Respected Pittsburgh Law Firm Protects Your Interests During Divorce

Accomplished Pennsylvania counselors protect clients’ rights and interests

At Feldstein Grinberg Lang & McKee, P.C. in Pittsburgh, we advise and advocate for individuals at all stages of divorce, whether or not it is contested. Our attorneys aim to reduce the stress of ending a marriage in Pennsylvania, and we seek solutions that can help you maintain your emotional and financial well-being. The personal attention that we provide enables us to create a customized strategy that meets your needs. Whether you and your spouse disagree on issues of custody, support or property division, our firm has the knowledge and resources to help achieve your objectives.

Experienced attorneys handle no-fault and fault-based divorces

To be eligible for divorce in Pennsylvania, one or both spouses must have lived in the state for a minimum of six months immediately before the court filing. It is also necessary to show legal grounds for dissolving the marriage. These fall into two categories:

• No fault — A divorce can be based on the spouses’ mutual consent, subject to a 90-day waiting period. Another ground is an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This requires showing that the spouses have lived separately for at least two years and that the non-filing spouse does not oppose. Still another no-fault ground is where the non-filing spouse has been confined to a mental institution for at least 18months.
• Fault —Grounds for fault in Pennsylvania include adultery, abandonment without cause for at least one year, cruelty (including domestic violence), bigamy, one spouse being imprisoned for at least two years and humiliating treatment that makes the marriage intolerable. There are no statutory waiting times for fault-based divorces, but they generally take longer and are more expensive due to attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses.

An uncontested divorce is one in which there are no disputes as to the grounds or about any other central issues, such as alimony, support, property division or child custody. At Feldstein Grinberg Lang & McKee, P.C., our seasoned litigators handle contested and uncontested divorces, as well as military divorce, legal separation and annulment.

Dedicated advocates litigate alimony disputes

The award of alimony or spousal support is discretionary in Pennsylvania, and the court considers numerous factors in deciding whether support is warranted. If a divorce is likely to leave one spouse in financial trouble and the other spouse with relative prosperity, the less well-off spouse may be entitled to payments from the other. A judge can order the payment of spousal support for the duration of divorce proceedings. Once a divorce is finalized, alimony can be ordered for a set period of time. Alimony is typically awarded in long-term marriages or when one spouse earns significantly more income than the other spouse. These payments are meant to help the receiving spouse become financially independent while also maintaining the quality of living he or she experienced during the marriage. Our knowledgeable legal counselors vigorously assert your rights and help you anticipate how your case will proceed.

Skilled negotiators pursue fair division of marital assets

Creating two single-income homes from one dual-income home often means altering the wealth of each spouse. Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state, meaning that marital property — generally, assets and debts acquired during the marriage — are not necessarily split evenly. Judges consider several factors, including but not limited to:

• The length of the marriage
• Whether the parties were married previously
• Each spouse’s health, age and income
• Which spouse will have primary responsibility for minor children
• Whether one party has separate assets that are of great value

Certain property may be considered separate from the marriage and thus exempt from equitable distribution. This includes gifts and inheritances one spouse receives during the marriage. To accurately demonstrate each spouse’s proper share of assets, we work for full disclosure of each spouse’s property, real estate, bank accounts, sources of income and financial obligations.

Contact determined Pittsburgh divorce attorneys to schedule a free case evaluation

The experienced lawyers at Feldstein Grinberg Lang & McKee, P.C. are well-versed in all aspects of Pennsylvania divorce. To schedule your free, 15-minute case evaluation at our Pittsburgh office, call us at 412-436-5788 or contact us online. We represent clients throughout the state.