The reasons for a divorce are many, but generally constant fighting, growing apart or other factors cause many Harrisburg couples to seek a divorce. When filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, you need to cite “grounds” that the divorce is based on. The following is an overview of these grounds.
Fault-based grounds
There are several fault-based grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania. One fault-based ground for divorce is willful and malicious desertion without a reasonable cause for at least one year. Another fault-based ground for divorce is adultery. A third fault-based ground for divorce is cruel treatment that threatens the innocent spouse’s life or health. A fourth fault-based ground for divorce is bigamy. A fifth fault-based ground for divorce is imprisonment for two or more years. Finally, a sixth fault-based ground for divorce includes indignities that make the marriage intolerable and life burdensome.
No-fault divorce
Not all divorces in Pennsylvania are fault-based. For example, a couple can cite mutual consent as a ground for divorce if their marriage is irretrievably broken and 90 days have passed since the filing of the divorce action and each spouse consents to the divorce. A couple can also cite irretrievable breakdown as a ground for divorce if they have lived apart for at least one year and the defendant either does not deny the contents of the plaintiff’s divorce filing or the court rules that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Seek assistance with your divorce
If you want to file for divorce or you are served with divorce papers, it is important to understand your rights. This post does not offer legal advice applicable to any specific situation. Family law attorneys in Harrisburg can explain more about this topic and may be a useful source of information.
