AFTER ALMOST 30 YEARS, THE WAITING PERIOD FOR A UNILATERAL NO-FAULT DIVORCE IS CHANGING IN PENNSYLVANIA

The waiting period for a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania will be cut in half, from two years to one, thanks to House Bill 380, which Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law on Oct. 4, 2016. The law, Act 102, will go into effect in 60 days.

Pennsylvania House members agreed, and approved the bill in November 2015 . After long legislative negotiations, the Pennsylvania Senate passed the bill on Sept. 26, 2016, and it was then presented to Gov. Wolf.

What does this change in Pennsylvania divorce law mean for couples who are contemplating a split? It means that couples will be able to conclude a less than desirable chapter in their lives faster. It means that children may not be subject to the turmoil and disruption that occurs with divorcing parents. It also means that the determination of the value of assets for distribution will be fairer as their value will be calculated closer to the date of separation. There is also a question whether the new law affect a divorce that is already in progress? The answer is no. The law is not retroactive, so divorce complaints that were filed before the law goes into effect would be processed under the two-year waiting period.

For couples still thinking about a divorce, however, filing a complaint after the law goes into effect in December may be a good course of action, especially in cases where one spouse may not agree with the divorce. If you are contemplating filing for divorce, you may call the Law Office of Robin J. Gray at (610) 777-1431 or contact via email at [email protected]