Use this free marital settlement agreement Pennsylvania form to put your divorce in writing. A marital settlement agreement (MSA) is a written contract that settles property, support, and children. Pennsylvania law recognizes the MSA, and either spouse can enforce it with the same remedies as a court order, unless the MSA says otherwise.[1] Fill the form out online or download the PDF.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Pennsylvania law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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You decide what goes into your own MSA. The FormsPal template runs eight pages and has 18 numbered sections, plus a signature page and a notary page. Every section is a blank to fill in, so you can complete all of them or skip the ones that do not apply to your divorce.
| Part of the template | Sections | What you fill in |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 1.1 to 1.3 | Both names, the purpose of the MSA, and the effective date |
| Disclosures | 2.1 to 2.4 | Separate property, the financial disclosure, and the informed consent statement |
| Children | 3.1 to 3.7 | Each child's name, date of birth, and Social Security number, where each child lives, and the custody and visitation schedules |
| Child support | 4.1 and 4.2 | Which parent pays, how much, and how often |
| Spousal support | 5.1 and 5.2 | Who pays, how much, and on what schedule |
| Residence | 6 | The address of the family home and who keeps it |
| Debts and expenses | 7 | The debts each person agrees to pay |
| Personal property | 8 | The items that go to each person |
| Insurance | 9 | The life, health, and other policies each person keeps |
| Closing terms | 10 to 18 | Amendments, binding effect, severability, governing law, change of residence, confidentiality, and counterparts |
| Signatures and notary | Pages 7 and 8 | Both sign, and a notary public completes the acknowledgment |
Read section 1.3 of the template before you sign. Under its own wording, the MSA takes effect on the date of signature, but only if the marriage actually ends. If the marriage does not end, the MSA is null and void.
Two sections of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (23 Pa.C.S.) matter most to a divorce settlement. Section 3105 covers the MSA, including how it is enforced and which provisions a court can change. Section 3502 covers how the court divides marital property. Read both before you decide what to put in your MSA.
Lawful grounds for divorce are described in Title 23, Chapter 33, Section 3301 of the Pennsylvania state law.[3]
Pennsylvania also recognizes annulment. Under 23 Pa.C.S. 3303, either party to a void or voidable marriage may bring an action in annulment to have the marriage declared void. Under 23 Pa.C.S. 3305, a voidable marriage stays valid until a court issues a decree of annulment.[3]
Section 3105 covers divorce agreements. The statute says:
A party to an agreement regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the court under this part, whether or not the agreement has been merged or incorporated into the decree, may utilize a remedy or sanction set forth in this part to enforce the agreement to the same extent as though the agreement had been an order of the court except as provided to the contrary in the agreement.
In plain words, a party can use a remedy or sanction from the same part of the law to enforce the MSA, as though it were a court order. This is true whether or not the MSA was merged or incorporated into the divorce decree. The MSA itself can provide otherwise.[1]
Section 3105 also sets which provisions a court can change later. For property and money matters, the court cannot modify a provision unless the MSA has a specific provision to the contrary. This covers:[1]
Child support, visitation, and custody work differently. A court can modify them upon a showing of changed circumstances.[1]
Section 3502 covers how the court divides marital property. The statute says:
Upon the request of either party in an action for divorce or annulment, the court shall equitably divide, distribute or assign, in kind or otherwise, the marital property between the parties without regard to marital misconduct in such percentages and in such manner as the court deems just after considering all relevant factors.
In plain words, when either party asks, the court equitably divides, distributes, or assigns the marital property. It does so without regard to marital misconduct, in the percentages and manner it considers just after weighing all relevant factors. The court may also consider each marital asset or group of assets independently and apply a different percentage to each one.[2]
Keep this law in mind when you draft your own divorce provisions for assets and debts.
Popular Local Marital Settlement Agreement Forms
It’s wise to spell out the provisions of your divorce ahead of the case hearing by drafting a marital settlement agreement that addresses a range of issues. Listed below are some of the most frequently searched documents for divorce settlement by state.
An MSA works best when it answers the questions a divorcing couple would otherwise argue about later. Talk through each topic below before you fill in the form. Write down the numbers and dates you both agree on, and keep the wording plain.
Couples often weigh a few points when they talk about spousal support. Section 5 of the template then records the amount, the payment schedule, and the end date.
As Section 3105 explains above, a court cannot modify alimony provisions in your MSA unless the MSA itself says otherwise.[1] Set them with care.
Alimony in Pennsylvania is governed by Title 23, Chapter 37, Section 3701. Once a divorce decree has been entered, a court may allow alimony only if it finds that alimony is necessary. The court weighs all relevant factors, including the parties' earnings and the length of the marriage.[4]
If you have a child or children, the MSA can say where they live and how much time each parent spends with them. Many parents work out a monthly child support amount by looking at the number of children, each parent's earnings, medical costs, and parenting time. Sections 3 and 4 of the template cover custody and support. A court can modify child support, visitation, or custody upon a showing of changed circumstances.[1]
List the vehicles, accounts, and personal belongings, and say who keeps each item. Do the same for debts and name who pays them. Add health insurance and other coverage too. Describe each item clearly enough that a stranger could identify it.
FormsPal helps you prepare the MSA, not the divorce court filings. Court forms and steps can change, so ask your local court clerk what to file before you go. The steps below cover the MSA itself, from gathering information to signing.
A divorce settlement agreement is a written contract that settles the issues in a divorce. Pennsylvania law recognizes it. A party to the MSA can use a remedy or sanction from the same part of the law to enforce it as though it were a court order, unless the MSA provides otherwise.[1]
When either party asks in an action for divorce or annulment, the court equitably divides, distributes, or assigns the marital property. It does so without regard to marital misconduct, in the percentages and manner it considers just after weighing all relevant factors.[2]
Other Marital Settlement Agreement Forms by State
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the 23 Pa.C.S..
