Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 12 into law which eases the requirements for the victims of domestic abuse to secure a divorce.
Currently, the Divorce Code gives a non-consenting spouse a two-year waiting period to withhold their consent. The Code also permits either party in a divorce action to require the other one to attend counseling sessions. A party to a divorce action can be forced to engage in three face-to-face counseling sessions with their soon-to-be ex-spouse.
House Bill 12 permits a victim of domestic abuse to bypass the two-year waiting period if the other party has been convicted of committing a “personal injury crime” against the victim. It also allows the victim to object to court-mandated counseling sessions if they have a Protection from Abuse Order against their spouse or were a victim of a “personal injury crime” at the hands of their spouse.
The Bill was sponsored by Representative Mike Schlossberg of Lehigh County. The law takes effect in 60 days.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse and wish to obtain a divorce or a Protection from Abuse Order, it is best to consult with an attorney to understand your rights.
Lehigh Valley Family Law is a publication of KingSpry’s Family Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.
