Negotiating a divorce agreement to submit to the court is an option that can accelerate the process significantly. The court will have to verify that there are no issues with the agreement reached, but typically, this is not an issue when you have a New York divorce lawyer to work with.
New York's equitable distribution law specifies that you are entitled to a division of all “marital property” assets that were acquired during the marriage. With few exceptions, marital property generally includes both spouses' income, purchases made with that income, and retirement benefits.
In general, an uncontested divorce can be finalized in six weeks to three months. The timeline will largely depend on how quickly divorce documents can be signed and notarized, how quickly the spouses can coordinate and work together, and how long it takes to get the documents before a judge.
If due diligence fails and the spouse successfully avoids the attempts to serve the papers, the process moves into a default divorce process. In this case, the respondent has essentially given up their rights to negotiate the separation of marital assets and any issues of child custody and support orders.
In New York State, the average duration for divorce is 9.5 months. The national average is 11 months. There is no official waiting period for New York State, but there are specific reasons why a court will not immediately hear your case.
Yes, if one party doesn't sign the mutual concern final decree, you will need to file a motion for default judgment. This motion will ask the court to enter a judgment against your spouse without hearing from them.
Some uncontested divorces are resolved as quickly as six weeks, while others can take six months or more. Since New York does not have a waiting period, a divorce that both parties agree on takes roughly 3 months for the papers to be filed with the court.
If everything is agreed upon upfront between you and your spouse, an uncontested divorce could be finalized within 3 to 6 months. However, if there are disputes over things like property, finances, or child custody, your divorce could easily drag the process out for over a year.
Start with a clear statement of the decision to end the marriage, expressed with empathy and respect for the other person. Acknowledge the difficulties and mixed emotions that often come with divorce. If relevant, take responsibility for one's own role in the breakdown of the relationship, without placing blame.