J-A01012-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

RICHARD ANDREW POPLAWSKI

Appellant

v.

JAYMMIE M. VILARINO A/K/A J.M. 

POPLAWSKI

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 1165 EDA 2022

Appeal from the Decree Entered March 1, 2022

In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Civil Division at 

No(s): 2021-06650

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., NICHOLS, J., and McCAFFERY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY McCAFFERY, J.: FILED MAY 2, 2023

Richard Andrew Poplawski (Appellant) appeals pro se from the March 1, 

2022, divorce decree entered in the Montgomery County Court of Common 

Pleas, with respect to spouse Jaymmie M. Vilarino a/k/a J.M. Poplawski

(Appellee).1 Appellant argues: (1) the divorce decree was final and 

appealable; and (2) in granting the divorce pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(d) 

____________________________________________

1 Appellee did not file a brief.

We note a prior appeal taken by Appellant, in a separate Protection from 

Abuse (PFA) matter between the parties, docketed at Montgomery County 

Civil Division 2021-13498. In that case, Appellant appealed from the denial 

of his motion to declare the PFA Act unconstitutional. On October 1, 2021, 

this Court sua sponte quashed the appeal, reasoning the trial court had 

dismissed the temporary PFA order against Appellant, and thus he was not an 

aggrieved party under the PFA Act. Poplawski v. Poplawski, 1712 EDA 

2021 (order) (Pa. Super. Oct. 1, 2021).
J-A01012-23

- 2 -

(irretrievable breakdown), the court failed to make the necessary finding of 

an irretrievable breakdown in the marriage. We agree the present appeal was 

properly taken and affirm.

We glean the following underlying facts from the trial court’s opinion

and the limited certified record. In June of 2011, before the parties met, 

Appellant was sentenced to death in Allegheny County for the first-degree

murders of three police officers.2 See N.T., 2/3/22, at 4-5, 9. He is 

incarcerated at SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County. Trial Ct. Op., 8/19/22, 

at 1 n.1. According to Appellant, he and Appellee met in 2016 through a 

website featuring prisoners seeking pen pals. Appellant’s Divorce Complaint, 

5/12/21, at 3. Appellee moved from Illinois to Norristown, Pennsylvania, and 

the parties were married on November 9, 2019, at the prison. Id.

On May 12, 2021, Appellant filed a pro se complaint in divorce, citing

adultery and indignities3 and requesting alimony and counsel fees.

4

 Appellant 

____________________________________________

2 See Commonwealth v. Poplawski, 130 A.3d 697 (Pa. 2015), cert. denied, 

580 U.S. 843 (2016).

3 See 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)(2), (6) (grounds for divorce).

4 Previously, in January of 2021, Appellee filed a divorce complaint in 

Montgomery County. Poplawski v. Marlier, 135 M.D. 2021 (unpub. memo. 

at 1) (Pa. Cmwlth. May 6, 2022); see also N.T., 2/3/22, at 5; Appellant’s 

Brief at 2. When Appellant attempted to file “a cross-complaint,” the 

Montgomery County Prothonotary’s Office declined to file it, and advised 

Appellant that, as the defendant, he should instead file an answer and

counterclaim to Appellee’s complaint. Poplawski, 135 M.D. 2021 at 2. 

Appellant then filed a petition for mandamus relief in the Commonwealth 

(Footnote Continued Next Page)
J-A01012-23

- 3 -

acknowledged the date of separation was June 30, 2020, and averred: “In 

mid-December 2020 — only five and a half months after the date of 

separation[, Appellee] gave birth to an illegitimate child[.]” Appellant’s 

Divorce Complaint at ¶¶ 22, 38.

On September 13, 2021, Appellee filed a counseled answer and 

counterclaim, requesting a divorce either by mutual consent (also called a 

“no-fault” divorce) or on “irretrievable breakdown” grounds. Trial Ct. Op. at 

2. At this juncture, we review these two statutory grounds. Under 23 Pa.C.S. 

§ 3301(c) (mutual consent), a court may grant a divorce where: (1) it is 

alleged the marriage is irretrievably broken; and (2) 90 days have elapsed 

from both the commencement of the action and both parties’ filing of an 

affidavit evidencing they consent to the divorce. 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c)(1). 

Alternatively, under Subsection 3301(d),

(1) The court may grant a divorce where a complaint has been 

filed alleging that the marriage is irretrievably broken and an 

affidavit has been filed alleging that the parties have lived 

separate and apart for a period of at least one year and that the 

marriage is irretrievably broken and the defendant either:

(i) Does not deny the allegations set forth in the affidavit.

(ii) Denies one or more of the allegations set forth in the 

affidavit but, after notice and hearing, the court determines 

____________________________________________

Court. Id. at 1, 3. That Court issued a decision on May 6, 2022, pointing 

out: (1) Appellee’s divorce action had since been closed by agreement of the 

parties, and thus Appellant’s claim was moot; and (2) in any event, the divorce 

decree in this matter had been entered on March 1, 2022. Id. at 2-3 & n.7, 

6.
J-A01012-23

- 4 -

that the parties have lived separate and apart for a period of 

at least one year and that the marriage is irretrievably 

broken.

23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(d)(1)(i)-(ii). 

On the same day (September 13, 2021), Appellee also filed an affidavit 

of consent and a “waiver of notice of intention to request entry of a divorce 

decree,” both pursuant to Subsection 3301(c), mutual consent.

5

 On 

September 30th, Appellant likewise filed an affidavit of consent and a waiver 

of notice.

Based on these filings, the trial court entered a divorce decree on 

November 22, 2021. However, on November 30th, Appellant filed a notice of 

appeal, along with a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement of errors complained of on 

appeal, which correctly pointed out the statutory 90-day period for a mutual 

consent divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c) had not elapsed.6 Accordingly,

three days later, on December 3rd, the trial court vacated the divorce decree.

According to Appellee, however, Appellant then refused to execute 

another Subsection 3301(c) affidavit. N.T. at 3. Thus, on December 8, 2021, 

Appellee filed an affidavit under Subsection 3301(d), which again cited an 

____________________________________________

5 See Pa.R.C.P. 1920.42(a)(2)(i) (to the extent that Sub-section 3301(c)(1) 

grounds for divorce have been established and the parties have been unable 

to resolve ancillary claims, the court shall enter an order approving grounds 

for divorce after: the parties have signed and filed Waivers of Notice of 

Intention to File the Praecipe to Transmit Record).

6 This Court did not create a docket for this appeal.
J-A01012-23

- 5 -

irretrievable breakdown. Appellant responded with a counter-affidavit, now 

opposing the entry of a divorce decree and claiming: (1) the marriage was not 

irretrievably broken; (2) the parties had not lived separate and apart; but (3)

in any event, there remained pending economic claims. The trial court 

scheduled a hearing on Appellant’s counter-affidavit for February 3rd. 

Appellant then filed a “Notice & Objection,” again averring the court lacked 

jurisdiction to proceed because he had previously filed a notice of appeal. The 

trial court directed this issue would also be heard at the February 3rd hearing.

On the day of the hearing, however, the trial court received notification 

that Appellant would not attend.7 Appellee appeared with counsel, and 

testified the parties formally separated on June 30, 2020, by agreeing on that 

day, over the prison’s “open electronic communication and messaging

system,” to have “no more contact.” N.T. at 4. After that date, Appellee did 

not communicate with Appellant, although Appellant wrote to her, insulting 

her. Id. at 6-7. The trial court found the time requirement of Subsection 

3301(d) was satisfied — that by the time of the hearing (February 3, 2022), 

the parties had been living separate and apart for more than one year. Id. at 

____________________________________________

7 Appellant was scheduled to appear by videoconference. “[T]he Montgomery 

County IT department (that facilitated . . . the virtual proceeding)” informed 

the trial court, “I just received a Phone call from . . . CO Brown that [Appellant] 

to inform the judge [sic]” that he does not “plan on attending the court hearing 

scheduled for him today[.]” Trial Ct. Op. at 5.
J-A01012-23

- 6 -

7. The court also noted there were no proceedings scheduled on Appellant’s 

purported claims of alimony and economic relief. Id. at 8.

Thus, on March 1, 2022, the trial court entered the underlying final 

divorce decree. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal8 and Pa.R.A.P. 

1925(b) statement of errors complained of on appeal.9

On May 27, 2022, however, this Court issued a per curiam rule on 

Appellant to show cause as to the finality and appealability of the divorce 

decree, where it appeared economic issues had not been resolved. See Fried 

v. Fried, 501 A.2d 211, 214-15 (Pa. 1985) (issues in divorce are not 

appealable until entry of divorce decree and resolution of all economic issues).

Appellant responded the decree did resolve all his economic claims by denying 

____________________________________________

8 Appellant initially attempted to file a notice of appeal, timely, on March 25, 

2022, but the trial court clerk of courts rejected it for failure to pay the filing 

fees. The notice of appeal was not docketed until April 11, 2022, after the 30 

day-period to appeal had expired. See Pa.R.A.P 903(a). Appellee filed a 

motion to quash. This Court, however, reasoned the clerk of courts was 

obligated to accept the notice of appeal for filing, notwithstanding any 

perceived defects therein, and thus denied the motion to quash. Order, 

6/17/22. See also Pa.R.A.P. 905(a)(3) (“Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, 

the clerk shall immediately stamp it with the date of receipt, and that date 

shall constitute the date when the appeal was taken, which date shall be 

shown on the docket.”). As noted above, Appellee did not file a brief in this 

appeal.

9 The first claim in Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement is that his prior notice 

of appeal, from the first divorce decree entered November 22, 2021, divested 

the trial court of jurisdiction to take any further action. Appellant’s Rule 

1925(b) Statement Errors [sic] Complained of on Appeal, 5/3/22. However, 

he has abandoned this issue in his brief.
J-A01012-23

- 7 -

them, as evidenced by the notation on the decree, “No other relief granted.” 

See Divorce Decree, 3/1/22. This Court discharged the show cause order but 

advised the parties that the merits panel could revisit this issue.

On appeal, Appellant presents two issues for our review:

I. Does the divorce decree constitute a final, appealable order?

II. Did the lower court err by entering a divorce decree under 42 

Pa.C.S. § 3301(d) without first making a factual finding that the

marriage was “irretrievably broken”?

Appellant’s Brief at 1.

Appellant first addresses the issue raised in our prior show cause order: 

whether the divorce decree was final and appealable.10 He continues to 

maintain the statement on the divorce decree, “No other relief granted,” 

“encompasses the requested economic relief.” See Appellant’s Brief at 8. We 

agree.

As noted above, an order in a divorce matter is not final and appealable 

until a divorce decree has been entered and all economic issues have been 

resolved. Fried, 501 A.2d at 214-15. See also Pa.R.A.P. 341(a)-(b) (appeal 

may be taken as of right from any final order, defined as an order that, inter 

alia, disposes of all claims and of all parties). Presently on appeal, Appellant 

____________________________________________

10 Although this issue was not raised in Appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement, 

we decline to find waiver, where this Court subsequently advised the issue 

could be reviewed by the merits panel. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(vii) (issues 

not included in Rule 1925(b) statement are waived).
J-A01012-23

- 8 -

raises no argument that his economic claims were overlooked and require 

review; indeed, he maintains his claims were denied. The trial court’s opinion 

acknowledged this Court’s show cause order and Appellant’s response, and 

did not dispute Appellant’s summation. See Trial Ct. Op. at 8. In light of the 

foregoing, we conclude the divorce decree was final and appealable.

Next, Appellant contends the trial court erred in entering a divorce 

decree under Subsection 3301(d) because it failed to make the requisite 

finding of an irretrievable breakdown in the marriage. Appellant’s Brief at 9-

10. As stated above, under Subsection 3301(d)(1), a court may grant a 

divorce over a party’s objections if, inter alia, “after notice and hearing, the 

court determines that the parties have lived separate and apart for a period 

of at least one year and that the marriage is irretrievably broken.” 23 Pa.C.S. 

§ 3301(d)(1)(ii) (emphasis added).

For ease of review, we summarize the trial court’s rationale for its 

decision. First, Appellant “had the opportunity to prosecute his claim that the 

marriage was not irretrievably broken,” but he chose to not appear for the 

February 3, 2022, hearing, despite proper and adequate notice. Trial Ct. Op. 

at 13. Additionally, Appellant’s own, earlier-filed Subsection 3301(c) affidavit 

averred the marriage was irretrievably broken and consented to a divorce on 

this ground:

2. The marriage of [Appellant] and [Appellee] is irretrievably 

broken and [90] days have elapsed since filing and service of the 

Complaint.
J-A01012-23

- 9 -

3. I consent to the entry of a final decree of divorce[.]

* * *

1. I consent to the entry of a final decree of divorce without 

notice.

Trial Ct. Op. at 3, 14 (footnote omitted), quoting Appellant’s Affidavit of 

Consent, 9/30/21; Appellant’s Waiver of Notice of Intention to Request Entry 

of a Divorce Decree Under Section 3301(c) of the Divorce Code, 9/30/21. “At 

no time [before] the issuance of the first Divorce Decree on November 22, 

2021, did [Appellant] raise any objection that the marriage was irretrievably 

broken.” Trial Ct. Op. at 14. Additionally, the subsequent vacating of that 

decree was based “purely on a procedural defect,” and not, again, on “any 

substantive argument or a timely request filed by” Appellant. Id.

On appeal, Appellant challenges the trial court’s reliance on his prior 

consent to a divorce decree. He maintains that “hearts and minds change[,]” 

“a litigant’s subjective evaluation of his prospects for reconciliation can be 

expected to fluctuate[ ]” and thus “the freshest averments, made in [his 

latest] counteraffidavit[,] are operative now.” Appellant’s Brief at 10. 

Additionally, Appellant argues his absence at the hearing hindered the court’s 

decision: “[I]t was all the easier to take [Appellee’s] unchallenged and 

unrebutted testimony on the issue of irretrievable breakdown.” Id. at 11. We 

conclude no relief is due.

We observe Appellant has cited no authority for the proposition that the 

court should weigh a divorce litigant’s later averments over inconsistent, prior 
J-A01012-23

- 10 -

averments. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (argument shall include such discussion 

and citation of authorities as are deemed pertinent). With regard to the trial 

court’s crediting his earlier-filed pleadings, as well as Wife’s testimony at the 

hearing, we emphasize “[t]he fact finder is free to believe all, part, or none of 

the evidence and the Superior Court will not disturb [its] credibility 

determinations[.]” See Smith v. Smith, 904 A.2d 15, 20 (Pa. Super. 2006) 

(citation omitted). Finally, Appellant presents absolutely no argument or 

evidence why the marriage is not irretrievably broken; he merely, vaguely

asserts that a party may change their mind. See Appellant’s Brief at 10. 

In light of the foregoing, we conclude Appellant has not presented any 

basis for relief. Furthermore, we acknowledge the trial court’s observation

that Appellant is “wasting valuable court resources with . . . continuous 

litigation,” and “it remains difficult to understand his decision to continuously 

litigate the entry of a final Divorce Decree in his own filed divorce action.” 

Trial Ct. Op. at 14 & n.47. We affirm the final divorce decree entered March 

1, 2022.

Decree affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 5/2/2023