Fillable Printable Complaint for Divorce Form - Pennsylvania
Fillable Printable Complaint for Divorce Form - Pennsylvania
Complaint for Divorce Form - Pennsylvania
Instructions for:
Form 1
Divorce Complaint
Form 1 - Divorce Complaint
The numbers on these instructions correspond with the numbers in the arrowboxes on the
form. Use the form with the arrowboxes to guide you through filling out the blank form.
1. Write the name of the county you are filing in by arrowbox 1.
2. Write your name by arrowbox 2.
3. Write your spouse's name by arrowbox 3.
4. Leave the line by arrowbox 4 blank. The Prothonotary’s Office will assign a
docket number and write it here. You will use that number in this case from now
on.
5. Write the name of the county you are filing in by arrowbox 5. Arrowboxes 5 and
1 should be the same.
6. Write the name of the city or town in which the county’s courthouse is located by
arrowbox 6.
7. If you live in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair,
Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster,
Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia,
Washington, Westmoreland, or York, you must call your county’s Court
Administrator’s Office, Prothonotary’s Office, or other related county office
to determine what lawyer referral service to put by arrowbox 7.
If you do NOT live in one of the above listed counties: Write by arrowbox 7:
“Pennsylvania Bar Association – Lawyer Referral Service
Telephone 1-800-692-7375 (PA only)
or 717-238-6715”
8. Write the name of the county you are filing in by arrowbox 8.
9. Write your name by arrowbox 9.
10. Write your spouse's name by arrowbox 10.
11. Leave the line by arrowbox 11 blank.
12. Write your name by arrowbox 12.
13. Write your street address by arrowbox 13.
14. Write the name of the city or town in which you live by arrowbox 14.
15. Write the name of the county in which you live by arrowbox 15.
16. Write the state in which you live by arrowbox 16.
17. Write your spouse’s name by arrowbox 17.
18. Write your spouse’s street address by arrowbox 18.
19. Write the name of the city or town in which your spouse lives by arrowbox 19.
20. Write the name of the county in which your spouse lives by arrowbox 20.
21. Write the state in which your spouse lives by arrowbox 21.
22. Write the day, month, and year you and your spouse were married by arrowbox
22.
23. Write the county or city in which you and your spouse were married by arrowbox
23.
24. Write the state or country in which you and your spouse were married by
arrowbox 24.
25. Write “have been” or “have not been” by arrowbox 25, depending on whether
there have been any prior actions of divorce or annulment between the parties.
26. If there have not been any prior actions for divorce or annulment between the
parties, leave the line by arrowbox 26 blank. A prior action may have been
brought in this county, another county, another state, or another country. If there
has been a prior action, write both the name of the jurisdiction (where the other
action was filed), and the docket number of the other action here.
27. Write “are” or “are not” by arrowbox 27, depending on whether you and your
spouse are currently living together.
28. If you and your spouse are still living together, leave the line by arrowbox 28
blank. If you and your spouse are living separately, write the date, month, and
year you and your spouse separated by arrowbox 28.
29. Write “is” or “is not” to indicate whether your spouse is a member of the Armed
Services by arrowbox 29.
30. Sign your name after you have thoroughly read Form 1 and after you thoroughly
understand the statements you are making in the divorce complaint by arrowbox
30.
31. Write the date by arrowbox 31.
32. Sign your name after you have thoroughly read Form 1 and after you thoroughly
understand the statements you are making in the divorce complaint by arrowbox
32. By signing by arrowbox 32, you are verifying that all the information you
provided in Form 1 is true, correct, and accurate.
32. File these forms in the Prothonotary’s Office and pay the fee (unless you file a
request to proceed In Forma Pauperis, Form #2).
Counties may require additional information be stated in the Divorce
Complaint. For example, Centre County requires the parties indicate if
they have any children under age 18 because there may be additional
requirements for divorcing parents. To check what your county requires,
call your Court Administrator’s Office and review your county’s local
Rules of Court.
Form 1
Page 1 of 4
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
_______________________ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
_______________________________, : CIVIL ACTION – LAW
PLAINTIFF (your full name) :
:
: Case No. ______________
vs. :
:
_______________________________, :
DEFENDANT (spouse’s full name) : IN DIVORCE
NOTICE TO DEFEND AND CLAIM RIGHTS
You have been sued in Court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following
pages, you must take prompt action. You are warned that if you fail to do so, the case may proceed without
you and a decree of divorce or annulment may be entered against you by the Court. A judgment may also
be entered against you for any other claim or relief requested in these papers by the Plaintiff. You may lose
money or property or other rights important to you, including custody or visitation of your children.
When the ground for the divorce is indignities or irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, you
may request marriage counseling. A list of marriage counselors is available in
______________________(county) Courthouse, Office of the Prothonotary, ___________________ (city),
Pennsylvania.
IF YOU DO NOT FILE A CLAIM FOR ALIMONY, DIVISION OF PROPERTY, LAWYER'S
FEES OR EXPENSES BEFORE A DIVORCE OR ANNULMENT IS GRANTED, YOU MAY LOSE
THE RIGHT TO CLAIM ANY OF THEM.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE
CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER.
IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES
TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
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Form 1
Page 2 of 4
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
_______________________ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
_______________________________, : CIVIL ACTION – LAW
PLAINTIFF (your full name) :
:
: Case No. ______________
vs. :
:
_______________________________, :
DEFENDANT (spouse’s full name) : IN DIVORCE
COMPLAINT FOR DIVORCE UNDER
SECTION 3301(c) OR 3301(d) OF THE DIVORCE CODE
AND NOW, comes the Plaintiff and for cause of action against the Defendant says:
1. Plaintiff is _______________________ (your name), an adult individual who
currently resides at ____________________________________ (street address),
________________ (city), ________________ (county), ________________ (state).
2. Defendant is _______________________ (spouse’s name), an adult individual who
currently resides at ____________________________________ (street address),
________________ (city), ________________ (county), ________________ (state).
3. Either Plaintiff or Defendant has been bona fide resident of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania for at least six months immediately previous to the filing of this Complaint.
4. Plaintiff and Defendant were married on __________________ (month/day/year), in
____________________ (county), _____________________ (state).
5. There ____________ (have been/have not been) prior actions of divorce or for
annulment between the parties. (If there have been, name the jurisdiction and case
number).________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. The marriage is irretrievably broken.
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Form 1
Page 3 of 4
7. The parties _________ (are/are not) living separate and apart. If the parties are living
separate and apart, they have lived separate and apart since _________(month/day/year).
8. Plaintiff has been advised that counseling is available and that Plaintiff may have the
right to request that the Court require the parties to participate in counseling.
9. The Defendant ____________(is/is not) a member of the Armed Services of the
United States or any of its allies.
10. Plaintiff requests that the Court enter a decree of divorce.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests your Honorable Court enter a Decree in
Divorce, divorcing Plaintiff and Defendant.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Plaintiff’s Signature
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Form 1
Page 4 of 4
VERIFICATION
I verify that the statements in the foregoing Complaint in Divorce are true and
correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. I understand that false
statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904, relating to
unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date:____________________ __________________________________
Plaintiff’s Signature
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32
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS O F
_______________________ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
_______________________________, : CIVIL ACTION – LAW
PLAINTIFF (your full name) :
:
: Case No. _____ ___ __ ____
vs. :
:
_______________________________, :
DEFENDANT (spouse’s full name) : IN DIVORCE
NOTICE TO DEFEND AND CLAIM RIGHTS
You have been sued in Court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you
must take prompt action. You are warned that if you fail to do so, the case may proceed without you and a decree of
divorce or annulment may be ent ered against you by the Court. A judgment may also be entered against you for any
other claim or relief requested in these papers by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights
important to you, including custody or visitation of your children.
When the ground for the divorce is indignities or irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, you may request
marriage counseling. A list of marriage counselors is available in ______________________(county) Courthouse,
Office of the Prothonotary, ___________________ (city), Pennsylvania.
IF YOU DO NOT FILE A CLAIM FOR ALIMONY, DIVISION OF PROPERTY, LAWYER'S FEES OR
EXPENSES BEFORE A DIVORCE OR ANNULMENT IS GRANTED, YOU MAY LOSE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM ANY
OF THEM.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER,
GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER.
IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A L AWYER, THI S OFFI CE MAY BE ABL E TO PRO VIDE YOU W ITH
INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A
REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS O F
_______________________ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
_______________________________, : CIVIL ACTION – LAW
PLAINTIFF (your full name) :
:
: Case No. _____ ___ __ ____
vs. :
:
_______________________________, :
DEFENDANT (spouse’s full name) : IN DIVORCE
COMPLAINT FOR DIVORCE UNDER
SECTION 3301(c) OR 3301(d) OF THE DIVORCE CODE
AND NOW, comes the Plaintiff and for cause of action against the Defendant says:
1. Plaintiff is _______________________ (your name), an adult individual who currently resides at
____________________________________ (street address), ________________ (city),
________________ (county), ________________ (state).
2. Defendant is _______________________ (spouse’ s name), an adul t i ndi vi du al w ho curr en tl y
resides at ____________________________________ (street address), ________________
(city), ________________ (county), ________________ (state).
3. Either Plaintiff or Defendant has been bona fide resident of the Commonw eal t h of Pe nnsy lv a ni a
for at least six months immediately previous to the filing of this Complaint.
4. Plaintiff and Defendant were married on __________________ (month/day/year), in
___________________ _ (county) , __ ________ ___________ (state).
5. There ____________ (have been/have not been) prior actions of divorce or for annulment
between the par t ies . (If there have been, name the jurisdiction and case
number)._______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. The marriage is irretrievably broken.
7. The parties ____ __ ___ (ar e/ar e not) liv i ng separ at e and ap ar t. If the parties are living separate
and apart, they have lived separate and apart since _________(month/day/year).
8. Plaintiff has been advised that counseling is available and that Plaintiff may have the right to
request that the Court require the parties to participate in counseling.
9. The Defendant ____________(is/is not) a member of the Armed Services of the United States
or any of its alli es.
10. Plaintiff requests that the Court enter a decr ee of di vor c e.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests your Honorable Court enter a Decree in Divorce,
divorc ing Plaintif f and Defendant.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Plaintiff’s Sign ature
VERIFICATION
I verify that the statements in the foregoing Complaint in Divorce are true and correct to the
best of my knowledge, information, and belief. I understand that false statements herein are made
subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date:____________________ __________________________________
Plaintiff’s Sign ature
