Finality in Divorce

Sections 3331-3333 of the Divorce Code discuss the potential to review a divorce after a decree has been issued. The general policy is in favor of finality to avoid endless litigation, however certain circumstances will warrant reconsideration. First, parties should act as timely as possible. Section 3331 limits attacks on decrees. An appeal is the only option where one of the parties has died. There is a two year limit to take action specifically where the party questioning the decree had knowledge of the circumstances supporting the attack and failed to timely take action. Section 3332 outlines when a decree may be opened or vacated. In general, there is a thirty day time limit to request review of an Order pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S. 5505.

Section 3332 also draws a distinction between intrinsic fraud and extrinsic fraud. Intrinsic fraud must be alleged within the thirty day time limit whereas extrinsic fraud has a time limit of five years. Intrinsic fraud refers to an issue that was adjudicated. Extrinsic fraud refers to a situation where a party was precluded from having their fair chance at adjudication altogether. Examples of extrinsic fraud include where a party was kept unaware of the proceedings or by promise of a false compromise. There is no extrinsic fraud where the party had ample opportunity to object earlier in the proceedings and simply failed to do so.

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Divorce after Two Year Separation

After two years of separation,  grounds for divorce can be achieved in PA without the consent of the other party. One of the two no-fault grounds for divorce is a two year separation. This separation does not have to mean physical separation. It is legal separation. Legal separation is no later than the date that a divorce complaint is filed. Parties can reside together in the same home while the divorce is pending. After two years, however, from the date the divorce was filed, one party can allege that it has been two years and seek grounds for divorce based on that fact. The other side must actively file a counter-affidavit denying the two year separation or denying there is an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage in order to stop the grounds for divorce from being entered. If a counter-affidavit gets filed, a hearing will be needed to determine if in fact the two year separation has occurred. Grounds for divorce is only the first step in getting a final divorce. In order to get a final divorce, if claims for equitable distribution or alimony have been raised, an agreement either needs to be put in writing or the parties need to go to a divorce hearing after they get grounds for divorce. This is often why there are cases that take at least three years before they are final, and some much longer.

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Benefits of a Law Firm Team

When you hire a law firm, it is a good idea to find out whether the attorney you hire is the only attorney who will be working with you or whether the firm takes a team approach. There are many benefits of the team approach. When you hire an attorney and you meet with your attorney in their office, it is often easy to forget that your attorney is not in their office everyday. You may expect that they will be readily available to you at a moment’s notice, despite the fact that they could very well have days that they are in court and not in the office. What happens when your attorney is in court and you have an emergency? What happens if your attorney is scheduled to be in court in another matter the same day that you have court? When a firm takes a team approach your options are expanded. Oftentimes there is another attorney at the firm who can assist you with any of your legal needs should your lead attorney be unavailable. In addition, in a firm that takes a team approach, if your attorney has a conflict, there is another attorney who could equally represent you if you do not want to or cannot move your hearing to another day. If, however, you like the idea of only one person handling everything, it is best to discuss this with your attorney from the outset and also to understand that this could result in slower turnaround if your attorney is out of the office or may result in hearings that have to be rescheduled if there are multiple court proceedings in one day. As with any relationship, communication is key and it is important to discuss all of these things when you hire your attorney.

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Danger of the $ 299 Divorce

Oftentimes a person getting a divorce may see ads for a low cost divorce for $ 299. What the ad does not tell you is that this is for a divorce in which there are no issues, no assets, and it likely does not include a filing fee. You also have to do much of the work yourself. Every county in Pennsylvania has their own filing fee. Normally, you file in the county where you resided together when you separated. If you do not have assets, however, you can agree to file in a county in Pennsylvania where the filing fee is cheaper. Some counties have filing fees that start over $ 300 and do not include any of the legal fees. If you do not have any issues, agree to the county that is cheapest, and are prepared to do much of the paperwork yourself, this may be ideal. The danger is that you will not raise issues that should have been raised such as distribution of assets or alimony that you cannot raise after the decree in divorce is granted. If you are going to go this route, it would be wise to at least consult an attorney for a free consultation prior to finalizing your divorce.

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No jury trials for custody or divorce cases

Many people who are going through a divorce or custody case are unfamiliar with the court system and what to expect unless they have had friends or family who already went through the process. In most family law cases, there are several levels of proceedings. In Pennsylvania, custody, support and divorce issues are usually heard separately and all usually involve a lower level proceeding before a trial. One thing you do not see in family law cases is a trial by a jury. If you go to court for divorce, or custody or support, and you do not resolve your case at the lower level proceedings, you will have what is called a bench trial. This is very similar to the trials you see on television, as you will have witnesses testify under oath on the stand. The same rules of evidence and procedure also apply. As a party you will also testify under oath. Your case, however, will be decided by one person, the Judge. In criminal matters and even in civil cases, you can opt for a bench trial instead of a jury, but in family law cases, you do not have this choice. You will always have a bench trial. One person will decide the outcome of your case.

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Exclusive Possession and Divorce

Sometimes when a divorce is pending, a party may decide that they no longer wish to live in the marital residence. When a party moves out and establishes residence elsewhere, the party who remains in the home may seek and will usually always be granted an order for exclusive possession of the marital residence while the divorce is pending. This means that even if the house is owned in both names of the parties, only the party who is living in the house will be allowed in or on the property while the divorce is pending. If you are thinking of leaving your home and moving out, it is advisable to make sure that you have secured all of your possessions before you move as you could be prevented from re-entering the property. Until a court order is entered, however, if you left and decide to return unless there is an order preventing it, you can always return to the house. If your spouse leaves, you can change the locks, however, until you get a court order, they can break a window and legally gain access. You may want to either get a written stipulation for exclusive possession or a court order.

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Who provides medical insurance in divorce and support

Typically during a divorce, medical insurance is already in place when parties separated. Unless the parties agree otherwise, you cannot unilaterally drop your spouse from medical insurance during a divorce and must provide coverage until a divorce decree is entered as long as it still available through work. When parties go to support court, if both parties have medical insurance available for the children, it oftentimes make sense to look at who has a better plan and at what cost. It is not just the out of pocket expense on the premium that should be looked at, but also the coverage available and cost of deductibles. If the parties cannot agree on who will provide coverage for the children the court will weigh these variables to decide what makes the most sense. No matter who provides the coverage, the parties should realize that they will both share in the cost of medical premiums in proportion to their incomes either as an add on to basic child support or as a deduction. The parent who receives child support, however, will pay the first $ 250 in out of pocket medical expenses and the balance will be shared based on incomes.

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Communications with your Ex’s Divorce attorney

Are you getting divorced and represented by counsel? Under the PA Rules of Professional Responsibility, an attorney is not permitted to communicate directly with a party whom they are aware is represented. This applies to that other party as well. These rules are there to protect not only the attorney but also the party. While sometimes you may think it is cheaper and easier to communicate directly with your ex’s attorney, it is a mistake. You may say or do something that could jeopardize your case. If you have hired an attorney, it is best to let them do their job and filter everything through your attorney. Your attorney will be able to determine what is relevant and should be conveyed to the other side and what may just simply end at their office. If you are frustrated with your legal fees and working with a middleman, explain this to your attorney and they may be able to offer suggestions on ways to either minimize your expenses or getting the information faster to the other side. Whatever you do, do not pick up the pen, computer or phone and contact the other attorney.

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Dividing Retirement Accounts in a Divorce

If you are getting divorced, you may have accumulated retirement plans during your divorce. Sometimes clients are surprised when they learn that the retirement plan that they have earned in their own name is subject to equitable distribution. Not only can your current spouse be ordered to be named your beneficiary in the event of your death, but they actually will be awarded a percentage of the benefits at the time of the divorce. It is important from the outset to obtain the plan documents from your plan administrator so that you know what options you have in the event of retirement on the selection of a survivor beneficiary as well as so you know under what terms a spouse can receive a distribution. In addition, just because your court order or agreement awards your spouse a percentage of your benefits, does not mean this is automatically going to be tax free. You must also have the order drafted in the form of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order. Most plan administrators have sample language that they will approve and it is a good idea to ask your plan administrator if they have sample language. You must always have your plan administrator approve the QDRO that is prepared before you send it to the Court to have the Judge enter it as an order.

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Weighing the Cost of Litigation in Divorce

When issues arise in a divorce that are in dispute, parties oftentimes are concerned with being right or getting justice. The divorce action itself, aside from the peripheral issues of custody if there are children, involves money. The court does not assess who is right and who is wrong in wanting to get a divorce. The court generally does not care why someone is getting divorced. The issues before the court are what financial assets does the court need to divide and what are the incomes of the parties with the disparity income between the parties as the biggest driving factor in the outcome of a divorce. When parties have issues that are in dispute, they often either involve a dispute over the value of an asset or the percentage that should be awarded in the divorce. In these instances, a party who is more interested in being right forgets to weigh the cost of proving they are right. For example, if two parties disagree on the buyout figure for a house and their dispute is a matter of difference of $ 20,000, the parties need to step back and weigh the cost of getting the house appraised, bringing an appraiser to testify in court, preparation time for court, time at a court hearing and any court costs and their expected percentage of the asset. When this analysis is done, oftentimes, the party will realize they could spend more in litigation than the amount they hope to gain the dispute. Disputes over financial assets are best settled by compromise. No one is ever going to be right and since courts are not liberal in awarding attorney fees, even if a party’s position prevails, the party will still be out of pocket to get to that position. At a minimum, a party must consider at all times the cost of litigation. For each and every dispute, it is important to weigh these factors: the cost to bring the claim, the anticipated cost in legal fees for discovery, preparation and attendance at trial, the amount of time it will take to have the issue determined, the cost of any expert witnesses, the amount of time and money lost from work in order to prepare for court and attend a trial, the emotional and psychological toll both on the party and any witnesses, the importance of preserving the relationship if any with the other party and affect on any common relations. Sometimes, a party may have to give up pursuing being right for the art of compromise because it makes more sense financially and psychologically. Understanding this is something a party needs to do anytime they are involved in litigation.

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