Divorce & Family Law in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers both fault and no-fault divorce options, one of a dwindling number of states to maintain fault-based grounds. A no-fault divorce requires either mutual consent or a two-year separation period (reduced from three years in 2005). The filing fee is $352 in most counties, though Philadelphia County charges slightly more. Uncontested mutual consent divorces cost $5,000-$8,000, while contested divorces with equitable distribution disputes average $14,000 and can exceed $45,000. Pennsylvania follows the equitable distribution model rather than community property, meaning marital assets are divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Alimony in Pennsylvania considers 17 different factors listed in the statute, with no strict formula. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh divorce attorneys charge premium rates ($350-$600/hr) compared to rural Pennsylvania ($200-$350/hr). Divorce masters (court-appointed adjudicators) handle many contested issues in Pennsylvania, adding an additional procedural step and cost.