Family Divorce Lawyer

Family Divorce Lawyer in Nassau, Queens, and Suffolk County

When couples walk down the aisle, divorce is the furthest thing from their minds. And still, nearly half of marriages end in divorce or separation. Despite what some may believe, even the most cordial separations can lead to significant emotional and financial strain, especially when children are in the picture.

At The Law Offices of Seidner & Associates, PC, our focus during divorce negotiations is to protect your rights as a parent, your financial assets, and your personal safety (in situations involving domestic violence). With family law attorney Matthew S. Seidner’s over two decades of extensive background in handling contested, uncontested, and high net-worth divorces in Nassau County, Queens County, and Suffolk County, we are well-equipped to guide you through the unique challenges of your divorce.

The Divorce Process in Nassau, Queens, and Suffolk Counties

Under New York matrimonial law, there are two main ways to get a divorce: contested and uncontested.

Uncontested divorce: In these family law cases, both partners agree it is time to end the marriage. They work together on splitting up the money, and property, while also deciding on child support and where the kids will live.

Contested divorce: In these divorce cases, partners do not agree on how to handle things in the divorce. Then, the court steps in and makes the decisions for them.

To get divorced in Nassau County, Queens County, or Suffolk County, you need to meet certain living requirements and have a good reason (“legal ground”) for it.

You must meet at least one of the following residential requirements:

• You both lived in New York (NY) as a married couple, and one of you stayed here for a year before filing for divorce.
• Your marriage happened in New York, and at least one of you has lived here for a year before asking for a divorce.
• The reason for your divorce occurred in New York, and one of you has lived here for a year before filing.
• Both the reason for your divorce and your living in New York happened before you filed for divorce.
• If you didn’t get married in New York, then one partner needs to have lived here for two years before asking for a divorce.

As for the legal grounds, there are seven reasons you can use to ask for a divorce:

• No-fault divorce: Also known as the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage”, this is where you both agree the marriage is not working and hasn’t been for six months. You have already determined how to divide your assets, child custody, and spousal support.
• Cruel treatment: One partner treated the other cruelly, either physically or mentally, in the last five years.
• Adultery: One partner cheated during the marriage.
• Divorce after legal separation: You have lived apart for a year after signing and filing a legal separation agreement.
• Divorce after a judgment of separation: You have lived apart for a year after the Supreme Court filed a separation judgment.
• Abandonment: One partner left the other for a year or more, or refused to have a physical relationship.
• Imprisonment: One partner was in prison for three or more years during the marriage.