Rule 1920.31(a)(1) - Filing Claims for Alimony Pendente Lite, Child Custody, Child Support or Paternity(A) A Confidential Family Court Cover Sheet shall be attached to any pleading under the Divorce Code, wherein a party asserts a claim for alimony pendente lite, child custody, child support or paternity. The filing party shall certify the existence or non-existence of any former proceeding between the parties including the caption and term number thereof, and the nature of such prior proceeding on the Confidential Family Court Cover Sheet.(B) If a claim for alimony pendente lite, child support or paternity, or pleadings responding to such claim, are filed in a divorce action, the party filing such pleading shall file such additional copies with the Domestic Relations Section as shall be required by the Berks County Rules pertaining to Support.(C) If a claim for custody is asserted in a divorce complaint, it shall receive a separate term and number as the divorce action. Such pleading shall contain the information required by Pa.R.C.P. No. 1915.15. If a custody count is filed as part of a divorce complaint or counterclaim to a divorce complaint, the filer must attach a stipulated custody agreement or custody scheduling order simultaneously with the filing. If the filer does not want the custody matter to proceed forward at the time the divorce complaint or counterclaim is being filed, the custody count may not be included with the divorce complaint or counterclaim. If a stipulated custody agreement or scheduling order is not attached when a custody count is filed as part of a divorce complaint or counterclaim, the custody count may be dismissed.(D) Where pleadings under the Divorce Code asserting a claim for custody or pleadings responding to such claims, are filed, the party filing the same shall file such additional copies as shall be required by the Berks County Prothonotary Office.Berk. Cnty. Pa. 1920.31(a)(1)
Amended effective 2/12/2018 ; amended effective 7/9/2019; amended effective 3/14/2020.