how to file for divorce in pa without an attorney

by Jonatan Littel 9 min read

1. Complete and file the following forms.
  1. Self-Represented Party Entry of Appearance.
  2. Notice to Defend and Divorce Complaint (Form 1)
  3. Praecipe to Reinstate the Complaint (Form 4)
  4. Affidavit of Consent of Plaintiff (Form 5a)
  5. Affidavit of Consent of Defendant (Form 5b)
  6. Waiver of Notice for Plaintiff (Form 6a)

How fast can I get a divorce in Pennsylvania?

If you are considering a divorce in Pennsylvania, you can do it with or without a lawyer. However, you will be held to the same standard as attorneys. You must follow both statewide and local rules. There are two types of divorce in Pennsylvania: no fault/ mutual consent 3301(c) and no fault/ applicable time of separation 3301(d). The 3301(c) Process

How to file for no fault divorce in Pennsylvania?

Oct 01, 2021 · Prepare for filing your case. To get a divorce without a lawyer, you must fill out and file an application for divorce form. To file for divorce in pennsylvania without a lawyer, you need to agree on the following: You will receive regular updates on the status of your case, and our. In this case, you may even qualify to complete your divorce without a lawyer. Learn about the …

How do you file for divorce in Pennsylvania?

Apr 02, 2018 · It is possible to complete a Pennsylvania divorce without hiring a family law attorney to guide you through the process. For some spouses, this makes financial sense; if you are able to amicably work together you may end up saving on unnecessary legal fees.

Do it yourself divorce in PA?

Nov 01, 2018 · It is not advisable for any person to complete paperwork to file a PA Divorce Complaint without having a detailed consultation beforehand with an attorney to discuss the ramifications of such action. There are companies and even law firms that offer low-cost paperwork for a person to file their own Divorce Complaint.

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Can you file for divorce without a lawyer in PA?

Do You Need a Lawyer for Uncontested Divorce? You don't need to hire a lawyer to get a mutual consent divorce in Pennsylvania and you can represent yourself during the process. Spouses can try to handle everything themselves or use an online service that eases the process.

How much does it cost to file divorce papers in PA?

Filing Fee for Divorce in Pennsylvania The average cost to file for divorce in Pennsylvania is $300-400. No matter if you are going to hire a lawyer or not, you will have to cover this filing fee.

What forms do I need to file for divorce in PA?

Forms for All Divorce CasesSelf-Represented Party Entry of Appearance. ... Notice to Defend and Divorce Complaint (PA divorce Form 1). ... Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (PA divorce Form 2). ... Acceptance of Service (PA divorce Form 3a). ... Affidavit of Service of Original Process by Mail (PA divorce Form 3b).More items...•Oct 12, 2021

Is Pennsylvania online divorce legit?

Online divorce is not allowed in Pennsylvania, but then neither is online marriage. Even if you met online, dated online, and found true love online, Pennsylvania will not allow you to file for an online divorce. However, the no fault divorce process can begin online with sites like comletecase.com.

Who pays for a divorce in PA?

Generally speaking, you're on your own for your legal fees. In certain cases wherein one party has a very good income and the other party is low or no income, it is possible to ask the Court to have the well-to-do party pay the other's legal fees.Sep 3, 2019

Can you date while separated in PA?

You are free to date during separation without having to worry that your social life will be used as grounds for divorce. ... Adultery is grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania, and if your spouse can prove you committed adultery, they can seek a divorce with fault.May 21, 2018

How do I start the divorce process?

A divorce starts with a divorce petition. The petition is written by one spouse (the petitioner) and served on the other spouse. The petition is then filed in a state court in the county where one of the spouses resides. It does not matter where the marriage occurred.Jul 9, 2021

Can I file my own divorce papers in Pennsylvania?

File Your Own Divorce in Pennsylvania: Free Downloadable Divorce Forms. Sadly, over 50% of marriages fail. ... However, it is possible to file your own divorce in Pennsylvania for no more than the state divorce form filing fees.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce in PA?

two yearsTo obtain a no-fault divorce, you and your spouse must have been separated for two years before filing or you both must consent to the divorce. Additionally, a judge won't grant your no-fault divorce right away. Once you've filed your case, there is a 90-day waiting period before your divorce can be finalized.

What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in PA?

Pursuing an uncontested or mutual consent divorce in Pennsylvania without hiring an attorney is the cheapest route. You can expect approximately a $300 fee to file your divorce papers. There can be an additional cost between $150 and $1,500 in case you use the support of an online service.

Can you file for divorce online in Pennsylvania?

The easiest way to complete a do it yourself divorce is to use an online site such as completecase.com. The site uses forms that are specific to the state in which you are filing for divorce, in this case Pennsylvania. Those forms allow the do it yourself divorce to proceed smoothly.

How do I start a divorce in PA?

TO START a divorce in Pennsylvania, one or both of the spouses must have lived in Pennsylvania for at least the past six months. The person who is asking for the divorce (the plaintiff) files a complaint that tells the court why he or she should get a divorce from his or her spouse (the defendant).

How to file for divorce in Pennsylvania without an attorney?

Start by preparing your uncontested divorce forms online using Pennsylvania Online Divorce and get a ready-to-file document package in 2 business days.

How long does it take to get divorce in Pennsylvania?

After the mandatory waiting period (the time within which the defendant must file a response), which is 90 days in Pennsylvania, the parties shall submit the consent forms. If the judge approves the couple's arrangements, the divorce is granted.

Does Pennsylvania accept divorce forms?

The Judicial System of Pennsylvania recognizes the divorce forms provided by PennsylvaniaOnlineDivorce.com. Therefore, we can guarantee that the court will accept the forms. This makes do-it-yourself divorce combined with online divorce the most efficient and safe way to prepare for the divorce procedure.

How to get divorce in Pennsylvania?

The third way to get a divorce in Pennsylvania is when the plaintiff states that the defendant is the cause for the failure of their marriage in the divorce complaint. The law of Pennsylvania State recognizes that certain grounds or marital problems validate a divorce. However, using grounds makes it necessary that you hire a lawyer to handle the divorce proceedings.

What is the divorce process in Pennsylvania?

Requirements for Divorce in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the divorce process is usually started by a “complaint” document. The spouse that begins the divorce process by completing the complaint is referred to as the plaintiff and the other is referred to as the defendant. For a divorce in Pennsylvania, your spouse or you must have resided in ...

What is APL in divorce?

APL basically gives both the spouses an equal opportunity to defend, litigate and maintain the divorce action. APL cannot be also granted along with spousal support.

What is an uncontested divorce in Pennsylvania?

An uncontested divorce in Pennsylvania means that there’s no dispute between your spouse and you regarding the various issues pertaining to the divorce i .e. property division, child custody and support, spousal support, alimony, etc.

What is marital property?

Typically, marital property is all the property which is acquired by both spouses while they are married and prior to their divorce. Any property, inheritances and gifts that either of the spouses has acquired or received before marriage and after the divorce are not included as marital property.

How long do you have to be separated to file for divorce?

In the case that your spouse or you want a divorce and the other does not, then the plaintiff can go ahead with the divorce process even without the consent of the other person, if both of you have been separated for a period of at least 2 years before you can file for divorce.

What happens if you divorce your spouse in Pennsylvania?

In the case of a Pennsylvania contested divorce, if your spouse and you are unable to come to an agreement on issues such as division of marital property, child custody and support, alimony, etc., then both your spouse and you will have to hire attorneys who will present your case before the county court.

Why do people file for uncontested divorce in Pennsylvania?

Most couples prefer filing for uncontested divorce in Pennsylvania mainly because: When there is a clear agreement, spouses know the outcome of the marriage dissolution – no one is making decisions for them . In PA, uncontested divorce process is easier and quicker than the alternatives.

How long does it take to get divorced in Pennsylvania?

In PA, uncontested divorce process is easier and quicker than the alternatives. It can be finalized in record time – about 3-3,5 months, and there is no need to go to a hearing. Hiring a lawyer is optional as there are other ways to deal with the paperwork and the filing process.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost?

The average cost of uncontested divorce when both parties agree with all the aspects of the marriage dissolution is around $11,000 if spouses hire attorneys. In case you are planning to have a contested divorce, the costs can easily exceed $20,000.

What happens in a no fault divorce?

In a no-fault divorce, spouses most often end their marriage based on mutual consent. This means that they reach an agreement on financial ...

How long do you have to wait to get divorced?

In case both of you agree to split and you reach an agreement on everything related to your divorce prior to initiating it, you only have to wait for 90 days. The waiting (separation) period for filing for a unilateral no-fault divorce (where one spouse wants it, the other does not) is currently 1 year.

What is fault marriage?

In a fault marriage dissolution, one of the divorcees blames the other for the breakdown of their relationships due to one of the state-approved reasons such as adultery, cruelty, abandonment for more than a year, and others .

Types of Divorce in Pennsylvania

When spouses believe that their relationship is irretrievably broken and thus reconciliation is impossible, this is enough of a reason to untie the knot. If they are willing to go their separate ways as soon as possible and want to simplify the process by coming to a full agreement, they can have an easy and fast no-fault divorce by mutual consent.

Who Can Start a Pennsylvania Divorce Procedure?

There are a few requirements that one must meet to initiate a divorce process in PA. First of all, to get started, one of two spouses must be a Pennsylvanian resident for at least half a year. If neither of you did, you will have to wait before initiating a divorce in the state or check if you meet the residency requirements elsewhere.

What Type of Court Handles Divorces in the State?

You can file in The Court of Common Pleas, which considers family law cases, in the county where:

How to File for Divorce in Pennsylvania?

Once the residency requirements are met and spouses understand which type of marriage dissolution they are going for, it is time to think about how to get a divorce in PA. To initiate the process, one is supposed to submit the Notice to Defend and Divorce Complaint, along with the Affidavit of Non-Military Service and a few other forms.

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