Self Help Center

The Self-Help Center is located in the Dauphin County Law Library on the 4th Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. The Self-Help Center provides forms and instructions for various proceedings listed below. The Self-Help Center was established in 2005 and is a collaborate effort between the Dauphin County Court and the Dauphin County Bar Association so that citizens of Dauphin County had access to certain forms and instructions. Packets of forms and instructions can be purchased in the Self-Help Center for a nominal fee. The forms and instructions are available to be printed at no cost. Click the relevant topic below. 

The Self-Help Center staff and the staff in any court office are not permitted to give legal advice. The information in the forms and instructions is not a substitute for professional legal advice. The Court assumes no responsibility and accepts no liability for actions taken by users of these documents including reliance on the contents. If you want to obtain the services of an attorney but do not know whom to contact, you may call the Dauphin County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (717) 232-7536. If you need assistance with a custody action, you may contact MidPenn Legal Services at (717) 232-0581.  

 

The Self Help Center Forms and Instructions

*All forms are in Adobe.pdf format

Forms and Instructions
If the instructions in the packets below require a Confidential Information Form, Abuse Victim Addendum and/or a Confidential Document Form, you MUST print out these forms using the links below.

Confidential Information Form  |   Confidential Document Form

 

Continuance Forms(6)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Motion for Continuance in a Custody Proceeding Instructions and Forms

Motion for Continuance for Protection from Abuse Hearing Instructions and Forms

Motion for Continuance Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

Custody Forms(11)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Custody Complaint Instructions and Forms

Modification of Custody Order Instructions and Forms

Petition for Civil Contempt of an Existing Custody Order Instructions and Forms

Emergency Custody Instructions & Forms

Motion for Continuance in a Custody Proceeding Instructions and Forms

Petition to Waive All or a Portion of Parenting Coordinator Costs Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

Divorce Forms(6)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

3301(c)(1) Divorce Instructions and Forms

3301(d) Divorce Instructions and Forms

Exceptions to The Divorce Hearing Officer’s Report and Recommendation Forms and Instructions

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

Final Protection Order Modification(1)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Defendant’s Petition to Modify a Final Protection Order Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

 

Guardianship Forms(6)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Petition for Guardianship Instructions and Forms

Designation of Temporary Guardian and Petition for Approval of Temporary Guardian Designation Instructions and Forms

Petition for Temporary Guardianship without Custodial Parent Consent Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

 

Hearing de Novo Forms(4)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Demand for Hearing De Novo Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) Forms(5)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Criminal Law Cases (Excluding Expungement and Petition for Order for Limited Access) Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Petitions for Expungement and Petitions for Order for Limited Access Instructions and Forms

 

License and Registration Suspension Appeal Forms(4)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Driver's License or Registration Suspension Appeal Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

Name Change Forms(5)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Minor Name Change Petition Instructions and Forms

Adult Name Change Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms


Record Marriage(4)

Confidential Information Form

Confidential Document Form

Petition to Record Marriage Instructions and Forms

In Forma Pauperis (IFP) for Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court Cases Instructions and Forms

 

Transcript Cost Waiver(3)

Confidential Document Form

Confidential Information Form

Petition to Waive Costs for All or a Portion of Transcript Costs Instructions and Forms

 

Other Information and Forms(26) 

Notice of Language Rights

Entry of Appearance for Self Represented Parties in Family Law Cases

GTS Essentials - Video Training

Request for Assignment to Divorce Hearing Officer or Judge

Waiver of Formal Arraignment Form

Entry of Appearance for Self-Represented Parties in Civil Cases

Motion for Appointment of Divorce Hearing Officer

Roster of Approved Parenting Coordinators for Dauphin County Court

Certificate of Compliance

Pre-Trial Statement for Custody Trial

Request for Transcript Form FAQ

Request for Transcript Form

Sample Custody Proposed Parenting Plan

Certificate Of Readiness

Custody Supervisor Affidavit

Custody Checklist Factors

Going to Court

Newspapers of General Circulation in Dauphin County

Interpreter Request Form

Criminal Record Abuse History Verification

Relocation Instructions and Forms

Guilty Plea Colloquy

 

 

Family Court Local Rules

 

 

Custody Local Rules(8)

205.2(a)-Physical Characteristics of Pleadings and Other Legal Papers

1915.1-Scope

1915.3-Custody Actions

1915.4-2-Custody Conference Officers

1915.4-3-Non-Appearance at a Custody Conference Before A Custody Conference Office 

1915.4-4-Pre-Trial Conferences and Trial

1915.5-Question of Jurisdiction

1915.7-Agreements

1915.11-1-Parenting Coordination

1915.12-Petition for Contempt of Custody Orders, Custody Agreement, Or Parenting Plan

1915.13-Petitions for Special Relief and Emergency Petitions for Custody

1915.15-Petition for Modification of a Custody Order

1915.17-Relocation-Change of Address Which Will Significantly Impair The Ability Of A Non-Relocating Party To Exercise Custodial Rights

Rule 1915.30 - Mandatory Co-Parenting Video Viewing

Divorce Local Rules(8)

 

1920.1-Form of Divorce or Annulment Complaint

1920.2-Question of Jurisdiction or Venue

1920.43-Pre-Hearing Divorce Matters, Special Relief, Advance Distribution, Discovery, Post-Divorce Issues (Other Than Exceptions To Hearing Officer’s Report)

1920.51-Equitable Distribution, Divorce, Annulment, Alimony, Counsel Fees, Costs and Expenses

1920.51A-Administrative Fees for Divorce Matters

Rule 1920.74(a) - FORM-Motion for Appointment of Hearing Officer

1920.74(b)-FORM-Order Appointing Hearing Officer and Scheduling Preliminary Conference

1920.77-Divorce Information Sheet

 

Other Family Court Local Rules(2)

1910.11-Domestic Relations Cases- Demand for Hearing de Novo Before the Court

1930.8-Self-Represented Party Entry of Appearance- Family Law Matters

 

 

Additional Resources