What are the reasons or “grounds” upon which a divorce may be obtained in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has “no-fault” and “fault” divorces. “No-fault” requires irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and either a mutual consent to the entry of the divorce decree or a two year separation. There are a number of “fault” grounds, including grounds or charges of adultery, indignities, desertion and other marital wrongs. Defenses to “fault” grounds for divorce include but are not limited to “recrimination” (accusing party is guilty of acts constituting grounds for “fault divorce” such as adultery or desertion) and “condonation” (accusing party forgives spouse by resuming cohabitation or sexual relations.) Most contested divorces arise from property division disputes.
