In Pennsylvania, there are two types of no-fault divorce grounds: (1) consent divorce, and (2) unilateral divorce.
- Consent Divorce: For a consent divorce, both parties must mutually agree to the divorce, and this must be confirmed through an affidavit. The affidavit should state that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” and that reconciliation is not possible. A consent divorce cannot be granted until 90 days have passed from the filing.
- Unilateral Divorce: In a unilateral divorce, one party must claim that the couple has lived apart for at least one year, and that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” with no chance of reconciliation.
Even if the couple resides under the same roof, they can still be considered to have lived apart if it can be demonstrated that they have stopped cohabiting.