HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-4219BARBARA A. BRITTON,
JEFFREY STEPLER, JR.
Plaintiff
Defendants
1N THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION-LAW
NO. OIJ --/-/~15~
IN CUSTODY
COMPLAINT IN CUSTODY
AND NOW, this ~ dayof ~x ~i~, 2004, comes Plaintiff Barbara A. Britton,
by and through her attorney, Andrew C. Spears, Esquire, of the law firm of Metzger,
Wickersham, Knauss & Erb, P.C., and files the within Complaint of which the following is a
statement:
1. Plaintiff Barbara A. Britton (hereinafter "Mother") is an adult individual currently
residing at 19 North Morris Street, Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17257.
2. Defendant Jeffrey Stepler, Jr., (hereinafter "Father") is an adult individual
believed to be residing at 19 Irvin Drive, Shippensburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, 17257.
3. Plaintiff seeks primary physical custody and primary legal custody of the
following Minor Child:
Name
Devin Shane Stepler
Present Address
19 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Date of Birth
03/10/1994
Plaintiff Barbara A. Britton is the natural Mother of the above-mentioned Minor
Child.
Child.
Defendant Jeffrey Stepler, Jr., is the natural Father of the above-mentioned Minor
the following addresses:
Name
Barbara A. Britton
Ashley Macedo
Barbara A. Britton
Ashley Macedo
Dylan Baker
The Minor Child was bom out of wedlock.
The Minor Child is presently in the custody of Plaintiff.
For the past five years, the Minor Child has resided with the following persons at
Address Date
5933 Old Scotland Rd.
Apt. 3
Shippensburg, PA 17257
19 N. Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
From 1999 to
May 2003
May 2003
to present
The mother of the Minor Child is PlaintiffBarbara A. Britton who currently resides at 19
N. Morris Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257.
The father of the Minor Child is Defendant Jeffi'ey Stepler, Jr., who currently resides at
19 lrvin Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257.
6. The relationship of Defendant to the Minor Child is that of natural father. The
Defendant is believed to reside with the following persons:
Name Relationship
Jen Weaver
Kara Weaver
Shakira Weaver
Girlfriend
Girlfriend's daughter
Daughter
7. The relationship of Plaintiffto the Minor Child is that of natural mother. The
Plaintiff currently resides with the following persons:
293507-1
Name Relationship
Dylan Baker Boyfriend
Ashley Macedo Daughter
Devin Stepler Son
6. Plaintiff has no information of any custody proceeding concerning the Minor
Child pending in a court of law of this Commonwealth.
7. Each parent whose parental rights to the Minor Child have not been terminated
and the person who has physical custody of the Minor Child has been named as parties to this
action.
8. Plaintiff does not know of a person not a party to the proceedings who has
physical custody of the Minor Child or claims to have custody or visitation with respect to the
Minor Child.
9. The best interest and permanent welfare of the Minor Child will be served by
granting the relief requested because:
(a) Plaintiff, Barbara A. Britton, is in a better position, both financially and
emotionally, to provide stability and custody for the Minor Child;
Plaintiff, Barbara A. Britton, has been the primary caretaker for the Minor
Co)
Child since birth;
(c)
Plaintiff, Barbara A. Britton, is in a position to provide a stable, responsible
environment for the raising of the Minor Child;
293507-1
(d) Defendant, Jeffrey Stepler, Jr., has had basically no contact, visitation,
telephone calls, Christmas cards, birthday cards, etc., with the Minor Child since she was two (2)
years of age;
(e) Mother believes that it would be in the Minor Child's best interest to
establish an Order so that there is no confusion regarding the rights and responsibilities of the
parents.
WHEREFORE, PlaintiffBarbara A. Britton requests the Court to grant her primary
physical custody and pr/mary legal custody of the Minor Child.
METZGER, WICKERSHAM, KNAUSS & ERB, P.C.
By
Andrew C. Spears, Esquire
Attorney I.D. No. 87737
P.O. Box 5300
Harrisburg, PA 17110-0300
(717) 238-8187
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Dated:
293507-1
VERIFICATION
I, Barbara A. Britton, verify that the statements made in the foregoing Complaint in
Custody are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. I understand
that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. §4904, relating to
unswom falsification to authorities.
Dated:
Barbara A. Britton
Document #~765685
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Andrew C. Spears, Esquire, of the law firm ofMetzger, Wickersham, Knauss & Erb, P.C.,
hereby certify that I served a tree and exact copy of the Complaint for Custody with reference to the
foregoing action by first class mail, prepaid, this~_.~_~day of ~,~ ~ ,2004, on the
following:
Jeffrey Stepler, Jr.
19 Irvin Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
· Andrew C. Spe~s, Esqu'~
Document #265685
BARBARA A. BRITTON
PLAINTIFF
V.
JEFFREY STEPLER, JR.
DEFENDANT
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:
04-4219 CIVIL ACTION LAW
:
: IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, Thursday, September 02, 2004 , upon consideration of the attached Complaint,
it is hereby directed that parties and their respective counsel appear belbre Jaeque]line M. Verney, Esq. , the conciliator,
at 4th Floor, Cumberland County Courthouse, Carlisle on Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 9:30 AM
for a Pre-Hearing Custody Conference. At such conference, an effort will be made to resolve the issues in dispute; or
if this cannot be accomplished, to define and narrow the issues to be heard by the court, and to enter into a temporary
order. All children age five or older may also be present at the conference. Failure to appear at the conference may
provide grounds for entry of a temporary or permanent order.
The court hereby directs the parties to furnish any and all existing Protection from Abuse orders,
Special Relief orders, and Custody orders to the conciliator 48 hours prior to scheduled hearing.
FOR THE COURT.
By: /s/ ]acqueline M. Verney. Esq,
Custody Conciliator
rnhc
The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County is required by law to comply with the
Americans with Disabilites Act of 1990. For information about accessible facilities and reasonable
accommodations available to disabled individuals having business before the court, please contact our office.
All arrangements must be made at least 72 hours prior to any hearing or business before the court. You must
attend the scheduled conference or hearing.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR ATTORNEY AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE AN ATTORNEy OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPI-[ONE THE OFFICE SET
FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP.
Cumberland County Bar Association
32 South Bedford Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Telephone (717) 24%3166
BARBARA A. BRITTON,
Plaintiff
V.
JEFFREY STEPLER, JR.,
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
-_
: NO. 2004-4219 CIVIL TERM
:
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
: IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this q' day of OOag~' ,2004, upon
consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Report, it is ordered and directed as
follows:
1. The Mother, Barbara A. Britton, and the Father, Jeffrey Stepler, Jr., shall
have shared legal custody of Devin Shane Stepler, bom March 10, 1994. Each parent
shall have an equal right, to be exemised jointly with the other parent, to make all major
non-emergency decisions affecting the Child's general well-being including, but not
limited to, all decisions regarding his health, education and religion.
2. Mother shall have primary physical custody of the Child.
3. Father shall have periods of partial physical custody of the Child as
recommended by the Child's counselor.
4. The parties shall cooperate with counseling for the Child. In this regard,
both shall sign necessary releases requested by the counselor. If recommended by the
counselor, both parties shall participate in counseling with the Child.
5. Father shall be entitled to reasonable telephone contact with the Child
which may be monitored by Mother.
6. Neither party shall do or say anything or permit third parties to do or say
anything that may estrange the Child from the other parent, injure the opinion of the
Child as to the other parent, or hamper the free and natural development of the Child's
love and respect for the other parent. Mother shall encourage contact between Father and
Child.
7. This Order is entered pursuant to an agreement of the parties at a Custody
Conciliation Conference. The parties may modify the provisions of this Order by mutual
consent. In the absence of mutual consent, the terms of this Order shall control.
BY THE COURT,
cc:~drewC. Spears, Esquire, Counsel forMother
'.fl~fl~ey Stepler, Jr., pro se
19 IrvinDfive
Shippensburg, PA17257
BARBARA A. BRITTON,
Plaintiff
V.
JEFFREY STEPLER, JR.,
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
._
: 2004-4219 CIVIL TERM
:
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
: IN CUSTODY
PRIOR JUDGE: None
CUSTODY CONCILIATION SUMMARY REPORT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CUMBERLAND COUNTY RULE OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE 1915.3-8, the undersigned Custody Conciliator submits the following
report:
1. The pertinent information concerning the Child who is the subject of this
litigation is as follows:
NAME
Devin Shane Stepler
DATE OF BIRTH
March 10, 1994
CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY OF
Mother
2. A Conciliation Conference was held in this matter on September 30, 2004,
with the following individuals in attendance: The Mother, Barbara A. Britton, with her
counsel, Andrew C. Spears, Esquire and Father, Jeffrey Stepler, Jr., pro se.
3. The parties agreed to an Order in the form as attached.
Date
Custody Conciliator