Do I Need a Lawyer for a Divorce in Harrisburg, PA?
Choosing to terminate your marriage can be an emotional time, requiring you to make decisions regarding child support, custody, visitation, alimony, and property division. It is almost impossible for anyone to be impartial when handling such personal matters, making looking out for your best interests difficult. If you are considering filing for divorce, our divorce lawyers in Harrisburg, PA, are at your service to help you streamline the process.
A Divorce Attorney Understands Divorce Procedure
A family law attorney can walk you through the filing process for a divorce and inform you of what to expect. Even if you and your spouse consent to the dissolution of your marriage, you must wait 90 days after filing before your divorce can be granted. A divorce attorney will help you navigate different pleadings or court paperwork associated with getting a divorce, including the complaint, how the complaint is delivered to your spouse, and the timeline for your spouse to respond (known as the “answer”).
Our Attorneys Can Explain the Court Process
Divorces are legally complex, requiring that various issues be resolved in the fairest way possible. If one spouse seeks alimony or spousal support, a divorce lawyer can help clarify how the court calculates this amount. A divorce attorney will have a general idea of the waiting period to schedule a hearing. Perhaps most importantly, a divorce lawyer will also be familiar with family law judges and know the expectations for each surrounding decorum and best practices.
We Know Who Qualifies for Fault and No-Fault Divorce
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has both no-fault and fault divorce. A no-fault divorce is based upon a couple agreeing that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” with neither person blaming the other for the breakdown of their union. In contrast, fault divorce requires a reason for the dissolution of the marital union. Pennsylvania law recognizes the following types of fault grounds:
- Willful and malicious desertion for one year or more
- Adultery
- Cruel and barbarous treatment (severe physical abuse or threats of violence)
- Bigamy
- Imprisonment of two years or more
- Indignities which caused intolerable living conditions
- Institutionalized for mental disorder for a minimum of 36 months
A Harrisburg divorce attorney understands the state’s divorce laws and what criteria are required for spouses to file each. A fault will be granted if one spouse does not consent to the divorce, the couple has not been separated for at least one year, and the spouse seeking a divorce does not want to wait the prerequisite one-year period. You are not responsible for knowing the ins and outs of Pennsylvania divorce statutes, which is why you want to work with competent counsel.
Interested in Learning More? Contact Our Divorce Lawyers in Harrisburg
Navigating the divorce process can leave you overwhelmed and confused. At Purdy Law Office, our Harrisburg divorce attorneys want you to feel in control. We are dedicated to helping our clients feel at ease, explaining the process from filing the complaint to a judge issuing the divorce decree. If you want to learn more, please reach our office online or call us today.
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