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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:
Contested Divorce
Online Divorce $299
DIY Divorce
Filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, partners may need the following forms:
The list of required divorce papers can change depending on county and case specifics.
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.
The divorce process consists of several steps that the spouse should follow.
Grounds for Divorce
Initial Filing
Court Fees
Serving a Spouse
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:
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
How long will it take in Pennsylvania?
In an uncontested divorce, the spouses can get a final court decree within three months. However, obtaining a divorce can take up to a year in a contested divorce.
Can I get a free divorce in Pennsylvania?
If the petitioner can’t afford to pay the filing fees, they can request a fee waiver by filing a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. If the judge grants the request to waive fees, the petitioner won’t have to pay any court costs during the divorce.
How to file for divorce in Pennsylvania?
To file for divorce in Pennsylvania, the petitioner must complete a Notice to Defend and Divorce Complaint and submit it to the local court.
How much does a divorce cost in Pennsylvania?
The minimum divorce cost in Pennsylvania is about $200 and $300 (filing fees).
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