Where we fit
Most family law firms can handle a straightforward, agreed divorce. We are built for the cases that are not straightforward, the ones with closely held businesses, mental health and addiction issues, coercive control, narcissism, or a fight for sole custody.
If you are early in the process, this page is the map. The deeper work lives on the pages it points to.
Before you file
Decisions made in the weeks before a divorce filing often shape the case for years. Where to keep accounts, what to put in writing, what to say to whom, and whether to file first all matter.
A confidential consultation gives you a working strategy and a realistic view of what the case will look like. Most clients leave with a clear next step, even if that step is to wait.
During the case
The mechanics of a New York matrimonial case fall into a predictable order. Knowing what comes when makes the case less stressful and the strategic choices clearer.
- Filing. The complaint and summons start the case in Supreme Court.
- Statement of Net Worth. Each spouse files a sworn financial disclosure.
- Preliminary conference. The court sets a discovery schedule and addresses temporary relief.
- Discovery. Document exchange, depositions, and forensic work on businesses and finances.
- Settlement or trial. Most cases settle on terms negotiated through this process. The ones that do not go to trial.
- Judgment. A written judgment of divorce ends the marriage and incorporates the settlement or the court’s decision.
After the judgment
A judgment is not always the end. Custody, support, and the agreed terms can need enforcement when the other spouse will not comply, and modification when life changes substantially.
We handle post-judgment work for our own clients and for clients whose original counsel cannot or will not. See the Enforcement & Modification page for what that path looks like.
Specialized areas
Most divorces involve at least two of the practice areas below. Each one has its own page with the substantive detail.
Questions clients ask first
- How long does a New York divorce take?
- Uncontested cases can close in a few months. Contested cases involving custody, business valuation, or trial typically take twelve to twenty-four months. We give a realistic estimate at the consultation and update it as the case develops.
- Do I need fault grounds to get divorced in New York?
- No. New York is a no-fault state. The most common ground is irretrievable breakdown of the relationship for at least six months. Fault grounds exist and occasionally matter strategically, but most cases are filed on irretrievable breakdown.
- Who pays attorney fees?
- Each spouse usually pays their own counsel, but the court can shift fees against a moneyed spouse to keep the case fair. Where there is a significant income imbalance, a fee award early in the case is common.
- What does pre-divorce planning involve?
- A confidential review of your finances, your custody picture, your timing, and your goals. It produces a plan for what to do in the weeks before filing and what to do after.
- Will my case go to trial?
- Most cases settle. The ones that do not, often because of custody, hidden assets, or a personality dynamic that makes settlement impossible, go to trial. We prepare every case as if it will, which is also the surest way to settle on good terms.
- How much will it cost?
- Cost is driven by complexity and conflict. We give an early range based on the facts we have, set monthly billing expectations, and update both as the case develops. Asking is appropriate at the consultation.