What Are The Requirements For Divorce In Pennsylvania?

Divorce is a legal process that is generally controlled by state law. Getting divorced in Pennsylvania can be fairly straightforward, but you must follow certain procedures to finalize it in the way you want it as quickly as possible.

Here is a brief summary of divorce requirements in Pennsylvania:

• Residency requirements: To be granted divorce in Pennsylvania, you or your spouse must be a bona fide state resident for at least six months.
• Grounds for divorce: Pennsylvania is a no-fault divorce state, which means you can state “irretrievable breakdown” as the grounds for divorce. This removes the burden of proving that your spouse is at fault, but does have mandatory waiting periods which vary depending on the level of consent or cooperation of the parties.
  • Other grounds for divorce include adultery, cruelty, violence, abandonment for at least a year, bigamy and conviction of a crime.
• Defenses to divorce filing: For divorce filings on any grounds other than irretrievable breakdown, the spouse who did not file can use any defense available under Pennsylvania common law.

Learn More About Divorce Law From Our Lawyer

Divorce laws are always subject to change. For more specific advice about how these requirements apply to you, please contact The Law Offices of Dawn K. Gull. We provide experienced and practical divorce for clients in the Wexford, Pennsylvania, area, including Allegheny and Butler counties. Call 412-440-5718 to schedule a case evaluation with attorney Dawn K. Gull.