Pennsylvania Divorce Laws

Pennsylvania Divorce Laws

Every state has its own set of divorce laws that are unique in its own locality. Although some core principles remain the same, there are also several elements that are distinct to a particular state. In this article, you will find an overview of Pennsylvania divorce laws:

Definitions

First, we start with a few definitions. These might seem like legal jargon for some people, but it helps if you learn what these words mean in order to clarify some unique characteristics of Pennsylvania divorce laws, process and paper work that you file in court.

* Plaintiff - The spouse who initiated the divorce by filing the required paper work with the court; filing party title
* Defendant - The spouse who did not initiate the divorce; non-filing party title
* Court Name - 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.

Court of Common Pleas, __________ County, Pennsylvania

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

Residency Requirements

These are paper works required by Pennsylvania divorce laws in order for the court to acquire jurisdiction over your case and be authorized to give a divorce decree after due hearing.

Residency requirements set by Pennsylvania divorce laws are only typically a concern for a spouse who has recently moved or is planning to move in the near future.

At State level, the only requirement is that either spouse must be a resident of the State of Pennsylvania for at least six months immediately prior to the filing of the divorce case. For a divorce or annulment proceeding to be brought in the county, the requirements can be any of the following:

* The defendant is a resident of the county where the divorce was filed;
* If the defendant resides outside the Commonwealth, the divorce may be filed where the plaintiff resides;
* The matrimonial domicile is the county where the divorce was filed, provided that the plaintiff has continuously resided in said county;
* Prior to six months after the date of final separation and with agreement of the defendant, where the plaintiff resides or, if neither party continues to reside in the county of matrimonial domicile, where either party resides;
* Six months after the date of final separation, where either party resides.

Grounds for Divorce

To initiate a divorce proceeding, a Complaint for Divorce will have to be filed with the Pennsylvania court. In this document, the complainant (plaintiff) will request the court to terminate the marriage based on certain ground as specified by Pennsylvania divorce laws.