Divorce

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Divorce Lawyer

If you are getting divorced, the selection of a good family law attorney is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make. Your choice will influence much of your future, including:

• How you will divide up your assets with your former spouse
• Whether you are entitled to or will have to pay alimony
• The child custody arrangement you will have with your former spouse
• How much child support you will receive or pay.

I'm Lee A. Schwartz, a family law attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I see my role as helping people through a very difficult time of their lives. Often, people are bitter and angry during and after a divorce. My goal is to help you get through the process as a functioning human being and a functioning parent.

Pennsylvania is a no-fault divorce state. As such, the reasons for the divorce are not relevant, except in the case of alimony. There are two ways to get divorced under Pennsylvania's no-fault system.

The first way is a consensual no-fault divorce. Under this system, a divorce complaint is filed and served upon the non-filing party. Then there is a 90-day waiting period, during which time nothing can be filed with the court. This is called the "cooling off period." Once 90 days have passed, so long as the parties have agreed upon all other financial issues such as division of property and alimony, if applicable, the court will grant the parties a divorce after they each sign an affidavit agreeing to be divorced.

The other no-fault divorce is the non-consensual divorce. In this situation, one party will not agree to be divorced. The party who wants the divorce must then wait two years from the date the parties separated before that party can ask the court for a divorce. After this two-year period, the court will divorce the parties, even if one party does not consent.

For more information or to discuss your divorce case, contact me, Philadelphia family law attorney Lee A. Schwartz. I am associated with the Spear Wilderman Law Firm.