Can I file for divorce if we still live together in PA?


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Specifically, one or both spouses must have lived in Pennsylvania for at least six months before filing for divorce. Additionally, any divorce paperwork must be filed in the Pennsylvania county where one or both spouses reside.

Do you have to be separated before divorce in PA?

According to the law, there is no required waiting period in Pennsylvania before you can file for a divorce. However, it is vital to establish a date of separation. A legal separation is determined by the date you and your spouse begin living separate and apart.

Can you divorce your spouse while living together?

A majority of states, including California, do not have rules regarding whether spouses can live together during divorce, which allows you to get a divorce and still live together. There are many reasons you might want to live together during a divorce.

How long do you have to be separated to be automatically divorced in PA?

There is a One-Year Waiting Period For Filing for a No-Fault Divorce. If a couple is seeking a divorce without establishing grounds for fault (discussed further below), then Pennsylvania law imposes a one-year waiting period from the time of separation before either spouse can file for divorce.

Is PA a 50/50 divorce state?

Pennsylvania is not a 50/50 common law state. PA law requires divorcing couples to equitably divide the marital property. This means that the division of marital property should be based on fairness utilizing a set of enumerated factors in the PA Divorce Code.

Does it matter who files for divorce first in PA?

When Both Individuals Live in Pennsylvania. If both you and your partner currently reside within the state, there is no true advantage to filing first. Even if you file first, the case will usually be held at the Court of Common Pleas in the defendant’s county, or the county where you married, by default.

Is dating during separation adultery in PA?

Is it okay to date when you’re separated? It is okay, providing you do it right. If you start seeing someone else before you and your spouse decide to divorce or before you physically separate, it is considered adultery.

Does adultery Affect divorce in PA?

Pennsylvania law recognizes adultery as a fault ground for divorce. The cheating spouse is at fault, due to his or her adulterous behavior, for the decision to divorce. When a divorce involves adultery, it can affect spousal support and alimony.

Is PA a no fault divorce state?

Pennsylvania is a no fault divorce state. There are two types of no-fault divorce processes in Pennsylvania: mutual consent and separation. A mutual consent divorce is available when both parties are willing to agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken and consent to the divorce.

How do you divorce and live in the same house?

  1. Create a new budget.
  2. Allocate responsibilities around the house.
  3. Don’t sleep with your ex-spouse.
  4. Establish boundaries.
  5. Plan to live separately.
  6. Don’t fight in front of your children.
  7. Don’t use the kids as leverage.
  8. Tip 1.

What happens if you sleep with your spouse during a divorce?

Getting a divorce but still sleeping together is likely to result in your petition being denied and dismissed if you filed on the basis of irreconcilable differences; If you filed on the basis of fault grounds, such as adultery, desertion, or habitual drunkenness; sex during divorce could be seen as condonation.

How do you separate but live in the same house?

  1. Living Separate and Apart.
  2. Separate Responsibilities.
  3. Create a Custody Schedule.
  4. Socialization.
  5. Memorializing Your Separation.
  6. Prepare Yourself, Even in the Best Circumstances, In-Home Separation is Difficult.
  7. Utilize Professionals.

Who gets the house in a divorce in PA?

The short answer is either party could get the house in a Pennsylvania divorce. The judge could order the parties to sell the house and split the net proceeds after the mortgage and any home equity loans are paid off.

How is alimony calculated in PA?

The formula used in the state of Pennsylvania states that the receiving spouse must receive 40 percent of the difference between the spouses’ net incomes on a monthly basis. If the couple has children, the formula is altered to 30 percent of the net income difference.

What are grounds for divorce in PA?

There are 6 fault grounds for divorce in PA: adultery, desertion, cruel treatment, bigamy, imprisonment of more than 2 years, and indignities. The no-fault grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania are irretrievable breakdown and mutual consent. A person who initiates the divorce is called a Plaintiff.

How many years do you have to be married to get alimony in Pennsylvania?

There’s no minimum length of time that a spouse has to be married in order for alimony to apply. While the length of the marriage is an important factor in the alimony statute, it’s one of 17 factors that the court will consider.

What is wife entitled to in divorce in PA?

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in PA? The wife is not automatically entitled to anything that is not her direct property or assets in a divorce in PA. Alimony payments may be required based on the wife’s situation and any division of property will also be determined based on other factors.

Is PA an alimony state?

Pennsylvania Alimony Law Summary In the state of Pennsylvania, when a divorce has been decreed, or the process of divorce begins, the court may allow alimony payments to be made. Alimony is only ordered when the court finds it necessary.

How can I avoid alimony in PA?

Prove marital misconduct. The first way to avoid paying alimony is to prove misconduct during your marriage or separation. The two major issues that most judges will consider during alimony trials are abuse and adultery. However, you will need more than simply your word to prove these accusations.

What age can a child decide which parent to live with in PA?

Pennsylvania law doesn’t give children of any age the absolute right to choose which parent gets custody of them. Instead, it merely states that “the well-reasoned preference of the child, based on the child’s maturity and judgment” should be given consideration.

How long after a divorce can you ask for alimony?

Either you or your spouse, or both of you, can ask for alimony at the time of divorce. If the original divorce judgment didn’t mention alimony at all, you can file a complaint for alimony for the first time at any time after your divorce. Alimony can be changed after a divorce through a process called a modification.

What proof do you need for adultery?

To prove adultery via circumstantial evidence, one must show that the adulterous spouse had both the “disposition” to commit adultery and the “opportunity” to do so. Evidence of “disposition” includes photographs of the adulterous spouse and the other man or woman kissing or engaging in other acts of affection.

What proof do you need to prove adultery?

Proving adultery took place in your marriage is difficult but possible. Direct evidence (not hearsay) can come in the form of proof, such as eyewitness testimony or the guilty party admitting to the adultery (can be either the spouse or the paramour). There is also circumstantial evidence that can act as proof.

What happens after 90 day waiting period for divorce in PA?

Affidavit of Consent: After ninety (90) days have passed from the date the Complaint was served upon the other spouse and both parties agree to the divorce, both parties may file an Affidavit of Consent, declaring that they consent to the divorce.

What is abandonment in a marriage in PA?

What is Spousal/Marital Abandonment? In the state of Pennsylvania spousal abandonment is recognized when: abandonment is deliberate and final, continued for an uninterrupted time of twelve months and the relationship has moved beyond any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.

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