80Effective January 3, 2022, self-represented litigants custody filings will be accepted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. at the Bernard C. Brominski Building, 113 W. North Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18711 or the Luzerne County Courthouse, 200 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Please contact (570) 822-0764 to determine the location of custody filings.
Only Petitions for Custody and Modifications of a Custody Order can be processed.
The fee for filing a Petition for Custody is $180.75. Payable to the Prothonotary’s Office, fees can be paid using cash, money orders, and credit cards - no personal checks.
A copy of the existing Court Order must accompany all Modification petitions. Copies of existing Custody Orders may be obtained by visiting the Prothonotary’s Office on the second floor of the Main Courthouse.
All biological parents must be named and served in a custody action unless their rights have been formally terminated in the appropriate manner.
Grandparents do not have rights identical to those of a biological parent in custody matters. Grandparents should research their rights or consult an attorney prior to initiating a custody action.
Children should not be brought to the Courthouse withself-represented litigants filing for custody.
