HB 2502 — An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in dissolution of marital status, further providing for decree of court.

PRINTER'S NO.   3388

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2502
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, KULIK, GAYDOS, JAMES, KUZMA AND CIRESI,
        MAY 11, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 11, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in dissolution of marital status,
 3      further providing for decree of court.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.     Section 3323(c.1) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
 7   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
 8   § 3323.    Decree of court.
 9      * * *
10      (c.1)    Bifurcation.--[With]
11             (1)   Except as provided in paragraph (2), with the
12      consent of both parties, the court may enter a decree of
13      divorce or annulment prior to the final determination and
14      disposition of the matters provided for in subsection (b) if
15      the court determines that doing so provides sufficient
16      economic protections for any minor children of the marriage.
17      In the absence of the consent of both parties, the court may
18      enter a decree of divorce or annulment prior to the final
 1    determination and disposition of the matters provided for in
 2    subsection (b) if:
 3        [(1)    grounds have been established as provided in
 4    subsection (g); and
 5        (2)    the moving party has demonstrated that:
 6               (i)    compelling circumstances exist for the entry of
 7        the decree of divorce or annulment; and
 8               (ii)    sufficient economic protections have been
 9        provided for the other party and any minor children of
10        the marriage during the pendency of the disposition of
11        the matters provided for in subsection (b).]
12               (i)    grounds have been established as provided in
13        subsection (g); and
14               (ii)    the moving party has demonstrated that:
15                      (A)   compelling circumstances exist for the entry
16               of the decree of divorce or annulment; and
17                      (B)   sufficient economic protections have been
18               provided for the other party and any minor children
19               of the marriage during the pendency of the
20               disposition of the matters provided for in subsection
21               (b).
22        (2)    Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the court shall have
23    the authority to enter a decree of divorce or annulment prior
24    to the final determination and disposition of all claims
25    raised in the complaint without the consent of both parties
26    and without a showing of compelling circumstances if any of
27    the following apply:
28               (i)    A valid protection from abuse order has been
29        entered under Chapter 61 (relating to protection from
30        abuse) in which one party is the defendant and the other

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1         party is the plaintiff.
2              (ii)   A party has been charged with or convicted of a
3         personal injury crime, as defined in section 103 of the
4         act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the
5         Crime Victims Act, against the other party.
6     * * *
7     Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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