Pennsylvania Dad Says Courts Should Automatically Award Joint Custody

By Sheryl Rentz on February 4, 2009

A Pennsylvania father, who spent four years and most of his money to fight a child custody battle, is lobbying for House Bill 2825 that would award joint custody to couples unless the court finds that such joint custody would not be in the child’s best interest. A report says that Jesse Storm thinks parents should not have to “go through a divorce and split your property and assets up 50/50 between mom and dad” and still end up spending an additional $20,000 to $80,000 on a child custody battle. Storm says he should have spent that kind of money on his child’s college tuition rather than battling to spend a weekend with his child.

Storm has started a group called Pennsylvania Families Association to fight the court system, which he says benefits only one parent. It is an unfair system, he says, where 91 percent of child custody cases are settled with a primary custodian where one parent has the majority of the custody of the child.

In Pennsylvania, there are two main types of child custody: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody means that you have the right to make all decisions about your child’s education, healthcare and living arrangements. Physical custody means where the child or children reside and when. No matter what your situation, you must be represented by a child custody lawyer who has years of experience and an excellent track record trying similar cases.

If you are struggling with a divorce and dealing with child custody issues, please contact the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz to find out about your rights and legal options. Your time with your child is too precious to give up without a fight. Please call us today at 610-645-0100 to schedule your free consultation with a Pennsylvania child custody attorney.