Divorce for Men in Central PA
Guiding men through the divorce process in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties
Divorce is tough on everyone involved. But let’s talk about divorce for men. It often happens that wives get the lion’s share of sympathy and husbands are left looking like the bad guys. That’s why we decided to offer serious help to men who are getting divorced in Harrisburg, Carlisle, New Bloomfield and throughout South Central PA. If you’re searching for dedicated and experienced men’s divorce attorneys, you need not look further.
As intimidating as the process may be, The Guy’s Attorney takes a straightforward approach to divorce for men. You get an honest assessment of your situation. You get the information you need to make good decisions. And you get to take the first important step toward getting on with your life.
Focused on family law for men
With 40 to 50 percent of first marriages, and nearly 60 percent of second marriages, ending in divorce in the United States, the range of issues and concerns each couple may face is enormous. You and your spouse might have agreed that it is time to end the marriage but still have very different opinions when it comes to deciding who keeps the house, with whom the kids should live or what is a fair amount of support or alimony.
At The Guy’s Attorney, we narrow our focus to the particular concerns of husbands and fathers that come up during divorce. And working with an established divorce law firm for men practicing in Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Carlisle, and surrounding PA communities gives you the advantage of understanding Pennsylvania’s specific divorce guidelines governing:
- The two types of divorce
- Uncontested divorce for couples who do not have any disputes over child support, custody, property or financial matters
- Contested divorce, the more normal situation in which the couple does not agree on issues involving child support, custody, property, support and other financial matters
- Equitable distribution of marital assets and debts, determined using such factors as:
- Length of marriage
- Age of each party
- Income of each party
- Amount of non-marital assets
- Prenuptial agreements
- Standard of living during the marriage
As experienced Harrisburg area separation lawyers, we work diligently to negotiate agreements and offer vigorous representation if it becomes necessary to go to court. The Guy’s Attorney is always on your side.
Frequently asked questions about divorce for men in Pennsylvania
Divorce is difficult. Men face additional challenges when it comes to child custody and support arrangements. The Guy’s Attorney focuses on husbands and fathers who need a legal ally who is sensitive to their needs and goals. If you are considering divorce, you need information and answers to your most immediate questions. We’re happy to discuss these and any other issues specific to your situation.
Check with the court in the county in which you lived during the marriage to determine if a divorce decree was ever entered. If not, a divorce complaint will have to be filed on your behalf. If you are in contact with your spouse, that should not be a problem. Be aware, however, that when a divorce complaint is filed in Pennsylvania, there is a 90-day “wait period” to finalize a divorce. This 90-day period begins with the date the divorce complaint is served. Your spouse must then sign certain legal papers to allow a non-contested divorce to proceed after the 90-day period. If you don’t have contact information for your spouse, or if she is unwilling to sign, then a longer, more cumbersome process must be followed to finalize your divorce.
No-fault divorce describes any divorce where the parties do not have to prove that one of the spouses did something wrong. All states allow divorces regardless of who is “at fault.” In Pennsylvania, grounds for divorce can be either no-fault or fault-based. To claim a no-fault divorce, one party simply has to state a reason recognized by the state, including mutual consent, irretrievable breakdown of the marriage or institutionalization of a spouse. For either type of divorce, Pennsylvania does normally require six months’ residency in the state before filing.
Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state, which means the division of marital property is determined by applying a set of factors designed to result in an equitable (fair) distribution. The portions of each spouse’s retirement plans that are earned from the date of marriage to the date of separation are considered to be marital property. PA courts prefer not to divide retirement accounts, however. The court tries to determine if there is a way to distribute the entire marital estate without dividing up the retirement accounts. The amount of your own retirement accounts subject to division will entirely depend on what other assets make up your marital estate.
In every custody case The Guy’s Attorney has ever been involved in, a parent has not been awarded sole legal or physical custody unless the other parent has shown a complete lack of interest in the child’s well-being. Asking the court to terminate the custodial rights of the other parent imposes a heavy legal burden. It is important to recognize that both parents play a vital role in their child’s life. And either parent may be the best choice as the primary custodian. If you are determined to seek custody of your child, gender bias should not be allowed to be a factor in the process.
Fathers paying child support are often frustrated when they feel the money is being spent in frivolous and inappropriate ways. Generally speaking, it is required that the payment of child support be made directly to the person who has physical custody of the children. Therefore, the spending of that child support is totally within that custodian’s control. When your children’s needs are not being met by the custodial parent, however, we address that through vigorous action in custody court. We can attempt to create a scenario where you can make direct payment for certain necessary expenses, and then receive credit from the court on the underlying child support amount. This is difficult but sometimes necessary.
Men’s divorce attorneys protecting your rights as a dad
Working closely with divorcing fathers for more than 40 combined years, we fully understand the emotional, as well as the legal, aspects of child custody disputes. We have seen many cases where fathers’ wishes are disregarded or given less consideration than the mothers’. And if domestic violence issues are an alleged factor in the divorce, custody can be radically affected. You need immediate and vigorous representation if you are faced with a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order to ensure that it does not compromise your custody efforts.
We are South Central PA fathers’ rights legal custody lawyers practicing in Harrisburg, Carlisle, Camp Hill, New Bloomfield and surrounding PA communities. We are dedicated to easing your fears and protecting your rights because we recognize that:
- Both parents play vital roles in their children’s lives.
- Either parent may be the best choice as the primary custodian of a child.
- An important decision like custody cannot be allowed to be gender-biased.
The Guy’s Attorney can make an enormous difference in the outcome of your case and help you avoid needlessly expensive litigation, financial penalties and, most importantly, the loss of your fundamental rights as a dad.
Contact our dedicated Central PA men’s divorce attorneys serving greater Harrisburg PA
Going through a divorce can be an extremely difficult experience. And a particular challenge for men. If you are contemplating divorce or seeking custody of your children, we can help. We are happy to put our experience to use in seeing you through a confusing and often intimidating process. Contact The Guy’s Attorney now…
Schedule Your Consultation Now
Let’s discuss your situation here in our office, or virtually if you prefer. The consultation fee is nominal*, and there is absolutely no obligation.
*Our consultation fee is $100 for individuals who have not had legal action initiated in their case. If legal action has been initiated, a consultation fee of $250 will apply.