By: Robert B. George, Esquire
Under Pennsylvania law, the direction that a pending divorce action will take if one of the parties dies before the case has been concluded depends upon whether grounds for divorce have been established. So if a party to a divorce dies while the case is still pending, the surviving spouse may proceed with the case as long as grounds for divorce were established before the spouse’s death. In such a case, the parties’ economic rights will be determined through equitable distribution under the pending divorce, as opposed to the Probate Code.
For example, in what is known as an uncontested divorce in Pennsylvania, if both parties have already filed what is known as an Affidavits of Consent, grounds are deemed to have been established, and the case will proceed in the normal course through equitable distribution under the pending divorce action. The case will likewise proceed in the normal course through equitable distribution in what is known as a contested divorce in Pennsylvania if an Affidavit under Section 3301(d) of the Divorce Code has been properly filed without objection from the other spouse.
If, however, grounds for divorce have not been established at the time of the decedent spouse’s death, the divorce action would be concluded, and the surviving spouse would then have to resort to rights granted thru the Probate Code, Retirement Equity Act, and/or rights of joint owners relative to and for purposes of determining the distribution of the deceased spouse’s estate. Rights under the Probate Code, for example, include the right to take according to the decedent spouse’s Will, or, in the alternative, the right to take against the decedent spouse’s Will, as permitted, by law, if, for example, the decedent spouse had a Will disinheriting the surviving spouse.
It is important to note that whether or not grounds for divorce have been established, and regardless of whether economic rights are determined through equitable distribution in the pending divorce case, the parties remain married due to the fact that Pennsylvania does not allow for the divorce of a decedent spouse. Consequently, any item of property that passes by law to a surviving spouse, regardless of whether or not grounds for divorce have been established, would supersede the rights that the parties might otherwise have through equitable distribution. This applies, for example, to retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s.
The inconsistencies in the applicable laws following the death of a spouse while a divorce is pending in Pennsylvania could very well create a situation in which the surviving spouse actually ends up with significantly more of the decedent spouse’s estate then he or she might have realized in equitable distribution under the pending divorce case.
Accordingly, it is incumbent upon a party to a pending divorce action that may be concerned about his or her spouse ending up with more of the marital estate than he or she would have liked, to establish grounds for divorce as quickly as possible. This is especially true if a spouse is ill and/or elderly. This can be accomplished by having both parties file Affidavits of Consent ninety days after the service of the Divorce Complaint, as is permitted under the Divorce Code in Pennsylvania. If the other party to the divorce case is not willing to sign an Affidavit of Consent, then the party seeking to quickly establish grounds for divorce should seek to file an Affidavit under Section 3301(d) of the Divorce Code as soon as the parties have been separated for the requisite period of time. Additionally, the parties to a pending divorce action in Pennsylvania should seek to obtain the permission of the other spouse to remove his or her name as the beneficiary to any life insurance plans, pension plans, and/or retirement accounts as soon as possible following the commencement of a divorce action.
Given the state of the law, it is important to analyze the facts and circumstances surrounding a spouse’s death during the pendency of a divorce proceeding, as it can have a substantial impact on the ultimate disposition of the spouse’s estate.
If you find yourself involved in a case involving the death of a spouse during a pending divorce action in Pennsylvania, it is important that you consult with an experienced attorney.
The Law Firm of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP is a full-service law firm in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We strive to help people, businesses and institutions throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania solve legal problems – and even prevent legal problems before they occur. To learn more about the full range of our specific practice areas, please visit www.dioriosereni.com or contact Robert B. George, Esquire at 610-565-5700 or at [email protected].
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