Pennsylvania Divorce Laws

Pennsylvania divorce laws for people considering a Pennsylvania divorce or filing a Pennsylvania divorce with issues to be resolved about child custody, child support, visitation and alimony. Pennsylvania statutes can be viewed at  http://members.aol.com/StatutesPA/23.html.  Statutes cover but are not limited to the following subjects:

•Divorce Definitions

•Divorce Residency Requirements

•Grounds for Divorce

•Uncontested Divorce

•Simplified Divorce Process

•Military Divorce Laws

•Child Custody

•Child Support Considerations

•Child Support Definitions

•Child Support Guidelines

•Spousal Support, Maintenance, and Alimony guidelines

•Property Division Considerations

•Grandparents’ Rights

Pennsylvania Divorce Definitions

These definitions will help you understand some unique characteristics to the Pennsylvania Divorce laws, process and paperwork which is filed with the court.

Filing Party Title: Plaintiff - The spouse who will initiate the Divorce by filing the required paperwork with the court.

Non-Filing Party Title: Defendant -The spouse who does not initiate the Divorce with the court.

Court Name: Court of Common Pleas, ___ County, Pennsylvania-The proper name of the court in which a Divorce is filed in the state of Pennsylvania. Each jurisdictional court typically has a domestic relations or a family law department or division.

Child Support Enforcement Website:
http://www.pachildsupport.com/ -The state run office devoted to enforcing existing child support orders and collecting any past due child support.

Document Introduction: In Re the Marriage of: The lead-in verbiage used in the legal caption or header of the documents filed with the court. The introduction typically prefaces both spouse’s names.

Initial Divorce Document: Complaint for Divorce -The title and name of the legal document that will initiate the Pennsylvania Divorce process. The filing spouse is also required to provide the non-filing spouse a copy of this document.

Final Divorce Document: Decree of Divorce -The title and name of the legal document that will finalize the Pennsylvania Divorce process. This document will be signed by the judge, master, or referee of the court to declare your marriage officially terminated.

Clerk’s Office Name: County Clerk’s Office of the Court of Common Pleas -The office of the clerk that will facilitate the Divorce process. This is the title you would address letters to or ask for when contacting the courthouse.

Legal Separation: The spouses may enter into a binding separation agreement if it is made on reasonable terms. There is no residency requirement specified by statute. [Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated; Title 23, Section 3301].

Property Distribution: Equitable Distribution -The applicable Pennsylvania law that will dictate how property and debt is to be divided upon Divorce.

Pennsylvania Divorce Resources -

Pennsylvania Specific Divorce Overview

Pennsylvania Specific Divorce Articles -

Pennsylvania Specific Divorce Documents -

Pennsylvania Specific Divorce Professionals -