Rule 1915.11-3 - Appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem; Physical and Mental Examination of Persons; Psychological Examinations and Home StudiesA. Upon agreement of the parties at the custody conciliation conference, the conciliator may include in the recommended interim custody order that the Court appoint a guardian ad litem or counsel for the child(ren) and/or a directive that the parties obtain physical evaluations, psychological evaluations, custody evaluations, home study evaluations, drug and alcohol evaluations and/or treatments, co-parenting counseling or reunification counseling prior to the date of the pre-trial conference or trial and may recommend a date by which the parties must make the initial arrangements.B. Any request by the parties for evaluations made after the initial conference and not made at the pre-trial conference or entered by stipulation must be made by Petition for Special Relief alleging specific facts and reasons for the request.C. The cost of the guardian ad litem shall be apportioned to the parties as directed by the Court or agreed upon by the parties.D. Unless otherwise directed by the Court or agreed upon by the parties, the expense of any evaluation shall be borne initially by the party requesting the evaluation and shall be paid in accordance with Pa.R.C.P. 1915.8. A final allocation of the expense may be made by the Court upon entry of an order or decision rendered on any issues raised in the proceeding.E. Any evaluation filed with the Court shall be filed as a confidential document under the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.Cent. Cnty. Pa. 1915.11-3
Added November 16, 2023 effective 1/2/2024.