EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIVORCE ON LONG ISLAND
The decision to get a divorce is the first of many tough choices to navigate. Do you file for a fault or no-fault divorce? Is your divorce contested or uncontested? Is it best to negotiate or litigate the division of property, child custody, child support and spousal maintenance? The start of every good decision is good information. This Guide to Long Island Divorce will help you understand some of the basics before you consult with an attorney. You deserve to know what to look for in a divorce attorney, including the right knowledge, experience, and trust.
For quick answers to your most important questions and for information about your options, explore our guide to Long Island divorce by clicking the links in the table below or call us for a free consultation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Different Types of Divorce
- Fault Vs. No-Fault Divorce
- Grounds for Divorce in New York
- Filing a No-Fault Divorce
- Filing a Fault Based Divorce
- Uncontested Divorce
- What is an Uncontested Divorce?
- The Benefits of an Uncontested Divorce
- How are Issues in an Uncontested Divorce Resolved?
- Contested Divorce
- What is a Contested Divorce?
- How are Issues in a Contested Divorce Resolved?
- Collaborative Divorce
- Default Divorce
- Same-Sex Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
- Suffolk County Matrimonial Mediation Program
II. Beginning the Divorce Process
- The Residency Requirement
- Understanding the Summons with Notice
- What To Do When You are Served with a Divorce Summons
- Necessary Financial Documents
III. Division of Property and Debts
- What Is Considered Marital Property?
- What is Considered Separate Property?
- How the Court Determines a Fair Division of Debt and Assets
IV. Spousal Support and Maintenance
- The Difference Between Spousal Support and Maintenance
- Determining the Amount of Spousal Support or Maintenance
- Duration of Maintenance
- Factors That Can Affect the Amount of Spousal Support or Maintenance
- Modification of Maintenance
- Enforcement of Maintenance
V. Child Custody
- Types of Child Custody
- Physical (Residential) Custody
- Legal Custody
- Shared Custody
- Split Custody
- Methods of Determining Child Custody
- Factors Used to Determine Custody
- Visitation or Parental Access Arrangements
- Supervised Visitation
- The Role of the Attorney for the Child
- When Child Custody Can Be Modified
- How Child Support is Determined in Different Types of Child Custody
VI. Child SUPPORT
- The Child Support Standards Act
- Determining the Amount of Child Support
- Calculating Parental Income
- High Income Parents
- Factors that Can Affect the Amount of Basic Child Support
- Insurance, Child Care, and Education Expenses
- Low Income Parents
- Modification of Child Support
- Enforcement of Child Support
- Emancipation and Termination of Child Support