1629 Amendment to rule of civil procedure: seminar for separated and divorced parents; no. 96-00001-3

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Amendment to Rule of Civil Procedure:  Seminar for Separated and Divorced Parents; No. 96-00001-3

[26 Pa.B. 4638]

Order

   And Now, this 10th day of September, 1996, the Court approves and adopts the following amendment to Montgomery County Local Rule of Civil Procedure 1915.3*-- Seminar for Separated and Divorced Parents. This Amendment shall become effective thirty (30) days from the date of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

   The Court Administrator is directed to publish this Order once in the Montgomery County Law Reporter and in the Legal Intelligencer. In conformity with Pa.R.C.P. 239, seven (7) certified copies of the within Order shall be filed by the Court Administrator with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Two (2) certified copies shall be distributed to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. One (1) certified copy shall be filed with the Domestic Relations Committee. One (1) copy shall be filed with the Prothonotary, one (1) copy with the Clerk of Courts, and (1) copy with the Court Administrator of Montgomery County, one (1) copy with the Law Library of Montgomery County and one (1) copy with each Judge of this Court.

By the Court

WILLIAM T. NICHOLAS,   
President Judge

Rule 1915.3*.  Seminar for Separated and Divorced Parents.

   (a)  In an action for custody, partial custody or visitation, if a case is not resolved by the custody conciliator and must therefore proceed to a hearing before a Judge, both parents shall attend an approved education seminar on the general responsibilities of separated and divorced parents.

   (b)  Seminars shall be conducted by seminar providers as approved by the President Judge. Seminars shall be conducted in the Montgomery County Courthouse or at such other location as approved by the President Judge. Each parent will be responsible to register for a seminar and for payment of the seminar costs; however, the costs may be waived by the Court for any party qualifying to proceed in forma pauperis.

   (c)  Seminar attendance may also be required upon motion of either party, by agreement of the parties, upon recommendation by the Custody Conciliator or upon the Court's own motion, in connection with any petition to modify custody, any petition for contempt of a custody order or any other matter relating to child custody or visitation.

   (d)  A Certificate of Attendance shall be filed by the seminar provider with the Prothonotary's Office reflecting that attendance was fulfilled by the parent.

   (e)  For good cause shown, the Court may waive the requirement of seminar attendance in a particular case.

   (f)  Upon a party's failure to attend a required seminar, the Court may impose sanctions, including but not limited to a finding of contempt. A hearing on a custody petition shall not be delayed by a party's refusal or delay in completing the seminar.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-1629. Filed for public inspection September 27, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]