Family Law Attorneys in Scranton, PA

Scranton families working through divorce, custody, or support disputes file in Lackawanna County, and early guidance helps. A licensed Pennsylvania family law attorney serving Scranton will review your case for free.

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How we match your Scranton family law case

When you submit a Scranton 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 Scranton

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Scranton families move between jobs in Lackawanna County and commuting work in the Poconos, New York, and New Jersey, and that mobility shapes custody schedules and support calculations. Divorce, custody, and support matters for Scranton residents are handled by the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, with support and custody conferences held before a case ever reaches a judge. Support figures follow statewide guidelines built on both parents' incomes and the custody schedule. DearLegal matches you with a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney who handles family law cases in Scranton, with a free review.

Divorce, custody, and support cases are filed in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County.
Custody and support matters typically go through a conference or mediation step before a judge hears the case.
Nearby Luzerne, Wayne, Monroe, and Susquehanna counties handle their own filings, and cases involving New York or New Jersey households raise questions about which state decides custody.

Pennsylvania family law rules at a glance

Scranton 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 Scranton 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

Scranton family law questions, answered

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Family matters for Scranton residents go to the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County. If one parent has recently moved to another county or state, which court has authority becomes a threshold issue an attorney should address before filing.

Pennsylvania uses statewide support guidelines that combine both parents' incomes with the custody schedule, plus additions for items such as childcare and health insurance. Courts can adjust the guideline figure in specific circumstances, and disputes often turn on how income is calculated for a self-employed or hourly parent.

Pennsylvania builds in required steps and waiting periods that differ depending on whether both spouses consent to the divorce. Because these timelines vary with the grounds and the parties' cooperation, a Pennsylvania attorney should confirm what applies to 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.