File for Divorce in NYC
A Trusted Team That Get Results
Ending your marriage is often one of the most difficult decisions you will face. Whether it is contested or uncontested, divorce can have a long-lasting impact on your life. It can affect your family relationships and finances, and become a source of distress, worry, and antagonism between you and your spouse.
Because of the difficulties involved in ending such an intimate relationship, and the complexities of divorce law, you should go into the legalprocess armed with a basic understanding of how it will change your life and the lives of all those involved, including your children.
Unshakable Support for You & Your Family
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Do I Need To Hire a Lawyer For My Divorce?
Even if you think your divorce will be uncontested, you should meet with our knowledgeable attorneys to discuss how the process works and to ensure that your legal paperwork is submitted properly. If you and your spouse have issues which must be resolved before a divorce can be finalized, you will need the counsel of our trusted and experienced attorneys.
In addition, our friendly staff stands by to support your case. From the moment you call our firm to schedule an initial consultation to the conclusion of your matter, you can trust that all of our skilled professionals at The Franklin Law Firm can guide you, offering compassionate assistance and personalized assistance throughout your case.
Am I Eligible to File for Divorce?
In order to be eligible for a divorce, you and / or your spouse must have resided in the state of New York for a specified and continuous period of time, usually for one year. The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the only court that can legally grant you a divorce. Family courts, however, handle cases involving child custody, visitation rights, and child support.
In addition to divorce, you may find that legal separation or mediation are good alternative dispute resolution methods for your situation. These may be done outside the courtroom, saving you the time, expense, and stress of hostile divorce litigation. The Franklin Law Firm offers mediation services if you are struggling to find resolution in your divorce.
How to File for Divorce in NYC
The divorce process in New York City follows a series of legal steps. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
- Filing the Divorce Papers: The divorce is initiated by one spouse by filing a Summons with Notice or a Summons and Complaint with the New York Supreme Court. The document states the grounds for divorce, which can be fault-based or no-fault.
- Serving the Spouse: The plaintiff must properly serve the divorce papers to the other spouse (the defendant) within 120 days of filing. A third party over 18 must complete the service.
- Response: The defendant has 20 days to respond if served within New York or 30 days if served out of state. They can agree, disagree, or counterclaim.
- Exchange of Financial Information: A process called discovery is used to exchange financial disclosures between the parties. This includes providing details on income, assets, and debts.
- Negotiation and Settlement: Couples often attempt to resolve issues like property division, child custody, and spousal support through negotiation, mediation, or settlement conferences.
- Court Hearings or Trial: If no agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial. Each party presents evidence, and a judge makes the final decisions.
- Judgment of Divorce: Once all matters are resolved, the court issues a Judgment of Divorce, officially ending the marriage.
Throughout this process, legal guidance from an experienced attorney from our NYC divorce law firm can help navigate complexities and protect your interests.
Contact our attorneys if you are involved in a divorce dispute today. We offer free case evaluations!
Testimonials
See What Our Clients Have to Say
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"They do what they say they are going to do and they will fight for your best interest. Please trust their judgment as it is a difficult process for everyone."I have went through a very difficult process. I went through two attorneys before meeting the Wayne Crowe Jr staff. I am so appreciative that I had the opportunity to have their staff work for me. I wish that I would have went to them first. Their staff Wayne, Caroline, Lee, Brian and Scott were all hands on and wonderful people. They not only cleaned up the mess the previous attorneys made. They were diligent, understanding and compassionate. I had the pleasure of having Caroline represent me and she is amazing.- Former Client
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"This attorney is amazing"I'm not fond of attorneys but this guy is great. He'll answer your question(s) and there's no pressure of signing any contact. He'll tell you what the family court law is and he will fight for the best interest. This attorney is amazing. I will keep his name and telephone number on my iPhone and will recommend him to everyone that I know who would need his services. Don't think twice, this is the man.- H. Montero
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"The law firm of Wayne F. Crowe provided me with the legal support and strength I needed during my divorce."My divorce was smooth and I am extremely happy with the settlement. After the divorce Wayne and his team also provided me with the legal support I needed to terminate my child support obligations and gain sole custody of my children. I am very pleased with the services provided and the outcome could not have been any better.- Ranjee R.
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"I would recommend this law firm to anyone. They are AWESOME."Wayne and his team are absolutely the best!!! I can't rave enough about this law firm. When I first met Wayne he listen to my concerns and put my worries at rest. Initially I needed help with what I thought would be a simply child support case. Two years later I'm still going back and forth with this issue. My child's father is a real creep and tried his very best to hide his income. Geoffrey Greenless was able to see through deceit. Jeff (for short) ordered my copies of his bank accounts and went through each transaction with a fine toothed comb. Jeff presented the evidence in such a way the judge had no choice but to dismiss the fraudulent motion. Wayne and Jeff have always been honest and upfront. They've always made me feel like I was on the winning team. I’m able to reach Jeff or Wayne via email, phone or text message. Jeff has never been absent or late to any of my scheduled court dates. I would recommend this law firm to anyone. They are AWESOME.- Crystal M.
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"He told me not to worry. He was correct. He handled everything. I would highly recommend him."Wayne F. Crowe, is an excellent attorney. He has a tremendous presence in the court room. He brings his experience and professionalism to every case. He helped me with a child support issue. He told me not to worry. He was correct. He handled everything. I would highly recommend him.- Marianne F.
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"They were very professional."If you are looking for a quick resolution to your dispute, questions answered in a timely and friendly manner, then this firm is for you! They were very professional and i will use this firm again if the need arose.- Tasha W.
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"An excellent job"I would like to thank The Franklin Law Firm which has worked on my case for doing an excellent job with taking care of the portion of my case. Thank you for your time.- Sherri
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"Great attorneys who listen and care"My case was a bit complicated but, I thank God that I was able to find the right law firm to represent me and help me get through such a difficult time. Everything turned out even better than expected. The prices are also great and reasonable.