Family Law Attorneys in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia County’s family courts handle custody, support, and divorce filings for city families, and delays are common. A licensed Pennsylvania family law attorney serving Philadelphia will review your case for free.

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How we match your Philadelphia family law case

When you submit a Philadelphia 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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DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Family Law cases in Philadelphia

More about legal help in Philadelphia →

Family cases in Philadelphia are handled by the family division of Philadelphia County court, which processes a heavy volume of divorce, custody, support, and protection-from-abuse matters. Custody disputes often involve parents in different neighborhoods or across the river in New Jersey, and Pennsylvania divides marital property based on fairness rather than an automatic split, which makes the details of income, homes, and pensions important. Support is calculated under statewide guidelines. DearLegal matches you with a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney who handles family law cases in Philadelphia, with a free review.

Divorce, custody, and support cases from the city go through the family division of Philadelphia County court.
Pennsylvania divides marital property equitably rather than equally, so the details of each Philadelphia case matter.
Custody disputes often involve a parent across the river in Camden or elsewhere in New Jersey.

Pennsylvania family law rules at a glance

Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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

Philadelphia family law questions, answered

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

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In the family division of Philadelphia County court. The court handles divorce, custody, child and spousal support, and protection orders. Pennsylvania has residency and waiting-period requirements. An attorney can explain the process, help with temporary orders, and represent you in conferences and hearings.

Pennsylvania uses equitable distribution, meaning the court divides marital property fairly based on factors like each spouse’s income, contributions, and needs, not automatically in half. Pensions, homes, and businesses often require valuation. An attorney can gather the documents and negotiate or argue for a fair result.

Yes. Philadelphia County court handles protection-from-abuse petitions, and emergency or temporary orders can be issued quickly when there is an immediate risk. A full hearing follows. An attorney can help you prepare the petition and evidence and represent you at the hearing.

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.