Divorce, Custody, Support & Protection From Abuse
PFA orders are free, same-day, and we can have an abuser removed from the home within hours. For divorce, PA requires equitable distribution — fair, not necessarily equal. We handle custody, support, and the hard conversations.
Minimum 90 days for a mutual consent divorce (both parties agree). If one party doesn't consent, you must show one year of separation before the court will grant the divorce. Add time for property division, custody, and support disputes — a contested divorce can take 1–2 years or more.
No. Pennsylvania allows no-fault divorce on two grounds: mutual consent (90-day wait) or irretrievable breakdown after one year of separation. Fault-based divorce exists but is rarely necessary.
Pennsylvania uses equitable distribution — fair but not necessarily 50/50. The court considers over a dozen factors including length of marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, contributions as homemaker, and economic circumstances. Marital property is anything acquired during the marriage regardless of whose name it's in.
Not automatically. Spousal support during the divorce is based on income guidelines (40% of the income difference). Post-divorce alimony is discretionary and based on 17 statutory factors. Short marriages with similar-income spouses rarely result in alimony. Long marriages with significant income disparity are more likely to.
Best interest of the child, based on 16 statutory factors. The court looks at stability, which parent encourages the other's relationship with the child, abuse history, parental duties, and many other factors. There is no presumption favoring mothers or fathers.
If you've experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, or threats of these from a current or former spouse, partner, household member, or dating partner — yes. The petition is free to file and can be obtained the same day. The court can order the abuser to stay away, leave the home, surrender firearms, and more.
File discovery requests (interrogatories, document requests, subpoenas to banks and employers). If you suspect hidden accounts, the court can order forensic accounting. Deliberately hiding assets during a divorce is fraud and can result in sanctions, contempt, and an adverse inference in property division.
Only with 60 days' advance notice to the other parent (or a court order). If the other parent objects, the court holds a relocation hearing. Moving without proper notice can result in a change of custody.
Free consultations available for most practice areas.
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