Pennsylvania Custody Factors in Mediation
When parents choose mediation to resolve custody, child support, and family law issues, they keep control, reduce stress, and focus on what matters most—their child. Pennsylvania law outlines 16 custody factors that courts review when determining a child’s “best interests.”
In mediation, we use these factors as a practical guide to help you create a clear, child-centered parenting plan that supports stability, cooperation, and healthy relationships. If you are divorcing or separating, using a clear, written parenting plan custody checklist can help you stay organized, reduce conflict, and focus on your child’s well-being from the start.
Read the statute:
23 Pa.C.S. § 5328 – Pennsylvania Custody Factors
How the Custody Factors Support Your Parenting Plan
1. Supporting Strong Parent–Child Relationships
Mediation encourages collaboration and communication, helping your child maintain meaningful connections with both parents.
2. Ensuring Safety and Stability
If safety concerns exist, we address them first. Your plan aims to preserve predictable routines that help your child feel safe and secure.
3. Sharing Daily Parenting Duties
Parents discuss meals, homework, medical care, bedtime routines, and how these responsibilities will be shared or alternated.
4. Maintaining Continuity for Your Child
Your plan protects school routines, activities, friendships, and community ties wherever possible.
5. Considering Family Support Systems
Extended family members and sibling relationships are incorporated into a schedule that keeps those bonds strong.
6. Respectfully Considering Age-Appropriate Preferences
When appropriate, parents may consider age-appropriate preferences in a low-pressure, supportive way.
7. Setting Clear Communication Expectations
Mediation helps parents agree on how to communicate, share information, and manage future decisions without conflict.
8. Addressing Practical Logistics
Work schedules, distance between homes, childcare, and transportation needs shape a realistic day-to-day parenting schedule.
9. Accommodating Special Needs and Unique Circumstances
Your plan can address medical needs, school issues, family traditions, or any factor unique to your child.
Turning the Factors Into a Parenting Plan
Together, we use the custody factors to create thoughtful, concrete legal agreements about:
- Weekly parenting schedule
- Holiday and vacation time
- Legal custody (major decision-making)
- Communication between parents
- Transitions and transportation
- Consistency in household routines
- How to handle disagreements in the future
- Shared child-related expenses
Download a worksheet here:
Review Sample Custody Schedules here:
Final Thoughts
Mediation gives your family the flexibility to design a legal agreement that works—without court battles and without leaving decisions to a judge. The Pennsylvania custody factors provide a helpful structure, but in mediation, you tailor those factors to your child’s unique needs. The result is a parenting plan that is practical, peaceful, and designed to grow with your family.
If you are considering mediation, I am here to help! Please reach out to schedule a free and confidential chat to discuss your unique situation. Let’s Chat!
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The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.