Dissolution of marriage is generally another term for divorce—but in some states it specifically refers to an uncontested divorce—a no fault divorce with a written separation agreement. And in California, for example, there is a summary dissolution that provides an expedited process under limited circumstances (California Family Code §2400).
The laws regarding various methods for dissolving a marriage are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the Family Code or Domestic Relations Code.
In Pennsylvania, dissolution of marriage is synonymous with divorce. Pennsylvania allows for both fault-based and no-fault divorces. A no-fault divorce can be obtained either by mutual consent, where both parties agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or after a two-year separation period if one party does not consent. Pennsylvania does not have a summary dissolution process like California. Instead, the state has a simplified divorce procedure for cases where the marriage has lasted less than two years, and the parties have no children and limited assets. This is known as a mutual consent divorce, and it requires both parties to file an affidavit consenting to the divorce after a 90-day waiting period. The relevant statutes governing divorce in Pennsylvania can be found in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 23, Pa.C.S.A. Domestic Relations.