APL and Spousal Support
APL and Spousal Support In Pennsylvania, when spouses are separated and no longer residing together, the party earning less may be eligible to receive monthly support. A spouse can file for Spousal Support or for Alimony Pendente Lite (APL). Both types of support provide a monthly payment to the plaintiff by the defendant during the […]
Is There a Gender Bias in Custody Court?
Is There a Gender Bias in Custody Court? A frequently asked question about custody cases is whether there is a gender bias in custody court. People wonder if a mother will get custody rather than a father based solely on the fact that she is the child(ren)’s mother. The custody statute, which was modified in […]
What if My Spouse Doesn’t Want a Divorce?
What if My Spouse Doesn’t Want a Divorce? You’ve told your spouse that you want a divorce, but they do not want the marriage to be over. Maybe they do not agree that the marriage is over, maybe they think that the issues can be resolved, or maybe they object for a different reason. If […]
Common Law Marriage
Common Law Marriage In Pennsylvania, common law marriage was abolished in 2005. Any common law marriage established prior to January 1, 2005 will be recognized, however. In order for a common law marriage to be created in Pennsylvania, simply living together for an extended period of time will not be enough. To create a common […]
Marriage and Divorce Statistics
Marriage and Divorce Statistics Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health releases Marriage and Divorce Statistics for the prior year. In 2019, 32,985 divorces and annulments were recorded. In 2019, there were 68,512 new marriages in Pennsylvania; this is the lowest number of annual marriages in the past eight years. In 2019 in Delaware County, […]
Personal Injury Settlements in Divorce
Personal Injury Settlements in Divorce If you are injured, and if you receive a settlement or award as a result, those funds may be considered to be marital property when the marital assets and debts are divided. Whether the funds marital property will depend on the date of the injury. If a party is injured […]
Factors Considered in Determining Alimony
Factors Considered in Determining Alimony In Pennsylvania, there are 17 factors enumerated in the divorce code which the court considers in determining whether to award alimony, for how long, and in what amount. The court has discretion with regard to how much alimony to award and the length of time it will be paid based […]
When Can My Child Tell the Court Where They Want to Live?
When Can My Child Tell the Court Where They Want to Live? In Pennsylvania, there is no particular age at which a child can dictate which parent they will reside with; however, the custody statute requires the court to consider the preference of the child so long as that preference is mature and well-reasoned. The […]
Staying Together for the Kids
Staying Together for the Kids Many unhappily married parents choose to stay married rather than separating and divorcing in the interest of “staying together for the kids.” They believe that it is best for their children to be raised in an intact family rather than to be the child of divorce. While it may be […]
What Happens if One Party Dies During Divorce Proceedings?
What Happens if One Party Dies During Divorce Proceedings? In Pennsylvania, if one party dies while a divorce is pending, the surviving spouse’s ability to proceed in obtaining a divorce decree or continuing forward with economic claims depends on whether grounds for divorce were established before the death. This means that if grounds for no-fault […]
