Pennsylvania law allows for divorce on both fault and no-fault grounds. A no-fault divorce means that neither party is required to prove wrongdoing by the other to obtain a divorce. Instead, the divorce can be granted if the marriage is irretrievably broken. For instance, if spouses have irreconcilable differences and both consent to the divorce, or if they have lived separately for at least one year, a divorce may be granted without assigning blame.
The availability of no-fault divorce simplifies the dissolution process in many cases. It reduces the potential for acrimony and lengthy court battles, particularly when both parties agree that the marriage cannot be saved. Historically, divorce laws often required proof of adultery, abuse, or abandonment, which could be difficult and emotionally taxing to establish. The advent of no-fault divorce provided a more straightforward and less confrontational path to ending a marriage, benefiting individuals seeking to move forward with their lives without dwelling on past grievances.
