Howard, Shusterman amplify calls to change Pennsylvania’s Divorce Law
Howard touts H.B. 2303 to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Family Law
Rep. Melissa Shusterman October 2, 2024 | 1:10 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 2 – State Reps. Kristine Howard and Melissa Shusterman, both D-Chester, are echoing the calls from constituents to make changes to the commonwealth’s divorce law after hearing bi-partisan support for the issue at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Family Law hearing on Monday, Sept. 30.
Both Howard and Shusterman share the belief that it is extremely difficult for Pennsylvanians to get a fair divorce under current laws. They say that the law is designed to make the process difficult and rare, but that this also results in it being costly, complex, painful, and an inordinately long process that can facilitate continued abuse.
Because of this, Howard and Shusterman are looking to create and support legislation that modernizes Pennsylvania’s divorce law. “I am very encouraged by the broad bipartisan support for this issue,” Howard said. “It is egregious what Pennsylvanians must go through to secure a divorce, a sad fact no matter your political beliefs.”
Shusterman, who chairs the subcommittee, added, “Under the best of circumstances, divorce can take two-three years to resolve in Pennsylvania,” Shusterman said. “Our antiquated laws need modernization to streamline the divorce process, making it more efficient and less adversarial for all parties involved. It's time to rewrite these convoluted laws that keep people in bad, even abusive marriages.”
One piece of legislation that was discussed with the subcommittee was Howard’s H.B. 2303. This bill would make the divorce process more efficient, ensuring that few divorces would take more than a year to become final, and allow many to be resolved in 90 days. It also would allow minor courts to hear and refer uncontested and simple divorces, thereby relieving the Court of Common Pleas of having to hear a large number of divorce cases, and would remove wholly unnecessary obstacles such as mandatory counseling and reduce the number of issues that can be litigated over before a divorce is granted.
Howard previously introduced H.B. 1120, a bill with similar language. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee on May 5, 2023, and received no further action. Howard says H.B. 2303 is a “new, more perfect version” after receiving stakeholder feedback and consultation with experts on the issue.