Divorce Decrees are Final

Once it is over it is over.  In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, once a final Divorce Decree has been issued, unless there was a failure to disclose information or assets or some other equally fraudulent action during the equitable distribution, the Decree is completely final and cannot be revisited. 

The Pennsylvania Divorce Code makes no provision for a “modification” of a final decree of equitable distribution, and in fact it is settled law that such a decree is non-modifiable. The Code provides, however, that the Courts shall have original jurisdiction in cases of divorce and shall determine, in conjunction with any decree granting a divorce the following matters, if raised in the pleadings, and issue appropriate decrees or orders with reference thereto, and may retain continuing jurisdiction thereof: (1) the determination and disposition of property rights and interests between spouses. 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104(a)(1).  Freeman v. Powers, 2010 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 691, *1 (Pa. County Ct. Nov. 23, 2010)

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