In the state of Pennsylvania, divorce is handled differently than in some other states nearby. Specifically, there are different terms and different conditions for a divorce that make a Pennsylvania divorce more readily available. Pennsylvania has a 90 day no fault divorce, meaning that a divorce can go from being filed to completed in as little as 90 days. Pennsylvania also provides for alimony and spousal support, also known as separate maintenance in the state of PA, differently than in other states. Knowing how you can go about receiving alimony and spousal support or separate maintenance in Pennsylvania is a key to making sure that your divorce goes smoothly and that you get what you are entitled to.
The Rules for PA Divorce and Separate Maintenance
Pennsylvania does not require legal separation before a divorce, so separate maintenance payments are included in the same category as alimony and spousal support.
- These payments are paid during the divorce proceedings, if the divorce takes a longer period of time than the normal 90 day standard, and/or after the divorce.
- In Pennsylvania, the separate maintenance payments are divided into two types: alimony, which is assigned after a divorce has taken place, and spousal support, which is temporary and which is assigned by the courts during a divorce proceeding, which can take up to two years if one party contests.
Spousal support is intended to help the lower income spouse during the ongoing divorce proceedings, while alimony is intended to help the lower income spouse after the divorce, for a period of time so that he or she can rebuild his finances and continue to live a similar lifestyle to that which he enjoyed while they were married. Alimony typically has an expiration date, and spousal support definitely does – spousal support ends when the divorce is finalized, and alimony ends at whatever point is determined by the court in the divorce decree. These two types of payments from one spouse to another are the two main types of separation maintenance payments recognized by the state of Pennsylvania in a civil divorce proceeding.
Getting Help
If you are going through a divorce in the state of Pennsylvania and have questions about alimony, spousal support, or separation maintenance, you will want to speak with a qualified divorce or family law attorney who can help you negotiate all of the various laws and legal terms and processes related to divorce in the state of Pennsylvania. Hiring a lawyer will help to ensure that you are treated fairly by the courts.
