How to File for Divorce in Brooklyn

Our Attorneys Can Help You Initiate the Proceedings

Many New Yorkers live in quiet desperation. Feeling trapped in failed marriages, they sense the joy of life subsiding more with each passing day. At Coffinas & Lusthaus, P.C., our Brooklyn divorce attorneys frequently meet clients who suffered in silence for years only to have their spouse serve them with divorce papers. Their immediate reaction is “Why did I wait? Why did I sacrifice my happiness?” Now, in addition to all the time they've lost hoping against hope, they find themselves on the defensive. If you've contemplated divorce, you owe it to yourself to consult with an experienced attorney who can answer any questions you have and help you initiate your divorce process.

Easing You Through the Legal Process

For more than 15 years, Coffinas & Lusthaus, P.C. has helped clients in Brooklyn file for divorce. To file for divorce in New York state, you must be legally married and meet one of the following residency requirements under New York Domestic Relations Law § 230:

• You and your spouse were married in New York and one of you has been a resident of the state for at least one year prior to filing.
• While living in New York as husband and wife, either you or your spouse resided in the state for at least one year before filing.
• The reason for the divorce occurred in New York State, and you or your spouse resided in the state for a continuous period of one year before filing.
• You and your spouse are residents of New York at the time of filing, and the cause for the divorce occurred in New York.
• You or your spouse has lived in New York for two years before filing.

If you meet the criteria, you may file for divorce in the court of a county where either you or your spouse resides. After you file, you must have someone serve your spouse with the divorce papers. At that point, your case is underway.

Contact us now to schedule a consultation!

What are the grounds for divorce in New York?

Whether you're going through a contested or uncontested divorce, you must cite the specific reason for your marital dissolution. Prior to 2010, petitioners had to allege fault, citing New York Domestic Relations Law § 170:

• Cruel and inhumane treatment
• Abandonment for a continuous period of a year or more
• Adultery
• Imprisonment of your spouse for more than three years subsequent to your marriage
• Living separately and apart pursuant to a separation agreement for more than one year

Today, you may file on the grounds that your marriage has irretrievably broken down over a period of at least six months.

How are property, asset, custody, & support issues handled?

When you file your petition for divorce, you ask the court to grant certain rights to real property, financial assets, debts, child custody, child support, and spousal support (alimony). New York State follows an equitable distribution process for the division of marital property. Your attorney must make the case that your request for property is fair.

Get dedicated legal guidance through the entire divorce process!

Coffinas & Lusthaus, P.C. provides effective legal counsel for clients filing for divorce in Brooklyn. We endeavor to take much of the stress out of the process and move you quickly toward a favorable resolution. Our Brooklyn divorce purposefully limit our caseload so that we can provide high-quality personalized advocacy.

If you need help filing for divorce, contact us today to schedule a consultation!