A divorce is an end to a promise and a hope, and when either spouse is bitter, angry, or uncooperative, it makes an already emotionally difficult situation that much harder. Though ending a marriage is highly personal, it is also a legal process. A contract has been established and certain actions need to be taken in order to dissolve it, and if there is property to be divided or children that have been part of the family, there are legal steps that need to be taken to address them as well. In the state of Pennsylvania, each of these steps is handled as a separate piece, and when a divorcing couple is fighting addressing each of those elements can mean that tempers flare and emotions rise on a constant basis. The best way to address this challenging event is to have an experienced Philadelphia family lawyer guide you through the process. The attorneys at Reinherz Law have been helping families through tough divorces for many years, and we can help you too.

Though Pennsylvania does accept fault as grounds for a divorce, few couples choose this option. A fault divorce usually entails abandonment, adultery, cruel treatment, bigamy, or imprisonment for more than two years. More commonly divorces in Pennsylvania are considered no-fault and proceed with the mutual consent of both parties. Though at first glance, all that is needed is for both spouses to have lived in the state for at least six months and for ninety days to have gone by from the time that a divorce claim is filed, the truth is that that’s only the beginning. There are also the following issues that need to be addressed and resolved:

• Property Division – Any areas that are in dispute must be heard by the court, and this involves providing a complete inventory of all marital and non-marital assets and their values for equitable distribution
• Child Custody and Support – Pennsylvania law encourages parents to reach agreements that are considered to be in the best interest of the child, and where custody is not equally divided, it is likely to be awarded to the parent that is most likely to encourage the child to have contact with the other parent. Support is based upon monthly income under an established set of state guidelines
• Alimony and Spousal Support – Issues of alimony and spousal support are often dependent upon the income and earning capacity of both spouses, their ages, physical, mental and emotional health, the length of the marriage and whether one spouse contributed to the education of the other.

Though it is often in the best interest of both parties to resolve and settle these issues out of court and simply submit paperwork for the court’s approval, there are many instances where issues need to be resolved by a judge. The Philadelphia family lawyers at Reinherz Law will guide you through this process, advising you on what is in your best interest and providing you with the legal counsel and support you need along the way.

Learn more from our Philadelphia Family Lawyer HERE.