Originally posted on 6/01/2019, no content changes.

The Pennsylvania Divorce Code provides two no-fault grounds for divorce: Divorce by Mutual Consent and a Divorce based upon a One Year Separation.

In the case of a divorce by mutual consent, the parties often are able to reach an agreement and memorialize the terms in a writing known as Marital Settlement Agreement, in advance or at the same time as the Divorce Complaint is filed. Other times, parties may reach an agreement and memorialize the terms after the Divorce Complaint is filed but before the expiration of the required one-year separation. In such cases, the parties can obtain a divorce decree by mutually consenting to the divorce by filing affidavits no less than ninety (90) days from the service of the Divorce Complaint.

For all other cases, to avoid the necessity of requiring parties to meet the proof requirements of the fault-related grounds for divorce, a party can move a divorce matter to conclusion through court intervention following a one-year separation. Parties can be separated and still living in the same household. Proof of separation includes termination of an intimate relationship, separation of finances and representation to the community that the parties are separated. While the service of a Complaint for Divorce is a clear threshold for establishing a date of separation, a party can attempt to establish an earlier date of separation utilizing the applicable factors.

The Pennsylvania Divorce Code provides for six (6) fault-related grounds for divorce: Desertion, Adultery, Cruel and Barbarous Treatment, Bigamy, Incarceration, and Indignities. Even if a divorce complaint is filed alleging one or more of the fault-related grounds for divorce, the no-fault grounds are almost always also included in the complaint.

For more information on this topic please contact Megan Smith atmsmith@offitkurman.com.