Pennsylvania Family Law

Divorce in Pennsylvania does not move at the same pace for everyone. Even when two couples follow the same laws, timelines can be very different. The length of your case depends on the type of divorce you file, how cooperative both spouses are, the complexity of your finances, and how busy the local courts are.

Child custody decisions in Pennsylvania follow one guiding principle: what is in the best interest of the child. Courts do not rely on assumptions or stereotypes when determining parenting time,they evaluate each family’s unique circumstances using 16 specific factors. These factors help judges assess stability, safety, parental involvement, cooperation, and each parent’s ability to meet the child’s emotional, educational, and physical needs.

Can I Make My Spouse Pay My Attorney Fees in a Pennsylvania Divorce Divorce can be expensive, especially when one spouse refuses to cooperate or drags out the process. When that happens, it’s not only frustrating—it’s unfair. Fortunately, Pennsylvania law allows judges to require one spouse to pay some or all of the other’s attorney’s […]

Finding the Right Path for Your Divorce Understanding ADR in Divorce Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in divorce refers to out-of-court methods that help couples reach agreements without the stress and cost of traditional litigation. The most common ADR processes in divorce are mediation and collaborative divorce. Each offers a different path to resolution based on […]

When Your Spouse Refuses to Cooperate in Divorce: What You Can Do Divorce is hard—but divorcing someone who refuses to cooperate can feel impossible. Some spouses will do everything they can to stall the process, refuse to negotiate, or simply ignore court orders. The good news is that you don’t need your spouse’s permission to […]

Ignoring Divorce Papers Could Cost You Everything Getting served with divorce papers is overwhelming. It is emotional, confusing, and often shocking. But the one thing you cannot afford to do is nothing. Ignoring a divorce filing can lead to serious legal consequences, including the loss of property, financial support, or even custody of your children. […]

When Infidelity Leads to Divorce, Emotions Run High Finding out your spouse has cheated can bring a mix of anger, grief, and confusion. When divorce is added into the equation, the emotional toll can make it difficult to think clearly. It is natural to want justice or compensation, but pursuing every detail of an affair […]

Not all Pennsylvania divorces are the same.  Some divorces are long, expensive, and painful court proceedings while others are relatively quiet and quick procedures.  One way to end your marriage quietly and quickly is to do so through an uncontested divorce – if it is appropriate for you. When Uncontested Divorces May be Appropriate Generally, […]

If You Missed the Deadline to Respond, You May Still Have Options It can happen in the middle of chaos. You receive divorce papers but feel overwhelmed, unsure, or emotionally unprepared. Maybe you miss a deadline. Maybe you think ignoring it will slow things down. But in Pennsylvania, failing to respond can lead to a […]

What Happens If Someone Doesn’t Respond to a Divorce Filing? In Pennsylvania, once a divorce petition is served, the receiving spouse has a limited time to respond. If they fail to file an answer within that timeframe, the court may enter a default judgment—a ruling that grants the filing spouse many or all of the […]