Witnesses are an important part of any Pennsylvania custody proceeding. A handful of well-chosen, relevant witnesses can make a big difference in your case.
It will be important for you to sit down with your lawyer, and providing the names and contact information of potential witnesses. You will also need to have some idea of what each witness can bring to the table.
Keep in mind each witness needs to be available to give testimony, though for the most part they’ll be doing so through a written statement called an affidavit. You also want witnesses who can shed light on different aspects of your child’s life and parenting experience. You don’t want to parade out four witnesses who all say the same thing. And remember, witnesses can’t testify to “hearsay,” only to things they saw and heard directly.
With that in mind, here are some prospects to think about.
Family Members
In many cases this is the weakest kind of witness, because the judge expects members of your family to take your side. But if, say, on ten occasions you had to drop your child off with your sister because your ex didn’t show up on time for his or her appointed visitation, she might make a good witness. Or if a member of your family directly witnessed your ex shouting verbal abuse at your child, that’s something worth putting forth for the judge’s consideration.
This is a somewhat stronger form of witness, as presumably, the friend was friends with both you and your ex. Just make sure the friends you choose have had ample time to observe how one or both of you interact with your child. If they don’t have anything useful to offer it’s better not to bother them.
Parents of Your Child’s Friends
This type of witness can be quite strong and can add testimony on several relevant facts. Which parents made the playdates? Which parents picked up the child and dropped him or her off? Did the parents observe any behavior of concern when they picked up or dropped off their own child?
Child Care Providers, Teachers, and Coaches
These are very strong witnesses, as they interact with your child every day. They can comment on who did pick-ups and drop offs, who came to conferences, who called in when the child was sick, and how you and your child interacted at these times. If they had any conversations with you or your ex which might be relevant they might include those as well. They can also testify that you are doing a good job of enforcing your child’s attendance.
Doctors, Dentists, and Therapists
This is another very strong set of witnesses. They can comment on which parent brought the child to appointments, who was involved in the child’s treatment plan, and the child’s general health and wellness. If your child sustained any injuries while in your ex’s care they can testify to this as well. Therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists may be able to give expert recommendations which can help your case. If they’re your mental health professional they can testify to a mental illness you have being well-controlled.
Members of the Clergy
If you and your family attended church regularly then your pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or equivalent holy person probably got a lot of chances to see you and your family in action. They, too, might have other bits of perspective to offer that could be useful.
Anyone else?
Maybe. We’re looking for people who have had a lot of chances to interact with you and your child. For the most part, we’re looking for people who can strengthen your position as a good parent, rather than attacking your ex as a bad parent. If abuse or neglect were present, then we’d be looking for the evidence of the neglect or abuse.
They’ll be stronger choices if they’ve known you for a long time and have seen you regularly. In general, we’re going to be working to put your strongest pieces of evidence forward first.
You also want people who are able to convey evidence in a clear, concise, and orderly way, who don’t veer off or get into irrelevant issues.
Patrick J. Cooper, Esq. is the founding partner of Cooper Family Law in Philadelphia, specializing in family law matters, including divorce, custody, and adoption. With over 20 years of experience, Patrick is dedicated to providing compassionate, client-focused legal services. He is a trusted advocate in Southeastern Pennsylvania and has been recognized by Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for his outstanding work in family law.
Patrick J. Cooper, Esq. is the founding partner of Cooper Family Law in Philadelphia, specializing in family law matters, including divorce, custody, and adoption. With over 20 years of experience, Patrick is dedicated to providing compassionate, client-focused legal services. He is a trusted advocate in Southeastern Pennsylvania and has been recognized by Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for his outstanding work in family law.
The best way to understand how Cooper Family Law can support you is by hearing directly from those we’ve helped. Our clients consistently praise our attentive service, thoughtful legal guidance, and successful outcomes. Read through our client testimonials to see why families across the Philadelphia region trust us with their most important legal matters.
Although Patrick was ultimately unable to take my case due to prior contact from the other party, he still took the time to speak with me and explain the situation with clarity and professionalism. I appreciated his honesty and integrity, as well as the thoughtful guidance he offered during a difficult moment. It’s rare to encounter someone so straightforward and respectful, and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone seeking knowledgeable and ethical legal counsel.
My divorce was a long and grueling process. I was very lucky to have somebody like Pat in my corner. Many times he went above and beyond my expectations and helped me through a really difficult time.Pat was readily available for whenever I needed him, which wound up being often. He is a stand-up guy who is knowledgable and experienced. He was ready to go to bat for me at a moments notice when the situation arrived (which wound up being often).Getting divorced is overwhelming, scary, and can make… More you feel like you are on your own. Having a guy like Pat on your side makes it a little bit easier.I highly recommend Pat.
I am grateful to have Patrick Cooper as my family lawyer. Patrick Cooper and his team was the highly competent, engaging, and accessible legal professionals that I needed to guide me through very complex legal matters that I was unfamiliar with. Attorney Cooper is not only well-informed, but also easy to talk to, takes the time needed to interpret the law and advise on options, cares about outcomes, and is affordable. I highly recommend the Cooper Family Law firm without any hesitation.
I am very grateful to have found Patrick and Monique in a difficult time! They were patient, reliable, always available to answer questions and provide recommendations along the way. I felt my interests were important to them and represented at every juncture. The process was smooth and handled so professionally, I never doubted I had experts in my corner.I’d absolutely recommend Cooper Family Law to anyone seeking legal representation!
Working with Cooper Family Law has been an excellent professional experience. Patrick Cooper demonstrates exceptional expertise in divorce law and maintains clear, timely communication throughout every stage of our collaboration. Their attention to detail and commitment to client outcomes make them a reliable partner in the legal field. Highly recommended for anyone seeking knowledgeable and efficient divorce attorneys in Philadelphia.
Cooper Family Law is the best divorce law firm in the Philadelphia area. They handled my complicated divorce with child custody, support, and division of property issues. My attorney and the support staff were excellent. They really took the time to understand my situation, explain the process to me, and helped me approach every decision that I had to make in an educated and practical way. I strongly recommend them to anyone else who needs a divorce lawyer in the Philadelphia area.
I am beyond grateful for the exceptional representation I received from attorney Zachary throughout my long and challenging custody case. This process has taken years prior to Cooper Law Firm and has been incredibly difficult—emotionally, mentally, and physically—for both me and my son. From the very beginning, Zach approached my case with compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to achieving what was best for my child’s wellbeing.As a young mother, I often felt dismissed or misunderstood… More before finding Cooper Law Firm. He was the first attorney who truly listened, believed in me, and validated what I was experiencing. He never made me feel irrational or unheard. Instead, he helped me feel grounded and supported through every step of the process.Zach’s dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care for my son’s mental and physical health were evident in everything he did. He consistently fought for what was right and made sure my son’s best interests were always the top priority.Thanks to Zach’s expertise and persistence, my son and I finally have the stability and peace we’ve been working toward for years. I cannot recommend Zach and his firm highly enough to anyone facing a difficult custody matter. Their professionalism, empathy, and commitment truly set them apart.
Zachary Bartman was an outstanding lawyer and I’m extremely grateful for his representation in my PFA case. He was professional, knowledgeable, and well-prepared from start to finish. He took the time to explain everything clearly, answered my questions honestly, fought hard for me in court and completely shut out the opposing council. Thanks to his expertise and confidence, we won the case. I highly recommend Zachary Bartman to anyone who needs a skilled and dependable attorney, especially for PFA… More matters.
My child custody case has been difficult from day one. I was previously represented by a lawyer who was not straightforward with me about the process and did not explain my options clearly. Working with the Cooper Family Law team was so much better. Like night and day. Patrick and his team were friendly and helpful from the beginning. Everyone that I worked with on the team was really sharp and also kind. They guided me through a very difficult time. They are the best child custody lawyers in the… More Philly area!
I hired the firm to draft my prenuptial agreement, including helping me put together my goals and the necessary disclosures. They were informative, efficient and personable but most importantly they kept us on track throughout the process so that we were able to finalize everything well before our wedding.
Zach is the guy that knows what he is doing. The system might appear to not be on your side at the beginning of your litigation, but Zach not only builds your case squarely but he also brings the law to your side with equity and fairness.You cannot be wrong with him. Thank you
Carol Krawitz has been nothing short of amazing. This has been the most difficult time of my life; however, Carol has made this transition for me as smooth as possible. She has displayed a great understanding of family law, which has helped me through my custody issues. Although my journey isn't over, I'm happy with the results that I have achieved with Carol Krawitz leading the process.
I had an extremely great experience with Zachary Bartman! I can’t thank him enough for the help he provided me with during an incredibly difficult time. I contacted the bar association, and he reached out to me first within that same day. He took the time to listen to me and assess the situation. Although it took time to detain him due to unfortunate events. That initial contact from him stuck with me! He led with confidence, empathy and compassion. I felt safe, heard, understood and supported all… More in a short phone call. When I was ready to start my legal journey; I called him back and he and his assistant Anna (I believe) met me with so much patience and grace. My custody and Divorce matter was a challenging situation, but he made it manageable and provided me with a phenomenal level of professionalism and understanding that made me feel ready, empowered and reassured. I was overwhelmed emotionally, and I have been bullied for years and tried to avoid the courts. I needed counsel at this point; I wanted fairness and what was best for my children. He walked me through the entire process before it happened; we talked, I cried, he listened to my story sincerely, we laughed at my thoughts/ jokes lol I felt supported the entire way! He made me proud the way he stepped up and handled the room. I will highly recommend Mr. Bartman to anyone in need of one of the best Divorce & custody lawyers! Cooper Family Law, you have a gem! Thank you!
Zachary helped me through my case. I truly believe it was because of him that I won. He listened to my story and he made sure the truth was heard in trial. He fostered confidence in me during a very anxious time. He was professional, polite, and understood his job very well. He walked me through the entire process before it happened and provided reassurance throughout. I'd recommend him to anyone I know.
I can’t thank Pat and his staff enough for the help they provided my family during an incredibly trying time. He took the time to listen and assess the situation, make thoughtful recommendations, and be a constant resource so we achieved our goal of a fair and equitable outcome. One of the best in PA!
Never a pleasure to be in court, but always a pleasure to work with Cooper Family Law. From the very beginning, they made a challenging situation manageable and provided a level of professionalism and understanding that was both reassuring and empowering. The team is thorough, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable about family law, guiding me through each step with patience and clear communication. Zachary Bartman, in particular, was a standout—his dedication and expertise led to a favorable outcome… More in my case, and I felt supported the entire way. If you're looking for a firm that truly has your back, Cooper Family Law is the one.
It was a smooth experience with this lawyer. She was very nice and polite. She did everything to make the divorce easy and smooth so I will appreciate anybody that want to use her in divorce to go ahead and have that confidence in this lawyer OK thank you guys. God bless.
Pat is a highly knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney. Handles cases with professionalism and care, ensuring the best outcomes for his clients. Highly recommend!
Pat Cooper has the experience, expertise and communication skills that deliver favorable results. Pat's familiarity with Philadelphia's courts and judges proved invaluable.
Mr. Cooper’s “bedside manner” - if you will - is almost avuncular. His mastery of jurisprudence is evident after mere minutes into a conversation.To be succinct: The man is good at what he does.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Cooper Family Law, particularly with Zachary S. Bartman, for the preparation of a prenuptial agreement. From the initial consultation to the finalization of the prenuptial agreement, Zachary S. Bartman demonstrated a high level of professionalism, expertise, and dedication. He meticulously explained every aspect of the agreement, ensuring that I understood all the terms and conditions involved and that the agreement was fair and comprehensive. His responsiveness… More was remarkable—he consistently replied to my inquiries in a timely fashion, which greatly contributed to the smooth and efficient process.The entire process with Cooper Family Law was seamless, thanks to Zachary’s diligent efforts. The firm’s organizational skills, combined with Zachary’s expertise, made what could have been a stressful and complicated procedure remarkably straightforward and stress-free.I highly recommend Cooper Family Law and Zachary S. Bartman to anyone in need of legal assistance with prenuptial agreements or any other family law matters.
I was given last minute notice that I had to appear in court for a legal matter. I had one day to find representation and when I called Cooper Family Law, they took the time to listen to me and responded swiftly. Mr. Zachary Bartman contacted me to discuss the case and assured me that he would meet me in court the following day. Mr. Bartman exceeded my expectations in every way when it came to handling my case. He addressed any questions or concerns that I may have had. While I hated having to be… More in court, Mr. Bartman helped to make it more bearable for me. I can’t say enough good things about Mr. Bartman and this firm. In the end we got the desired outcome and I don’t believe it would have been possible without him. I am extremely appreciative for your help throughout this process, Zachary. I would 100 percent recommend this firm and if the need arises in the future, I will have them represent me. If you find yourself reading my review, please understand that I hate leaving reviews so that should speak to the level of professionalism that Zachary displayed. Don’t hesitate to contact Cooper Family Law if you need assistance.
Zach did a excellent job in handling my pfa case. Zach is very intelligent and sharp as a tac in handling the false accusations made against me. Most importantly you should consider hiring him to help you defend against a pfa because when it's time for him to do his job, he takes control of the court room and gets it done. It doesn't matter what kind of lies you are up against and the new lies that come out during court Zach puts it down thank you for the awesome job. Robert Nimchuk
When I first realized I needed a lawyer for my custody situation, I simply googled custody law and chose to call Cooper Family Law because I had heard the name before through some advertisement somewhere. My consultation with Zachary Bartman was smooth and reassuring but when I met him in person I noticed he looked super young, and I feared he lacked the experience needed to produce my desired outcome.My ex refused to concede any ground at all, and we were forced to go to a custody trial. When I… More tell you Zachary Bartman completely overwhelmed opposing counsel and made their arguments appear foolish to our trial judge, I am not exaggerating. In fact, I felt foolish for judging a book by its cover. He was able to get me what my family and I had set out for despite a mountain of lies and nonsense impeding us. I now cherish the time I get to spend with my son, and I thank God I picked up the phone to call Cooper Family Law everyday. I will highly recommend Mr. Bartman to anyone in need of one of the best custody lawyers in Philly/Delco/Montco areas, and if I am ever in another pickle I know he’s the guy to get the job done.
Patrick has done an amazing job reuniting our family. Very professional, prompt responses, and leaves no questions unanswered. We are very grateful that Patrick was sent out way, without him, we would not of had our family reunited. Patrick representing our family truly was a blessing. We highly recommend hiring Patrick.
Thank you for your great services, Mr. Patrick Cooper, he worked fast & efficiently to get a winning result ,I highly recommend Cooper Family law firm ,If you want to win any Custody issue or other Services. This is the go to firm.
