Nassau Divorce Lawyer
Divorce: How to Get Started
If you have decided to obtain a contested or uncontested divorce, you will need a skilled Nassau divorce attorney to help protect your rights and entitlements. In situations of contested divorces, commencing the action is the first step that will need to be taken. In order to commence the action, a summons will need to be filed and served to your spouse. Due to the fact that New York is a "fault" state, grounds for divorce will be necessary. The grounds for divorce in New York are divided into six categories:
- Adultery
- Imprisonment for at least 3 years
- Abandonment for at least one year
- Cruel & inhuman treatment (such as domestic violence or abuse)
- Living separate and apart for a period of one year under a filed separation agreement
- Living separate and apart for a period of one year pursuant to a separate decree
Once the grounds for divorce have been established, full financial discovery will then be undertaken in order to resolve issues of child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, and other financial issues. Issues of child custody & visitation may be litigated during this time as well. Once the discovery phase is complete, a trial will typically be held unless the parties can come to an agreement on their own. If they are unable to do so, the court will make decisions for them. In cases where prenuptial agreements or postnuptial agreements are in place, litigation can be avoided, saving a great deal of time and stress.
As a Nassau divorce attorney, I have a great deal of experience negotiating settlements on behalf of my clients. My litigation skills have proven to be extremely valuable to clients as they resolve the issues of their divorces. As your Nassau divorce lawyer, I will walk you through all the steps of the divorce process in order to protect your rights while keeping your best interests in mind.
To learn more about the divorce process and how you can get started, contact Nassau Divorce Attorney Jay D. Raxenberg today! |