Best Philadelphia Divorce Attorneys

Divorce lawyers in Philadelphia help people end a marriage and sort out what they built together. They handle uncontested and contested filings, alimony, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and legal separation. An attorney can value the marital estate, negotiate a settlement, and argue the case if talks break down. The goal is a fair split of the property and a workable support order. Many Philadelphia divorce attorneys offer a first consultation at no charge.

To compile this list, we review Philadelphia Divorce Lawyers based on public information, client feedback, and professional standing.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Consistency of public reviews across multiple platforms

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Top-Rated Philadelphia Divorce Law Firms for Custody & High-Asset Cases

Screenshot of the Cooper Family Law, LLC - Top Divorce Lawyer Website
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd # 220, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

Cooper Family Law is a Center City practice led by Patrick J. Cooper, a Super Lawyers honoree since 2023. The team carries more than 50 years of combined experience across divorce, custody, prenuptial agreements and adoption.

Attorney Cooper and his colleagues take cases in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties. Much of the work involves high-net-worth couples, business owners and professionals whose cases turn on valuations, executive pay and retirement accounts.

Clients who prefer to stay out of court can use mediation or negotiated agreements instead. A good fit if you want a divorce lawyer in Philadelphia who explains the financial side plainly.

Screenshot of the The Law Offices of David T. Garnes, LLC Website
1650 Market Street, 36th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103

David T. Garnes opened his own firm in 2008 after years with other family law practices in the region. He is licensed in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, so he takes cases on either side of the river.

The Philadelphia office sits at One Liberty Place on Market Street, with a second location in Cherry Hill. Attorney Garnes handles divorce, property division, late-life and military divorce, paternity and grandparents' rights.

Uncontested divorces are billed at flat rates, and payment financing is available. He was named to Super Lawyers in 2024 and brings over 20 years of state and federal court experience.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC Website
310 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA 19046, USA

Since 1999, Blessing Law has represented Pennsylvania families from its Rockledge office in Montgomery County. Every attorney on the team is trained in mediation and collaborative law, which gives clients real alternatives to a courtroom fight.

Maribeth Blessing built the practice around one idea: protect the family, not just the case file. She works alongside attorneys Gwen Lentine and Liane Davis Anderson on divorce, equitable distribution, fathers' rights, same-sex divorce and estate matters.

The firm covers Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties. Unbundled services and flexible fee arrangements help clients control costs when full representation is not needed.

Screenshot of the Law Offices Of Blitshtein & Weiss, P.C. Website
648 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA 18966, USA

Iriana Blitshtein and Tova Weiss founded this Southampton firm in 1995 on a simple premise: people with the least means need the most protection.

Attorney Blitshtein leads the family law side with over 20 years in divorce, child custody, support and equitable distribution. In 1996, she received the Chancellor's Award from the Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program. Her partner handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings.

Together, the attorneys bring more than four decades of combined experience across Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. Consultations are free.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Linda A. Kerns, LLC Website
1420 Locust St #200, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

Linda A. Kerns brings tax and estate credentials to divorces where the money is complicated. She holds a Master of Law in Taxation with a graduate certificate in estate planning from Temple, and she is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Her Locust Street office serves clients throughout Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks and Delaware Counties, plus southern New Jersey. Beyond family law, Attorney Kerns takes business litigation and election law matters, and she appears regularly on Philadelphia radio.

Screenshot of the Zlock, Grisillo & Repko Website
708 Floral Vale Blvd, Yardley, PA 19067, USA

Three offices cover the northern suburbs here: Doylestown, Yardley and Montgomeryville. That footprint puts these attorneys in front of Bucks and Montgomery County judges week after week.

The firm takes contested and no-fault cases, property division involving pensions and business valuations, child custody and protection from abuse petitions. Evening and weekend appointments are available, and the initial consultation costs nothing.

Screenshot of the William Kirby Law, Family Law Attorneys Website

William Kirby spent 21 years as a Marine before building a boutique matrimonial practice. His Market Street office sits near the Center City routes and the family court, with a second location in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Attorney Kirby works with a team of eight lawyers on divorce, support, paternity, property division and separation agreements. Cases come from Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, along with several South Jersey counties. Same-day appointments are often available.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Smith & Horwitz Website
1515 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

Few Center City firms practice family law and nothing else. Smith & Horwitz does, and has for over 35 years.

Elaine Smith and Adam Horwitz keep the office small on purpose, so you work directly with an experienced attorney instead of a rotating associate. The practice has been recognized by Super Lawyers and takes cases throughout Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

Screenshot of the Larry Lefkowitz Esq. Website
5 Hilton Drive, Suite 307, Trevose, PA 19053, USA

Larry Lefkowitz has charged flat fees since 1991, when he left hourly billing behind and opened his own office. Half is due upfront, with the balance due on completion, no retainers and no monthly billing surprises.

He works in Trevose and Northeast Philadelphia on divorce, support, protection from abuse petitions, adoptions and name changes.

Screenshot of the Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman, LLC Website
121 S Broad St suite 320, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

For more than 40 years, this Broad Street firm has practiced family law exclusively. Partners Caitlin B. Fox and Jennifer Wallner Saltzman lead it today, with founder Lee A. Schwartz serving of counsel.

Attorney Schwartz has been recommended by Philadelphia County judges to serve as parenting coordinator in high-conflict child custody cases. High-asset property distribution and international family law are two of the firm's strengths.

Screenshot of the Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP Website
One Logan, 130 N 18th St UNIT 1500, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA

Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel has been a Philadelphia fixture since Paul C. Astor founded it in 1954. Its family law group takes high-asset divorce, cohabitation agreements and relocation matters alongside the firm's business, injury and estate work.

Four offices serve the region: One Logan Square, Bala Cynwyd, West Chester and Mount Laurel.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Joanne E. Kleiner Website
261 Old York Rd # 402, Jenkintown, PA 19046, USA

Joanne Kleiner has practiced from Jenkintown for more than 35 years, with an emphasis on ending marriages without a courtroom. Amicable divorce, collaborative law and property settlement agreements make up much of her caseload.

Clients come from Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia Counties.

Screenshot of the Hofstein Meyer Rocco Finger & Weiner, P.C. Website
1760 Market St, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA

More than a century of combined experience sits behind this boutique Market Street firm, which takes nothing but domestic relations work. Complicated negotiation and litigation are the focus.

The attorneys bring in valuation experts, forensic accountants, and psychological experts when a case calls for it. A second office operates in Bala Cynwyd.

Screenshot of the Family Law Corp. Website
1515 Market St Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

Lori A. Walker runs this practice from Market Street, with additional offices across the Main Line in Radnor, Bala Cynwyd, Malvern and Plymouth Meeting. She is a Super Lawyers Rising Star and a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 honoree. Her caseload runs to high-net-worth divorce, collaborative practice and unbundled representation for clients who need limited help.

Screenshot of the Gonzalez Ferrandez Law Website
501 Cambria Ave, Suite 250, Bensalem, PA 19020, USA

International work sets Gonzalez Ferrandez Law apart. Stephanie A. Gonzalez Ferrandez has 25 years in family law and has represented clients from more than 45 countries. Her cases have covered Hague abduction petitions and the validity of foreign marriages.

She is bilingual in English and Spanish, with offices in Bensalem, Doylestown and Philadelphia.

Screenshot of the Divorce Guides Website
1515 Market St, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

Divorce Guides walks couples through a no-fault, uncontested split with the paperwork completed online. Attorney Aaron I. Rappeport runs the service from Market Street and offers a free consultation before you start.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Philadelphia?

Usually hourly, plus a retainer. Most family law attorneys bill by the hour and ask for money up front. Some offer flat rates for uncontested cases, and a few unbundle the work so you pay only for specific tasks.

How long does a divorce take in Pennsylvania?

Ninety days at the earliest. If both spouses consent, 23 Pa.C.S. section 3301(c) requires a 90-day wait from the date the complaint is served. Uncontested cases usually close in four to six months. Contested ones often run past a year.

Do I have to be separated before filing in Pennsylvania?

Only if your spouse will not consent. A unilateral no-fault divorce under section 3301(d) requires one year of living separate and apart. That period dropped from two years in December 2016. With mutual consent, no separation period applies.

Where do I file for divorce in Philadelphia?

The Family Division at 1501 Arch Street. Divorce, custody, and support cases for the city all run through the Court of Common Pleas Family Division. You file the complaint with the Clerk of Family Court on the 11th floor.

Does Pennsylvania split marital property 50/50?

No. It divides it equitably. Under 23 Pa.C.S. section 3502, courts weigh the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and contributions to the household. Property owned before the marriage is usually separate.

Do I need to live in Pennsylvania to file here?

Six months of residency. At least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for six months before the complaint is filed, under 23 Pa.C.S. section 3104. There is no separate county residency rule for Philadelphia.

Can I get divorced if my spouse refuses to sign?

Yes, but it takes longer. Once you have lived apart for a year, you can move the case forward without consent. The court can enter a decree over your spouse's objection.

Types of Divorce and Family Law Cases in Philadelphia

Uncontested Divorce. Both spouses agree on money, property, and parenting before anything is filed. These cases move on the 90-day mutual consent track and rarely require a hearing.

Contested Divorce. Disputes over assets, support, or the children push the case into discovery and court conferences. Expect a year or more in the Family Division.

High-Asset Divorce. Business interests, executive pay, pensions, and investment accounts complicate equitable distribution. Lawyers often bring in forensic accountants and business valuation experts.

Child Custody and Relocation. Pennsylvania courts decide custody on the child's best interests under 23 Pa.C.S. section 5328. Act 11 of 2025 streamlined those factors and gave safety issues weighted priority. Moving a child a significant distance requires notice or court approval under section 5337.

Alimony and Spousal Support. Support during the case and alimony after the decree are calculated differently. Income, marriage length, and earning capacity all matter.

Marital Agreements. Prenuptial and postnuptial contracts set expectations before a dispute exists. Courts enforce them when both parties disclosed their finances honestly.

Protection From Abuse. A PFA is a civil order, not a criminal charge, and it moves fast. Philadelphia assigns these cases to the Domestic Relations Branch.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer in Philadelphia

Match the lawyer to the dispute. A high-asset case needs someone comfortable with valuations and pensions. A straightforward filing does not.

Ask about Family Division experience. Local practice matters. A lawyer who appears at 1501 Arch Street regularly knows the judges, the conference schedule, and the clerk's requirements.

Find out who does the work. Small firms often mean direct attorney contact. Larger ones may hand daily tasks to an associate. Ask before you sign.

Check whether they mediate. Many Philadelphia family lawyers are trained mediators or collaborative practitioners. That opens a path that avoids a courtroom fight.

Get the fee terms in writing. Hourly rate, retainer, replenishment terms, and what counts as a billable task should all be spelled out.

What Affects the Outcome of a Philadelphia Divorce

There is no standard result. Outcomes turn on the size of the marital estate and the length of the marriage. It also matters whether one spouse gave up earnings to raise children. Debt matters as much as assets. Hidden income and disputed business valuations add time and cost. Cases that settle usually cost less than cases that go to a judge. A local attorney can look at your finances and give you a realistic range.

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