Family Law Attorneys in Lancaster, PA

Divorce, custody, and support filings for Lancaster families go through Lancaster County, and thoughtful planning helps from day one. A licensed Pennsylvania family law attorney serving Lancaster will review your case at no charge.

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How we match your Lancaster family law case

When you submit a Lancaster family law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A family law matter needs someone who handles family law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Pennsylvania law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Pennsylvania who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Family Law cases in Lancaster

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Lancaster families range from city households near Franklin & Marshall College to households spread across the county's boroughs and farm townships, and separation often means untangling a house, a family business, or a farm. Divorce, custody, and support cases for county residents are heard in the Family Court division of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, with support matters routed through the county's domestic relations office. Residency requirements, custody schedules built around school districts, and income documentation drive most of the work. DearLegal matches you with a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney who handles family law cases in Lancaster, with a free review.

Divorce, custody, and support cases are filed in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, which handles family and domestic relations matters.
Child and spousal support is administered through the county's domestic relations office using Pennsylvania's statewide support guidelines.
Families living near the York, Chester, Berks, or Maryland line may find the case belongs in another county or state depending on where the child has been living.

Pennsylvania family law rules at a glance

Lancaster cases run under Pennsylvania law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Pennsylvania page.

Read the full Pennsylvania family law guide →

Residency Requirement: 6 months
6 months in Pennsylvania (23 Pa. C.S. § 3104)
Property Division System: Equitable distribution
Equitable distribution across 11 factors (23 Pa. C.S. § 3502)
Custody Standard: Best interests
Best interests with 17 factors (23 Pa. C.S. § 5328)
Child Support Guidelines: Income Shares
Income Shares model — Pa. R.C.P. 1910.16-1 et seq.
Spousal Support Framework: Alimony pendente
Alimony pendente lite, spousal support, and post-divorce alimony under 23 Pa. C.S. §§ 3701-3707 — formula-based for APL/spousal support, factor-based for alimony
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Lancaster family law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Pennsylvania · Family Law

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Family Law matters in Pennsylvania are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Family law cases in Pennsylvania are not handled on contingency. Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(d)(1) — patterned on ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) — prohibits contingent fees in domestic relations matters where the fee is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement. Pennsylvania family law attorneys charge hourly (billed against a retainer) or a flat fee for uncontested matters. Courts may award fees under 23 Pa. C.S. § 3702.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Lancaster family law questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Pennsylvania attorney will review it for free.

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It is the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, which hears family and domestic relations matters for the county. Support is administered through the county's domestic relations office. If you and your spouse recently moved, an attorney will confirm whether Pennsylvania and Lancaster County are the proper place to file.

Pennsylvania courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child, weighing a list of statutory factors such as stability, each parent's caretaking history, and the child's relationships and schooling. Judges often expect parents to attempt an agreed parenting plan first. Practical details like school district and commuting distance carry real weight.

Pennsylvania distinguishes between mutual-consent and contested no-fault divorces, and each has its own timing requirements before a decree can be entered. Because those periods and other deadlines vary with your circumstances, have a Pennsylvania attorney confirm the timeline for your case rather than relying on a general figure.

Mutual consent (§ 3301(c)) divorces require at least 90 days from service before the affidavits of consent can be filed and decree entered — typically 4–6 months total. Unilateral no-fault (§ 3301(d)) requires 1 year of separation — typically 12–18 months. Contested cases extend further.

Yes, through two paths: § 3301(c) mutual consent (after 90 days from service when both spouses agree) and § 3301(d) unilateral after 1 year of separation. Pennsylvania also retains 6 fault grounds: willful and malicious desertion for 1+ years, adultery, cruel and barbarous treatment, bigamy, conviction of a crime imprisoning for 2+ years, and indignities.