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Chester County
Family Law & Divorce Attorneys
Chester County has the highest median household income in Pennsylvania. Family law cases there reflect that: significant real estate, investment portfolios, business interests, and complex financial situations are common in divorce matters at the Court of Common Pleas, 201 West Market Street in West Chester. Lancaster Law Group handles select family law matters for Chester County clients who need attorneys prepared for that level of complexity. When your family is involved, experience and preparation matter.
We represent Chester County clients by video conference and by phone. In-person consultations are available at our Lancaster office.
Call (717) 696-6504 or schedule a consultation online. We will review your situation and tell you what your options are.
Family Law Matters We Handle in Chester County
If your family law matter is filed at the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, our attorneys are prepared to represent you. Below are the family law matters we handle.
- Divorce. Contested and uncontested divorce in Chester County. High-asset divorce cases in Chester County often involve equitable distribution of real estate, business interests, stock portfolios, and retirement accounts that require careful documentation and valuation.
- Child Custody. Legal and physical custody, parenting plans, and modification petitions in Chester County. Contested custody matters go through a conciliation process before a judge hears the case.
- Child Support. Support calculations, enforcement, and modifications through the Chester County Domestic Relations Section at 201 West Market Street. Pennsylvania uses an Income Shares model; the income calculation in high-earning Chester County households can involve investment income, bonuses, and deferred compensation.
- Spousal Support. Alimony pendente lite during Chester County divorce proceedings and post-divorce alimony determinations. Pennsylvania distinguishes between three types of spousal support; in high-income households, those distinctions carry significant financial weight.
- Property Division. Equitable distribution of marital property in Chester County. Pennsylvania applies 11 statutory factors. Chester County cases frequently involve Main Line real estate, closely-held businesses, stock options, and executive compensation that require expert valuation before division.
- Paternity. Establishing legal paternity in Chester County for custody rights and support obligations.
Chester County family law cases move through the Court of Common Pleas at 201 West Market Street in West Chester. The financial complexity common to this county requires attorneys who can handle asset valuation, business interests, and high-stakes property division.
Chester County Communities We Serve
Lancaster Law Group accepts select family law cases in Chester County. Contact us to confirm we are able to assist based on your court location and the nature of your matter.
- West Chester
- Coatesville
- Phoenixville
- Kennett Square
- Downingtown
- Malvern
- Exton
- Paoli
- Oxford
- Avondale
- Gap
- Thorndale
- Berwyn
- Devon
Chester County clients can work with Lancaster Law Group by video conference or phone. We will confirm availability for your specific matter and match your case to the right attorney.
Where You Are, Where Your Case Is Heard
The table below maps our Lancaster office to the court where Chester County family law cases are filed and heard.
| Our Office | County Served | Primary Courthouse |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Law Group
110 East King Street Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 696-6504 | Chester County |
Chester County Court of Common Pleas 201 West Market Street West Chester, PA 19380 15th Judicial District of Pennsylvania |
Chester County also operates 16 Magisterial District Judge offices throughout the county. These courts handle criminal preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and civil claims under $12,000. If you received a citation, summons, or hearing notice, the assigned MDJ office is listed on your paperwork.
Why Chester County Residents Choose Lancaster Law Group
Here is what Chester County clients tell us sets our firm apart.
Chester County divorce cases often involve financial complexity that requires attorneys who have done this before. Significant real estate, executive compensation, closely-held businesses, stock portfolios, and pension plans are common assets in Chester County divorce. Shawnee S. Burton’s AAML fellowship reflects the depth of family law experience that complex asset division requires.
Shawnee S. Burton is an AAML Fellow, one of fewer than 1,600 nationwide. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers accepts attorneys based on demonstrated peer-recognized experience in complex family law. For Chester County clients with significant assets at stake, that credential is relevant.
Attorney McMahon built his career in courtrooms before advising clients. He served as an assistant district attorney before founding the firm. Chester County cases that require a hearing at the Justice Center on West Market Street get an attorney who is prepared to litigate.
We do not treat asset complexity as an obstacle. We treat it as the work. Chester County divorce cases with real estate portfolios, business valuations, or deferred compensation require detailed analysis before any negotiation or hearing. We do that analysis before we walk into any court or conference.
You will know what your Chester County case actually requires. We explain the procedural path clearly, identify the issues that drive cost and timeline, and tell you where the risks are before you make decisions. That clarity is what you should expect from any attorney you retain.
Ready to talk? Schedule a consultation with Lancaster Law Group today.
What to Expect When You Call
Here is what the process looks like for Chester County clients from the first call through resolution.
- Your first call is a conversation. You describe your Chester County situation and we determine whether we are the right fit for your matter.
- At your consultation, an attorney walks through the issues in your Chester County case: what the property division analysis requires, how custody proceedings work at the Justice Center, and what realistic timelines look like.
- If you move forward, we prepare a fee agreement covering scope and costs. Complex Chester County matters require clear expectations from the start.
- Once retained, we manage all steps: discovery, expert coordination for asset valuation, filings at 201 West Market Street, and advocacy at any hearing or trial.
Chester County family law cases involving significant assets take longer to resolve than straightforward matters. Property valuation, expert reports, and discovery requirements can extend timelines. We tell you that upfront. We tell you what is coming before it arrives.
Every case has its own facts. To understand how Pennsylvania law applies to your situation, schedule a consultation with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lancaster Law Group handle cases in Chester County?
Yes, for select family law matters, particularly those involving complex financial situations or significant marital assets. Call (717) 696-6504 to discuss your case.
How does Chester County handle high-asset divorce?
Chester County high-asset divorce cases follow the same equitable distribution framework as other Pennsylvania counties but often require forensic accountants, business valuators, and real estate appraisers to establish the value of marital assets before a judge can divide them.
How does Chester County handle contested custody cases?
Contested custody cases in Chester County go through a conciliation process before a judge hears the matter at the Justice Center on West Market Street in West Chester. If no agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a hearing.
Where are Chester County family law filings made?
Divorce and custody filings go to the Prothonotary at the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19380. Support matters are filed at the Chester County Domestic Relations Section.
Does Pennsylvania divide executive compensation and stock options in a Chester County divorce?
Yes, if those assets were earned during the marriage, they are marital property subject to equitable distribution. The timing of vesting, grant dates, and the portion earned during the marriage affect what is divisible. This is one of the issues Chester County divorce cases commonly require expert analysis to resolve.
What is the divorce waiting period in Chester County?
Pennsylvania requires a 90-day waiting period for mutual consent divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. 3301(c), measured from service of the complaint. If one spouse does not consent, a one-year separation period applies under 23 Pa.C.S. 3301(d).
Talk to a Chester County Family Law Attorney
Chester County family law cases, especially those involving significant marital assets, require attorneys who prepare thoroughly before any negotiation or hearing. Our team handles divorce, custody, and property division for Chester County clients with that level of preparation.
From our office in Lancaster, we work with Chester County clients on matters before the Court of Common Pleas at the Justice Center in West Chester. When you work with Lancaster Law Group, you get attorneys who understand what complex family law cases actually require and who tell you the truth about what yours involves.
Call (717) 696-6504 or schedule a consultation online. We will assess your Chester County matter and tell you directly whether we are the right fit.