Legal Question in Family Law in Pennsylvania
Pro Bono across state lines?
Is there a way for someone who is a WI resident to get pro bono help in PA in a custody case? WI refused jurisdiction, and grandparent refuses to give up child in PA. PA says the only solution is to hire a private attorney, since mother is not entitled to legal aid in PA. Mother has no income, and cannot afford counsel, let alone the trips back and forth to PA for hearings. Mother did not relinquish any rights, other than to let the child visit grandmother in PA. Once she got the child to PA, she filed for custody to keep him.
WI says the child isn't here so they have no jurisdiction. The home state should have been AZ. The grandmother stalled so the child would stay until the 6 month residency requirement even though the mother filed in WI before the child was a resident of PA. This should be easy for an attorney, but is complicated to do without one.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Pro Bono across state lines?
It is extremely difficult to get pro bono in any case. She can try the legal aid services. There is one in Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay, and also one that serves NW Wisconsin -- I am not sure where the latter one is located. However, they have criteria for what cases to take and don't take all the cases that people have. Mutli-state cases are difficult and expensive.
Best wishes, Mark J. Mahoney
Re: Pro Bono across state lines?
I agree with my colleague but have another suggestion. Try to contact the legal clinics in the Pennsylvania area that serves the jurisdiction. Most law schools have a connection to at least one clinic. You will need to appear in Pennsylvania, and please do not fool yourself that this will be easy. Disputed custody cases never are.
Regards,
Roger Traversa
Email: [email protected]
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