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.

PRINTER'S NO. 514
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 521
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DELOZIER, JAMES, LAWRENCE AND SCHLEGEL,
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
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(a) 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] The
court may allow a spouse reasonable alimony pendente lite[,] or
spousal support [and reasonable counsel fees and expenses.] upon
determining that the income and resources of the petitioning
spouse are insufficient to provide for that spouse's basic
needs, including the costs of prosecuting or defending the
divorce action. Reasonable counsel fees and expenses may be
allowed pendente lite, and the court shall also have authority
to award exclusive use of the family home or any other dwelling
which is available for use as a residence to either of the
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parties pendente lite and to direct that adequate health and
hospitalization insurance coverage be maintained for the
dependent spouse pendente lite. A determination under this
section that alimony pendente lite or spousal support is
warranted shall not be based solely upon a rule of court
providing presumptive guidelines for the calculation of support
or upon the party's standard of living during the marriage.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0521PN0514 - 2 -
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