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Norristown Divorce Lawyer
The Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner, P.C. represents divorce clients from a real office at 516 DeKalb Street in Norristown, just blocks from the Montgomery County Courthouse where the county’s family cases are heard. Call (215) 942-2100 for help with divorce, custody, support, and alimony anywhere in Montgomery County.
If you are facing divorce in Montgomery County, your case runs through Norristown. The complaint is filed here, the conferences happen here, and the judges of the Court of Common Pleas sit here. Our firm keeps a Norristown office a short walk from the courthouse, so clients work with counsel who appear in this courthouse, under this county’s local rules, week after week.
Filing for Divorce in Montgomery County
A Montgomery County divorce begins when the complaint is filed with the Montgomery County Prothonotary at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 2 East Airy Street in Norristown, at the corner of Airy and Swede Streets. Family cases are heard by the Court of Common Pleas of the 38th Judicial District.
Pennsylvania recognizes fault and no-fault grounds, but nearly all modern cases proceed no-fault along one of two paths:
- Mutual consent, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c): both spouses consent after a 90-day waiting period that starts when the complaint is filed and served. This is the fastest route when both sides are ready to move forward.
- One-year separation, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(d): if one spouse will not consent, the other may proceed once the parties have lived separate and apart for at least one year, for separations that began on or after December 5, 2016.
Ninety days or one year is a minimum waiting period, not a finish line. When property, support, or custody is contested, the real timeline is driven by discovery, conferences, and hearing schedules. For a statewide overview of the process itself, see our main divorce lawyer page.
What We Handle from Our Norristown Office
Property division
Pennsylvania divides marital property through equitable distribution under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502, which lists 13 factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, and contributions as a homemaker. Equitable means fair, not automatically 50/50. In Montgomery County, contested economic claims are typically conferenced before a court-appointed hearing officer before they ever reach a judge, so building the financial record early matters.
Child custody
Custody complaints are also filed with the Prothonotary in Norristown, and Montgomery County requires parents to complete specific steps before a judge will hear the case. Our Norristown custody attorney page covers local custody practice in detail.
Child support
Support is administered through Montgomery County Domestic Relations and calculated under the statewide guidelines in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16, based primarily on the parties’ net monthly incomes. Conferences, and hearings when needed, take place in Norristown. Learn more on our child support lawyer page.
Spousal support, APL, and alimony
Pennsylvania has three distinct spousal remedies, and the labels matter. Spousal support can be ordered during separation, before any divorce is filed. Alimony pendente lite (APL) supports the dependent spouse while the divorce is pending. Alimony is awarded after the decree under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701, which weighs 17 factors. Which remedy applies, in what amount, and for how long is often the most contested economic question in a case.
Why Local Montgomery County Counsel Matters
Divorce is governed by state law, but it is practiced county by county. Montgomery County has local rules and procedures that shape how a case actually moves:
- Custody conciliation: before any custody trial, the parties attend a conciliation conference with a court-appointed conciliator whose job is to resolve the dispute without judicial involvement.
- Parent education: local rules require custody litigants to complete Mediation Orientation and the four-hour Our Children First seminar before the conciliation conference.
- Hearing officers: contested equitable distribution and support claims go before court-appointed hearing officers whose recommendations frame everything that follows.
- Scheduling and motion practice: knowing how this courthouse lists conferences, and what individual judges expect, can save months.
A lawyer who regularly appears in the Norristown courthouse knows these steps, prepares clients for each one, and does not lose time learning procedure mid-case. For the broader county practice, see our Montgomery County divorce lawyer page.
Our Office at 516 DeKalb Street
Our Norristown office at 516 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA 19401 sits in the county seat, a few blocks from the Montgomery County Courthouse. The proximity is practical: verifications and filings can be handled the same day, hearing preparation happens near the courtroom, and clients can meet with counsel immediately before or after court appearances. Call (215) 942-2100 to schedule a consultation.
Serving All of Montgomery County
From Norristown, we represent clients throughout Montgomery County, including King of Prussia, Blue Bell, Plymouth Meeting, and Conshohocken. Wherever in the county you live, your divorce or custody case will be heard in Norristown, which is exactly where our office is. The firm also handles real estate, estate planning, and other matters countywide; see our Montgomery County lawyer page.
Meet the Attorneys
Michael Kuldiner, the firm’s founder, concentrates his practice in family law, real estate, and prenuptial agreements, and leads the firm’s divorce work.
Michael Petro focuses on divorce and child custody litigation, the core of the firm’s Montgomery County family court practice.
Loretta Golding handles litigation and estate planning, including the estate and property questions that often accompany a divorce.
Ready to talk about your situation? Contact us online or call (215) 942-2100. Consultations are confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I file for divorce in Montgomery County?
Divorce complaints are filed with the Montgomery County Prothonotary at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 2 East Airy Street in Norristown, at Airy and Swede Streets. After filing, the complaint must be properly served on your spouse.
How long does a divorce take in Montgomery County?
The legal minimum is 90 days under mutual consent, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c), or a one-year separation under § 3301(d) if one spouse will not consent. Cases with contested property, support, or custody issues take longer, and heavily contested cases often run a year or more.
What is a custody conciliation conference?
It is a required settlement conference before a court-appointed conciliator, held before a Montgomery County custody case can proceed to a judge. There is no transcript, both parties and counsel attend, and children do not attend the initial conference.
Do I have to take a parenting class before my custody case is heard?
Yes. Montgomery County local rules require both parents to complete Mediation Orientation and the four-hour Our Children First seminar before the custody conciliation conference.
Who decides how our property gets divided?
If you and your spouse cannot agree, a court-appointed hearing officer conferences the claim and issues a recommendation based on the 13 factors in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. If either side disagrees, the matter proceeds to a hearing and, ultimately, to a judge.
What is the difference between spousal support, APL, and alimony?
Timing. Spousal support is paid during separation before a divorce is filed, APL is paid while the divorce is pending, and alimony is paid after the divorce decree under the 17 factors of 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701. The guideline amounts for support and APL come from Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16.
Do I need a lawyer based in Norristown?
You are free to hire any Pennsylvania attorney, but Montgomery County cases follow county-specific procedures: conciliation conferences, required seminars, and hearing officer practice. Counsel who work in the Norristown courthouse regularly already know those steps and the people who run them.
Attorney advertising. This page provides general information about Pennsylvania law and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. Consult a licensed Pennsylvania attorney about your specific circumstances.
