In Pennsylvania, a dissolution of marriage can be pursued based on established grounds that attribute blame to one party for the marital breakdown. This approach requires proving specific actions or behaviors led to the irreparable damage of the relationship. Examples of such actions include adultery, desertion, abuse, or imprisonment.
The existence of this type of divorce mechanism is significant because it can impact alimony determinations and property division within the proceedings. Historically, it offered a pathway to divorce when mutual agreement was not possible and provided a legal framework for addressing egregious misconduct during the marriage. It stands in contrast to divorce options that do not require assigning blame.