The 3.5/Pathfinder Handbook

[Rixx]

Did a little more research on the paladin problem. It does say that a Paladin falls if they ever willingly commit an evil act. It then goes on to loosely explain the paladin's code.

A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class features except proficiencies if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

Note the "Additionally" - the paladin code is separate from the indicator of what makes a paladin fall. And note - minor violations of your code of conduct? Lying for the greater good? Neutral acts, not evil ones. But that goes into an alignment debate that pretty much throws any pretense of objectivity out the window, so I won't explore it any more.

RAW, a paladin does not fall for violating his code. He falls if he ever willingly commits an evil act. (That is, willingly - if deceived into doing so or under compulsion to do so, he does not fall.) Only gross violations of his code can reasonably be considered evil acts.