Divorce Laws in Pennsylvania – Divorce Mediation Philadelphia, Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Main Line, PA
A brief guide to divorce in Pennsylvania
Couples thinking of separating permanently or temporarily in Pennsylvania should be aware of the following:
Pennsylvania state divorce laws
To file for divorce in Pennsylvania, one or both of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for at least six months.
Grounds for divorce
Aside from no fault divorces, there are six valid grounds to file for an at-fault divorce in Pennsylvania:
• Adultery
• Bigamy
• Desertion lasting a year or longer
• Imprisonment for two years or longer
• Endangering a spouse’s life
• Otherwise rendering marital life impossible to bear
Types of divorce
Couples who jointly file for divorce or who agree on the terms of their separation are filing for an uncontested divorce in Pennsylvania. Those couples who cannot come to an agreement or where one spouse does not consent to the divorce will appear in court to have their contested divorce resolved by a judge.
No fault divorce
Couples who agree on the terms of their separation may file for a no fault divorce in Pennsylvania by claiming their marriage is irretrievably beyond repair. There is a waiting period of 90 days before the divorce will be finalized. No fault divorce in Pennsylvania may also be filed for by couples who have lived apart for one year or longer.
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