A Local, Experienced Divorce Attorney Here To Help You Through
Getting a divorce is never anyone’s original plan upon getting married. However, divorce is common in American society, and Pennsylvania is no exception. Through divorce, your household will divide into two households. Whatever property either or both of you owned before a divorce will normally belong to just one of you afterward. One of you may need to pay spousal maintenance to the other if there has been significant financial dependence on either side. If you have children together, a family law court will require or mandate a plan for their custody and support while they are growing up.
At John D. Sisto, P.C. you will find clear directions and efficient, practical guidance as you proceed through the necessary legal process on the road to your Pennsylvania divorce.
Contested Or Uncontested? Complex Or Straightforward?
To obtain a no-fault divorce, you or your spouse must declare in a petition that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of your marriage. With mutual consent, the two of you can make your own decisions about how to divide property and parent your children from two households.
Many people believe they will have an uncontested divorce but then discover that there are differences that require resolution before the divorce can proceed.
- Do you and your spouse agree or disagree on how you will divide real estate and retirement accounts?
- Do you agree on the most effective ways to share parenting responsibilities for your children?
When you cannot reach a common understanding in negotiations, you may need to go through mediation or litigation to settle these issues.
Ideally, you and your spouse will make your own decisions about your divorce. If you cannot agree, a judge will do so. This path will take longer and will likely be unsatisfactory to both of you since a judge does not understand your family’s situation in the personal ways that you do.
I am attorney John D. Sisto, and I have helped many residents of Blair, Bedford and Cambria counties reach divorce settlements that met their needs.
What Questions Are On Your Mind About Divorce In Pennsylvania?
I am divorce attorney John D. Sisto in Altoona. I generally receive questions about family law from residents of Blair, Bedford and Cambria counties. Glance over the questions and answers below and if you do not see your topic of concern there, please schedule a consultation to let me know what you are wondering about.
How long do I and/or my spouse need to live in Pennsylvania before getting divorced here?
At least one of you should have lived in the commonwealth for six months or longer before initiating a divorce here. Living in Pennsylvania means maintaining a physical presence here for that length of time with the intention of staying indefinitely.
Will I need to pay alimony? Or will I be eligible to receive alimony?
Pennsylvania’s laws state that alimony may be appropriate only if necessary. Many of the factors that help determine if alimony is needed are the same or similar to the considerations that go into property division. Other factors include either spouse’s contributions as a homemaker, marital misconduct of either spouse and either spouse’s needs.
Do I have to prove that my spouse was at fault to get a divorce?
No. However, it may become necessary to do so to speed things up if your spouse does not agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Without mutual consent, you will have to show that you two have lived apart for at least one year or that your spouse was at fault.
What are the grounds for divorce with fault in Pennsylvania?
Desertion, adultery, cruel treatment, bigamy, imprisonment for two years or more because of a crime, indignities, or insanity with institutionalization of at least 18 months. But if you and your spouse mutually consent to the divorce, neither of you has to prove that the other was at fault.
What will my divorce process or methods be like?
Depending on whether you and your spouse agree or can reach an agreement about how to divide your assets and care for your children if applicable, your divorce may follow one of these paths:
- A simple uncontested divorce
- Collaborative law, arbitration or mediation
- A divorce trial
At John D. Sisto, P.C., I encourage clients to pursue divorce in the most sensible manner, all things considered. I can help you determine what that may mean in your case.
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Learn about your rights, the divorce process and your next steps if your divorce moves forward.
Call 814-425-5415 or email my law office to schedule a consultation with no further obligation.