HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-21-07
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" IN RE:
GUARDIANSHIP OF
ARIYANNA L. MCNEAL and
AVERY M. MCNEAL
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION
NO. 21-07-0648
JANET L. MCNEAL and
MICHAEL F. MCNEAL,
Plaintiffs
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - CUSTODY
VS
NO. 07-4135
BRANDON CRU Z ,
Defendant
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this 17th day of August, 2007, upon
consideration of the attached stipulation of the parties and
pursuant to an agreement reached in open court between the parties
and their respective counsel, the terms of the stipulation attached
hereto are entered as an Order of Court.
By the Court,
J.
Barbara Sumple-Sullivan, Esquire
For the Plaintiffs
Mark A. Mateya, Esquire
For the Defendant
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Barbara Sumple-Sullivan, Esquire
Supreme Court #32317
549 Bridge Street
New Cumberland, P A 17070
(717) 774-1445
INRE:
GUARDIANSHIP OF
ARIY ANNA L. McNEAL and
AVERYM. McNEAL
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION
: NO. 21-07-0648
JANET L. McNEAL and,
MICHAEL F. McNEAL,
Plaintiffs
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
BRANDON CRUZ,
: CIVIL ACTION - CUSTODY
Defendant
: NO. 07-4135
STIPULATION FOR ENTRY OF ORDER
THIS A GREEMENT made the _ day of
,2007, by and
between Janet L. McNeal and Michael F. McNeal (hereinafter referred to as Maternal
Grandparents), a wife and husband residing at 1050 Hemlock Lane, Enola, Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania 17025, and Brandon Cruz (hereinafter referred to as Father), an
adult individual residing at 500 Geneva Drive, Apt. G4, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania 17055.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the above captioned matters relate to the guardianship, legal custody
and physical custody of the minor children, Ariyanna L. McNeal and Avery M. McNeal,
both born July 23, 2000;
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WHEREAS, Grandparents are the Maternal Grandparents of the minor children at
Issue. The children and Colleen E. McNeal, natural mother of the children, had been
residing with Maternal Grandparents since November, 2006. Since Colleen E. McNeal's
death on April 2, 2007, Maternal Grandparents have assumed responsibility for the
children and the children continue to reside with them;
WHEREAS, Father is the natural father of the minor children at issue;
WHEREAS, in order to secure legal authority for the children's continuation of
enrollment in the same school district, as well as for the children's medical needs and the
ability to manage and meet the children's financial and support needs, Maternal
Grandparents filed the above captioned guardianship action on or about July 10, 2007,
seeking appointment as guardians of the minor persons and estates of the children;
WHEREAS, the Maternal Grandparents also initiated the above captioned custody
action and simultaneously filed a Petition for Emergency Relief against Father on or
about July 12,2007, after contact from the police lead them to believe that Father was
going to attempt to physically remove the children from Maternal Grandparents' home.
Father has not acted to physically remove the children;
WHEREAS, a hearing has been scheduled on both the Petition for Appointment of
Guardians of Minors' Persons and Estates and the Petition for Emergency Relief for
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Friday, August 17,2007 at 11:15 a.m. before the Honorable 1. Wesley Oler, Jr.;
WHEREAS, a custody conciliation has been scheduled in the custody matter for
Thursday, August 23, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. before Custody Conciliator, Hubert X. Gilroy;
WHEREAS, the parties have been able to reach an agreement on a plan which will
presently avoid the necessity of hearing on the filed Petitions for Appointment of
Guardians of Minors' Persons and Estates and Petition for Emergency Relief; and
NOW THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, and knowing that
this stipulation shall become an order of court in each of the above captioned actions,
subject to paragraph six of this Stipulation, agree as follows:
1. The recitals contained in the whereas clauses are incorporated herein by
reference.
2. The parties agree that the Court shall enter an Order granting shared legal
custody between Maternal Grandparents and Father.
3. The parties agree that the court shall enter an order granting to the Maternal
Grandparents legal guardianship of the persons and estates of Ariyanna and
Avery McNeal. Both parties acknowledge that this shall empower the
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Maternal Grandparents to continue the children's enrollment in public school
in the East Pennsboro School District where Maternal Grandparents and the
children reside. This shall also allow for the children to qualify for medical
insurance through medical plans offered by Maternal Grandparents' employer.
Maternal Grandparents shall have the authorization to seek and secure medical
care for the children, including but not limited to, enrollment in bereavement
counseling at The Caring Place.
4. Maternal Grandparents shall give notice to Father of any medical problems
occurring with the children and provide updates on the children's educational
performance and progress. This shall include, but not be limited to, copies of
their report cards.
5. The parties agree that, pending further order of court, the children shall
continue in the physical custody of the Maternal Grandparents.
6. The Custody Conciliation scheduled for Thursday, August 23,2007, at 9:30
a.m. before Custody Conciliator, Hubert X. Gilroy, shall be held as scheduled,
subject to the paragraphs seven through nine, below.
7. Once the children's eligibility shall be established on the medical plans of the
Maternal Grandparents or within sixty days (60), whichever comes first, the
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children will commence counseling with Pinnacle Health/Psychological
Services for the purposes of evaluation of the appropriateness of the children's
custodial time with Father. Pending the recommendation of the therapist or
further order of Court, Respondent shall not have any independent contact with
the children outside of the therapeutic setting. The counselor shall objectively
assess the children's present mental and emotional health and assess the extent
of bonding between the children and Father. Once this is complete, the parties
will rely on the therapist's assessment to determine the extent of Father's
custody time with the children. Father has indicated that it is his goal to
achieve regular periods of partial custody with the children, which periods of
partial custody shall include alternating weekends. Father reserves the right to
seek expanded time with the children as circumstances may be deemed
appropriate.
8. Further, the Maternal Grandparents and Father agree to begin joint therapeutic
counseling with the hope of resolving issues of mistrust and problems which
have arisen over the years since Father's relationship with Colleen. The goal
of this counseling is to allow the parties to be able to communicate for the best
interest of the minor children.
9. The cost of all counseling for the children and the parties shall be shared
equally between Maternal Grandparents and Father.
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10. The parties agree that this Stipulation shall be entered as an Order of Court to
both dockets.
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