Allentown Divorce Attorney Safe and Protected with Powerful Representation

Divorce Attorney in Allentown

Human-Centered Divorce Advocacy for Allentown Families

At van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin, our Allentown divorce lawyers provide personalized legal guidance for decisions involving marital property, debt, parenting arrangements, child support, and spousal support. We consider the people and futures affected by each legal matter, not only the documents filed with the court.

Whether you’re preparing to file, responding to a divorce complaint, or facing a dispute that may require litigation, we can explain the law and help you evaluate your options. Our family law practice also handles related child custody, child support, domestic violence, and LGBTQ family law matters.

We invite you to reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our Allentown divorce lawyer. Call (215) 610-3440 or contact us online to learn more.

How an Allentown Divorce Lawyer Can Help

A divorce may be uncontested, meaning the spouses agree on the relevant terms, or disputed because financial or parenting issues remain unresolved. We can evaluate the circumstances, explain the available Pennsylvania divorce procedures, identify claims requiring attention, and advise you during settlement negotiations.

If an agreement isn’t possible, our attorneys can represent you during divorce litigation. That work may include preparing required pleadings, organizing evidence, addressing procedural requirements, and presenting disputed issues to the court when necessary.

Documents that may help during an initial case review include:

Financial records: Recent tax returns, pay information, bank statements, and investment account statements.
Property information: Deeds, mortgage documents, vehicle records, retirement account statements, and business ownership records.
Debt records: Credit card statements, loan documents, and information about other marital obligations.
Child-related information: Existing custody orders, support orders, school schedules, and records relevant to parenting arrangements.
Court documents: Any divorce complaint, notice, petition, order, or other paperwork you’ve received.

The documents relevant to your consultation will depend on your circumstances. An early review can help identify immediate deadlines, unresolved claims, and information that may be needed before filing or responding.

They take full control of your case allowing you to have peace of mind while they win.
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Having been represented on different subjects Mike has provided the same outstanding results!
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They handled every aspect of my case with integrity and pride.
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You should not go anywhere else.
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Guided me through the process for a success.
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Michael is superb! Great attorney, great team, great job.
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Grounds for Divorce in Pennsylvania

When you file for divorce or respond to a complaint, the legal ground and procedure will shape how the case moves forward. Pennsylvania recognizes fault-based grounds, institutionalization under qualifying circumstances, and no-fault procedures based on mutual consent or irretrievable breakdown.

The principal grounds and procedures include:

Fault grounds: These include willful and malicious desertion, adultery, cruel and barbarous treatment, bigamy, conviction of a felony followed by imprisonment for two or more years, and indignities that make the innocent spouse’s condition intolerable.
Institutionalization: A divorce may be available when a spouse has been confined for a qualifying mental disorder for at least 18 months immediately before filing and there’s no reasonable prospect of discharge within the following 18 months.
Mutual consent: When both spouses allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken, at least 90 days must pass after the action begins before the required affidavits of consent can support the divorce.
Irretrievable breakdown: Without mutual consent, a no-fault divorce may proceed when the marriage is irretrievably broken and the spouses have lived separate and apart for at least one year under the current procedure.

In addition to satisfying a recognized ground for divorce in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to meet the state’s residency requirement. You or your spouse must have been a bona fide Pennsylvania resident for at least six months immediately before filing. Choosing a no-fault procedure doesn’t automatically resolve property division, custody, support, or other claims.

Filing for Divorce in Allentown & Lehigh County

Divorce cases involving Allentown are handled through the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. Its Family Court Division provides county-specific divorce forms and instructions, and electronic filing has been mandatory in custody and divorce cases since January 1, 2020, except for specifically exempted matters.

Filing the complaint is only one part of the process. Required notices, service of legal documents, affidavits, responses, and final paperwork can affect whether the case moves forward. Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System directs parties to follow both the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable county procedures.

Court forms and filing instructions can change. Before filing or responding, verify the current Lehigh County requirements and determine whether financial, custody, or support claims need to be raised or preserved.

Property, Custody & Support Issues in a Divorce

If you have grounds for divorce and meet the residency requirements, the next step is addressing the financial and family issues connected with ending the marriage. Some claims must be resolved or preserved during the divorce process, while custody and child support may involve separate court determinations.

Issues you may need to face and resolve include:

How marital property will be divided under Pennsylvania’s equitable distribution principles
How marital debts will be allocated
Who will get custody of any shared children
How parenting time and decision-making responsibilities will be arranged
Whether spousal support, alimony pendente lite, or alimony may apply

Equitable distribution means the court divides marital property fairly based on statutory factors, not necessarily in equal shares. The analysis may involve distinguishing marital property from nonmarital property and reviewing real estate, retirement accounts, businesses, bank accounts, and debts.

Spousal support can apply after separation but before a divorce action, while alimony pendente lite is support available during pending divorce litigation. Alimony may be awarded after divorce depending on the parties’ circumstances and the applicable statutory factors.

At van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin, our Allentown family law attorneys advise clients on property, debt, custody, parenting time, and support issues. We also represent clients in negotiations and litigation when disputes can’t be resolved outside court.

Call (215) 610-3440 to schedule a free consultation with our Allentown divorce attorneys, or use our online contact form to tell us about your situation.

The Person Who Sees The Whole Picture Meet Michael T. van der Veen

From local business owners, to the President of the United States, we fight for everyone's best interest. As founder of the firm, Michael T. van der Veen effortlessly combines accessibility, experience, negotiation, collaboration, and compassion to achieve results. He is the rare trial attorney who excels in both civil litigation and criminal defense. Known for his unwavering commitment to serving as the voice of the victim and advocate for the accused, he has established his reputation by winning multimillion-dollar jury verdicts in State and Federal Courts, as well as winning major criminal trials across the country.

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Clients share their experiences and results firsthand

"He represented me in multiple criminal cases, and I had a lengthy criminal record. He never judged me, and treated me like anybody else, he never looked at me different. He's a real good guy, professional, very honest. When I say I never went to another attorney...he's the best." -Tiffany
"He gives you the impression there’s a person you can count on, a person that you can rely on in terms of having some representation. He kept me informed, he kept me up to date with everything that was going on throughout the process. What doctor, what appointments, who I have to see…I was always very well informed." -Sam
"this law firm has afforded low income people of Philadelphia a relationship with an attorney that they can come and meet. To have a the intuition to give a damn about the little people, and then give them that same kind of respect and consideration is unmatched." -Melvin
"I love that I have Mike on my side, whenever I question what am I supposed to do? I used to call my dad and after my dad passed, even for things that aren’t always law related, I know I could still call Mike, and I love that about him. He’s just amazing, and I know that if I send somebody here that they’re going to be represented a hundred percent." -Jamie

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