Online Divorce
in Pennsylvania

  • Top-notch divorce forms in 2 business days
  • Affordable price
  • Printable PDF format
  • Simple and intuitive interface
  • A free detailed guide for filing without a lawyer
  • Available for any device
  • Friendly and quality customer support

Do you qualify for
an online divorce?

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Do you know the location of your spouse?
Is your spouse in agreement regarding this divorce and willing to sign the divorce papers with you?
Do you and your spouse have any children under the age of 18 from this marriage?
Pennsylvania Divorce

Why Online Divorce is
a Good Idea

Online divorce is a convenient and understandable way to generate divorce documents without leaving home. In a matter of days, spouses can receive ready-made papers and file for divorce on the same day without overpaying for lawyer services.

To use online divorce, partners need to complete the CompleteCase.com survey and provide information regarding their marriage and the divorce terms. The CompleteCase.com questionnaire only asks for the data necessary to complete the forms and does not give it to third parties.

The online platform generates court-required forms following the latest Pennsylvania requirements and the case circumstances within two business days. After that, the spouses can download the papers from their accounts and submit them under the instructions.

Pennsylvania residents choose online divorce because:

Divorce Preparation Cost

Contested Divorce

  • Expensive lawyers
  • Disagreements between spouses
  • Lengthy litigation
  • The need to adjust your schedule for court hearings
  • The court makes decisions that do not always satisfy the wishes of the parties

Online Divorce $299

  • Affordable prices
  • Clear step-by-step instructions
  • No need to hire expensive lawyers
  • Transparent process
  • Download completed forms in just 2 business days
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Convenient and understandable system

DIY Divorce

  • It can be difficult to fill out forms yourself
  • A Court rejects the case if the forms have any mistakes
  • It's not suitable for those who have even small disputes
  • It may lead to unexpected expenses
  • It takes more time
Pennsylvania Divorce Forms

Pennsylvania Divorce Forms

Filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, partners may need the following forms:

  • Notice to Defend and Divorce Complaint
  • Self-Represented Party Entry of Appearance
  • Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
  • Affidavit of Service of Original Process by Mail
  • Acceptance of Service
  • Affidavit of Personal Service
  • Waiver of Notice for Plaintiff
  • Certificate of Service of Legal Papers Other than Original Process
  • Certificate of Service
  • Divorce Decree
  • Praecipe to Transmit Record
  • Notice of Intention to Resume Prior Surname
  • Marital Settlement Agreement
  • Counseling Notice
  • Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
  • Affidavit of Consent of Plaintiff
  • Affidavit of Consent of Defendant
  • Waiver of Notice for Defendant
  • Notice of Intention to Request Entry of Section 3301(c) Divorce Decree and Counter-Affidavit under 3301(c)
  • Affidavit under Section 3301(d) of the Divorce Code
  • Notice of Intention to Request Entry of Section 3301(d) Divorce Decree and Counter-Affidavit
  • Affidavit of Non-Military Service

The list of required divorce papers can change depending on county and case specifics.

Filling Out Divorce Forms in Pennsylvania

Filling Out Divorce Forms in Pennsylvania

Spouses can obtain divorce forms in several ways:

If the divorcing partners have not previously faced paperwork or do not have a legal background, it can be challenging to fill out divorce forms accurately. Therefore, they should take a few preparatory steps and read the instructions before filling out legal papers.

Spouses should:

The county clerk may reject the papers if the spouses fill them out incorrectly, provide false information, or forget any forms.

An alternative proven way to prepare the necessary divorce documents is CompleteCase.com. Our service assists couples in selecting and filling out paperwork to facilitate the pre-divorce preparation process.

All partners need to do is complete the CompleteCase.com questionnaire. Spouses can do it at any convenient time without leaving home. Partners can download the ready-to-sign PDF forms from their accounts when the system generates them.

Steps for Divorce in Pennsylvania

The divorce process consists of several steps that the spouse should follow.

Grounds for Divorce

Grounds for Divorce

Initial Filling

Initial Filing

Court Fees

Court Fees

Serving a Spouse

Serving a Spouse

Finalizing a Divorce

Finalizing a Divorce

Grounds for Divorce

Pennsylvania allows both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce.

In a faulty divorce, one of the spouses accuses the other spouse of wrongdoing that destroyed the marriage. The petitioner must prove the respondent’s misconduct in court using solid proof. The proof includes photographs, videos, letters, emails, voice messages, and witness statements.

Fault grounds in Pennsylvania are the following:

  • adultery
  • abandonment for at least one year
  • humiliating the innocent spouse in such a way that makes the marriage intolerable
  • bigamy
  • conviction of a crime and imprisonment for two or more years
  • cruelty, including domestic violence and abuse

Fault-based divorce in Pennsylvania drags out the divorce process and increases attorneys’ fees. In addition, spouses must answer confusing and sometimes embarrassing questions in court and show all the family’s dirty laundry to the public.

In a no-fault divorce, the spouses do not need to prove the partner’s wrongdoing. They only need to point out that their marriage ended based on an irretrievable breakdown.

When couples file for a no-fault divorce, they can quickly get a final court decree. However, they should meet the requirements:

  • both spouses agree to a divorce
  • both spouses state that their marriage broke up due to irreconcilable differences
  • ninety days have passed since the filing

Initial Filing

For the initial filing, divorcing spouses need to prepare a Complaint accompanied by a Notice to Defend. Additional paperwork varies depending on the case specifics. The petitioner should file the original and two copies of the documents with the Prothonotary’s Office.

Court Fees

When filing for divorce, the petitioner must pay filing fees. In Pennsylvania, filing fees vary by county. The average cost is between $200 and $300.

Serving a Spouse

The petitioner must notify the defendant within 30 days (if they live in Pennsylvania) or 90 days (if out of state) from the filing date.

A spouse can serve another spouse:

  1. by mail with an Acceptance of Service form
  2. by certified mail with a return receipt requested
  3. by hiring a sheriff
  4. by publication

Finalizing a Divorce

When partners file the required forms and meet all requirements, the court will set a final hearing. In an uncontested divorce, the court may sign the divorce decree at that hearing.

Getting a Divorce Without a Lawyer in Pennsylvania

Getting a Divorce Without a Lawyer

A family lawyer organizes and manages the divorce and represents spouses’ interests in court. Lawyers are responsible for collecting information, filling out paperwork, filing with the court, serving a spouse, and representing a client.

The attorneys in Pennsylvania charge an hourly fee for their services. The average attorney’s hourly rate is $199 and $354. However, not every married couple can use the expensive services of an attorney.

With an uncontested and do-it-yourself (DIY) divorce, partners can save thousands of dollars in legal fees. They may not hire a lawyer if they:

  • not have significant family property and debts
  • resolved issues regarding the property division, child custody, and alimony
  • have the desire and time to conduct a divorce independently

For uncontested and DIY divorces, spouses can use supportive online tools such as CompleteCase.com. It will help them save money and quickly prepare the necessary papers. It also helps them avoid confusion with choosing and filling out forms.

Getting a Divorce with Children in Pennsylvania

Getting a Divorce with Children in Pennsylvania

Child Custody

The court grants sole custody or joint custody under the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

If the divorcing spouses seek to obtain joint custody, they must provide the court with a parenting plan or agreement that describes this. The plan should include the child’s residence, holiday and weekend arrangements, and other matters relating to the child’s welfare.

If the partners can not agree on child custody, the court will decide based on the child’s best interests and the Pennsylvania rules. Typically, a judge considers factors for granting child custody, such as:

  1. the child’s wishes or preferences as to custody provided
  2. the mental and physical health of the parents and child
  3. the child’s relationship between their parents, siblings, and other family members
  4. the parents’ wishes or preferences as to custody
  5. the nature of the parent-child relationship
  6. the criminal record of a parent, if any
  7. the parents’ ability to encourage and allow frequent and continuing contact between the child and the second parent
  8. any history of child abuse, domestic violence, negligence, or substance abuse
  9. child adjustment to one home, school, and community

Child Support

In Pennsylvania, one or both parents may pay child support based on their payment ability. According to the Pennsylvania Child Support Guidelines, the court determines the child support amount. The judge will consider the net income, parents’ earning capacity, assets, unusual child needs, and extraordinary expenses.

Waiting Period in Pennsylvania

Waiting Period in Pennsylvania

Like many states in the US, Pennsylvania has a mandatory waiting period before spouses can receive a final court order. In the state, spouses can get a divorce after 90 days, depending on whether it is a fault or a no-fault one.

In addition, contested and uncontested divorce affects the length of the proceedings when granting a divorce. In an uncontested divorce, the spouses can get a final judgment faster. After all, the court does not need to assign additional hearings to consider each controversial issue and take time to check the validity and relevance of the provided proof.

A contested divorce can last up to 12 months or more.

Residency Requirements

To file for divorce in Pennsylvania, spouses must meet residency requirements. State Family Law requires at least one spouse to have been a state resident for more than six months before filing and be willing to remain in the state.

If the petitioner lives out of Pennsylvania, they can apply for divorce in the respondent’s state.

If the couple has lived in Pennsylvania for less than six months before the submission date and wants to file for dissolution in this state, they should put off filing and apply until the residency requirement is met. If spouses do not want to wait, they can file for divorce in another state where these requirements are met.

Residency Requirements in Pennsylvania

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