Articles

In Pennsylvania, a court must have subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction over the parties to proceed with a divorce. Key Definitions: Residence vs. Domicile To establish jurisdiction, understanding residence and domicile is essential: Six-Month Residency Requirement To file for divorce in Pennsylvania, one spouse must reside in the state for at least six months […]

Filing for divorce in Pennsylvania involves several steps, beginning with submitting legal documents to the court. Below is a step-by-step guide to initiating the divorce process. Step 1: File the Complaint (Form 1) The divorce process officially begins when a Complaint for Divorce is filed with the court. Along with the Complaint, two additional forms […]

In certain circumstances, grandparents can be awarded custody or visitation rights in Pennsylvania if it is determined to be in the child’s best interests. Custody Rights for Grandparents A court may grant custody to a grandparent if the following criteria are met: Presumptions in Custody Cases Visitation Rights Non-Custodial Parent Visitation: Third-Party Visitation: Grandparents’ Visitation […]

In Pennsylvania, a fault-based divorce can be pursued when one spouse can prove the other is responsible for specific misconduct. The recognized grounds for fault divorces include: Court Discretion in Fault-Based Divorces At trial, both parties may stipulate that the divorce be granted to one or both of them. In contested cases, the court can: […]

In Pennsylvania, equitable division of property occurs once the court identifies and values all marital property. It’s important to note that “equitable” does not necessarily mean a 50/50 split. Instead, the court divides assets in a way that is deemed fair, based on a variety of factors. Once the divorce is finalized, the division of […]

What Is a Flat Fee Divorce? A flat fee divorce allows you to plan and control the cost of your divorce. With this option, you make a one-time payment covering all expenses, including filing fees and attorney fees, for the entire divorce process. Once the flat fee is paid, the law firm manages the case […]

In Pennsylvania, property division during a divorce follows a two-step process: Marital Property Separate Property Key Considerations Divorce Lawyer R. Badet R. Badet is a highly skilled divorce attorney with extensive experience in property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support matters. Whether you’re dealing with simple or complex divorces, R. Badet works to […]

In Pennsylvania, there are several defenses available for fault-based divorce claims. These defenses allow the accused spouse to challenge the grounds for divorce. The recognized defenses include: Divorce Lawyer R. Badet R. Badet is a skilled and experienced divorce attorney specializing in fault-based and no-fault divorces, spousal support, child custody, and child support. With years […]

Calculating Child Support The court follows standard guidelines based on the parties’ net incomes and the child’s needs. Factors considered include: Educational Expenses: Child support may include reasonable costs for education, such as private school, if it aligns with the child’s needs and the parents’ ability to pay. For instance, a special-needs child requiring a […]

Child custody arrangements in Pennsylvania generally fall into three categories: Jurisdiction for Child Custody Philadelphia follows the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which aims to avoid conflicts between states over custody matters. Key principles include: Exclusive Continuing Jurisdiction The court that initially decides custody retains jurisdiction unless: Declining Jurisdiction Even with proper […]