Divorce is never easy, but when there is a child involved things can become much more stressful, difficult, and emotional. Because of this, when child custody is an issue during Pennsylvania divorces, usually rational spouses can end up acting in ways that aren’t really like their true selves. That’s why finding a good divorce attorney is so important – they can help provide unbiased help without emotions clouding their judgment.

Of course, understanding the basics behind Pennsylvania child custody is still something that is well worth doing. And those basic points aren’t that hard to comprehend, either. Here is a quick rundown of some of the basic points you need to understand.

• First of all, realize that the myth that mothers automatically get custody isn’t true at all. Today, Pennsylvania courts treat mother and father equally when working to determine where the child should live.
• The key thing that courts look at is simple: what the best interests of the child are. This can include a variety of things including living situation, financial concerns, school considerations, and more. Even parents who have matching living situations and identical income could find that a court awards custody to one spouse because they live in an area that won’t require the child to change schools, for example./li>
• Each situation is different. Talking to a friend about their case doesn’t mean that what happened to them will apply to you. Even your attorney will only be able to give you a good idea of what to expect – the courts can vary greatly.
• A child’s desires aren’t always considered heavily, either. Age of the child will factor into this, but usually the final decision comes down to what the court determines the absolute final decision.

In short, there is no absolute formula when it comes to figuring out who is going to receive custody during a divorce. In most cases, it’s best to try to come to an amicable agreement regarding custody. But if you and your spouse can’t do this, seeking help from an attorney may be needed and could be the only path to reaching the kind of agreement that is fair for your children – just know that what is best for the children may not end up being what you feel is best for you.