Pennsylvania Act 2018-102 — DOMESTIC RELATIONS CODE (23 PA.C.S) - ALIMONY PENDENTE LITE, COUNSEL FEES AND EXPENSES

Act text

Session of 2018

No. 2018-102

HB 983

AN ACT

Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alimony and support, further providing for alimony pendente lite, counsel fees and expenses.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 3702 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 3702. Alimony pendente lite, counsel fees and expenses.

(a) General rule.-- In proper cases, upon petition, the court may allow a spouse reasonable alimony pendente lite, spousal support and reasonable counsel fees and expenses. Reasonable counsel fees and expenses may be allowed pendente lite, and the court shall also have authority to direct that adequate health and hospitalization insurance coverage be maintained for the dependent spouse pendente lite.

(b) Exception.--Except where the court finds that an order for alimony pendente lite or spousal support is necessary to prevent manifest injustice, a party who has been convicted of committing a personal injury crime against the other party shall not be entitled to spousal support or alimony pendente lite. Any amount paid by the injured party after the commission of the offense but before the conviction of the other party shall be recoverable by the injured party upon petition.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 24th day of October, A.D. 2018.

TOM WOLF