charlie from AskaLawyer. I just wanted to come back into the chat and see if you had any follow up questions or concerns for me? If you do, I will be very happy to assist you further! Thank you!
Charlie
Hello again, I just wanted to come back into the chat and thank you so much for using JustAnswer. I wish you the very best in this difficult situation. If anything changes and you have any follow up questions for me, I will be very happy to assist you further. Take care!
Charlie
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