Divorce can be a difficult as well as psychologically tolling process on all parties involved. When it comes to divorce, there is not just one way to divorce. Parties can choose to each hire a lawyer to represent them during the divorce process, parties can choose to work together with a mediator to assist them in crafting an amicable agreement or each party can choose to hire a collaborative divorce lawyer and work with each other and the lawyers with the goal of resolving issues and avoiding court. A divorce can be uncontested, contested or granted by default. The differences are explained below:

Uncontested Divorce

It is always the least costly and best choice to try and resolve a divorce in an uncontested way. An uncontested divorce is where you and spouse work together to craft an agreement on the terms of your divorce. By working together and agreeing on the terms, you can avoid going to court. Click the link below for Divorce Modifications.

Parties can work together with a neutral mediator to craft the terms of the divorce and then file the divorce papers themselves with the court. They can also each hire a collaborative divorce attorney who will work with them to craft an amicable divorce agreement with the goal of avoiding court. If the parties disagree and decide to go to court, the collaborative divorce attorneys will discontinue representation. Or, a party can choose to hire a divorce lawyer to file divorce papers and craft an agreement to present to the spouse for signing 90 days from service of the divorce complaint on the spouse. If the parties consent to the divorce and sign the paperwork, the divorce papers can be filed with court and the parties will receive their divorce decree thereafter.

Default Divorce

A court will grant a divorce by "default" if a party files for divorce and the spouse does not response after being properly served with the divorce complaint and paperwork. This can be used when a spouse's whereabouts are unknown or is unwilling to participate in the divorce process.

Contested Divorce

If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement on the terms of your divorce, you can bring your issues in front of a Master and Judge. You will go through the process of exchanging discovery such as financial documentation, settlement negotiations, hearings, and, if you cannot come to an agreement after these exchanges, you will have a trial.

Fault and No-Fault Divorce

It used be that a divorce could not be granted unless there were fault grounds. Those days have passed and we now have no-fault divorces. Parties can still choose to divorce on fault grounds for reasons of adultery, abandonment; however, it can be very expensive due to the litigious nature of the divorce.

A no-fault divorce is where instead of proving that your spouse is to blame for the divorce, you can consent to the divorce under 3301(c) in Pennsylvania or divorce by Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage under 3301(d) in Pennsylvania. Under 3301(c), the parties can consent to the divorce by filing an affidavit of consent with the court 90 days after your spouse has been served with the divorce complaint. If both parties consent to the divorce, you can craft and file an agreement with the court and request entry of your divorce.

Under 3301, the parties must prove a separation from their spouse for a period of time to request grounds to divorce. If the period of separation from your spouse began on or after Dec. 5, 2016 you will need to be living separate and apart from your spouse for a period of ONE YEAR. If the period of separation from your spouse began before Dec. 5, 2016, you are required to be living separate and apart from your spouse for a period of TWO YEARS.