New York Divorce Information
(Separate Website)
General Information about divorce, including the grounds (reasons) for divorce, links to the necessary forms and step by step instructions. Also explains how to contest a divorce that you do not want.
By: WomensLaw.org
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Spanish / Español
New York State Grounds for Divorce
(Separate Website)
Learn about where to go to file for divorce and the different grounds (reasons) for divorce.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York (LAWNY)
What is the difference between a Contested and an Uncontested Divorce?
(Separate Website)
Learn about the difference between a contested and uncontested divorce.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Divorce Resources
(Separate Website)
This site provides information on obtaining a divorce in New York State. Here you will find general information and free divorce forms with instructions.
By: New York State Unified Court System
New York Custody Info
(Separate Website)
Information on custody and visitation, including factors that might be taken into consideration when deciding whether to file for custody, the different types of custody, and how to file for temporary emergency custody.
By: WomensLaw.org
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Spanish / Español
I Think the Other Parent May Kidnap My Child, Is There Anything I Can Do?
State Parental Kidnapping Information
(Separate Website)
This page includes information about parental kidnapping, also called custodial interference. There is also a page for general information that you may find helpful. Custody and kidnapping are particularly complicated and it is important to try to find an experienced lawyer to help you with your case.
By: WomensLaw.org
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Spanish / Español
Guarding Against International Parental Child Abduction
(Separate Website)
Learn about the steps you can take to prevent your child from being wrongfully taken to or wrongfully kept in another country.
By: U.S. Department of State
Dual Citizenship
(Separate Website)
If considering becoming a U.S. Citizen, learn which countries allow dual citizenship after U.S. naturalization. This resource may also be useful to parents who have concerns about international parental child kidnapping.
By: CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Project
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Spanish / Español
Can I get child support?
(Separate Website)
Learn about the child support you may be able to receive.
By: WomensLaw.org
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Spanish / Español
How to Calculate Child Support Amount
(Separate Website)
This fact sheet shows how the court is supposed to figure out how much child support should be paid.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
How to Enforce and Modify Child Support Orders
(Separate Website)
What steps you can take to try to make sure that the child support that the court has ordered is paid, and how to try to change the amount of child support.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
Child Support Payments through the Support Collection Unit after Divorce
Information about the Support Collection Unit and how this agency can help you collect child support payments after a divorce.
By: Legal Services NYC - Legal Support Unit
Read this in:
French / Français
Spousal Maintenance in New York
(Separate Website)
Maintenance used to be called alimony. Maintenance is support paid by the higher income spouse to the lower income spouse while the divorce is pending in Supreme Court and after the divorce case is over. Learn about the new formula New York uses to set the temporary maintenance while the divorce in pending. Also learn about post-divorce maintenance.
Please note that a person can only receive maintenance only after a divorce case has been started in Supreme Court. If you are not prepared to start a divorce case, but you need financial support from your spouse, then please review the resources on "spousal support" below.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Maintenance This pamphlet on how to get maintenance or spousal support was written especially for survivors of domestic violence.
By: Queens Legal Services
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Hindi / हिन्दी
,
Spanish / Español
,
Urdu / اردو
Getting Spousal Support in New York State
(Separate Website)
This booklet explains how a court can order one spouse to provide financial support to the other spouse while they are married or after they are divorced.
By: Cross-Borough Collaboration (inMotion and the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project)
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
French / Français
,
Italian / italiano
,
Japanese / 日本語
,
Korean / 한국어
,
Portuguese / português
,
Spanish / Español
How to File for Spousal Support in Brooklyn Family Court
(Separate Website)
If you are married and your spouse is not supporting you reasonably, this fact sheet tells you what steps you can take to file for spousal support.
By: South Brooklyn Legal Services (A Program of Legal Services NYC)
What Might I Get in a Divorce?
(Separate Website)
Explains marital property and marital debt.
By: WomensLaw.org
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What Happens to Property After a Divorce?
(Separate Website)
Explains what is considered marital property and what is considered separate property in a divorce. Also explains how to protect yourself from having to pay your spouse's debt.
By: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® - Geneva Office
Divorce and Retirement: How to Take Control of Retirement Benefits
(Separate Website)
Retirement funds are marital property. Read this booklet to learn how you can protect yourself against losing the retirement assets you are entitled to receive. This booklet also explains the importance of a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order).
By: Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
Fact Sheets on Divorce and Widowhood
(Separate Website)
Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) has written many fact sheets on divorce and widowhood. They cover pensions and divorce, IRAs and divorce, protections for widows and widowers in pension plans, and more.
By: Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
Credit and Divorce
(Separate Website)
Information on how a divorce can impact on certain issues connected to debt and credit, such as credit card bills.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Where do I go for a divorce?
(Separate Website)
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the only court that handles divorce cases. Learn about the difference between Supreme Court and Family Court.
By: New York State Unified Court System
Divorce Resources: Supreme Court Contact Information
(Separate Website)
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the only court that handles divorce cases. Click the name of a county to find address, telephone, and other contact information for your local Supreme Court Clerk's Office.
By: New York State Unified Court System
I Cannot Find My Spouse, But Can I Still Get Divorced?
How to Effect Service by Publication After you file for divorce, you must have your spouse personally served with the divorce papers. If you do not have any contact with your spouse, and you do not know where your spouse lives or works, then your only choice may be to file for divorce and have your spouse informed about the divorce through "service by publication." This booklet explains how to effect service by publication.
This booklet is for people who live in New York City, but it may also be useful to people who live outside of New York City.
By: City Bar Justice Center
What Do I Do if I Don't Agree with the Terms of the Divorce?
What do I do if I have been served with divorce papers?
(Separate Website)
Explains how long you have to respond to divorce papers and what can happen if you do not respond.
By: New York State Unified Court System
What do I do if I don't agree with the terms of the divorce that my spouse served me with?
(Separate Website)
Explains what papers you have to file to "contest" (tell the court that you do not agree to) the divorce.
By: WomensLaw.org
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Benefits For Your Divorced Spouse
(Separate Website)
Explains how a divorced spouse may be eligible for a dependency or survivor benefit based on the ex-spouse's Social Security account.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Social Security and Divorce: What You Need to Know
(Separate Website)
This fact sheet explains the Social Security benefits that you may be entitled to based on your ex-spouse's work record and when you may be entitled to collect it.
By: Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Social Security: What Every Woman Needs to Know
(Separate Website)
Explains how and when you qualify for Social Security benefits. Explains how marriage and/or divorce affects your Social Security benefits.
By: Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
Will my children's last name change after I get a divorce?
(Separate Website)
Your children's last name will NOT change because of your divorce. Click to learn more.
By: WomensLaw.org
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Jewish Get Law (Divorce Law)
(Separate Website)
A "get" is a divorce under Jewish law. If a person was married under Jewish law, that person cannot technically remarry under Jewish law without a get. Click to learn more about a get, including a list of organizations that help women if the husband is away or refuses to provide the wife with a get.
By: Womenslaw.org
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
For more information on same-sex marriage, click here
(Separate Website)
Please note: Now, same-sex couples are allowed to marry in New York. All the rights and benefits extended to opposite-sex couples are extended to same-sex couples. The process and rules for divorce are the same for opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples. For more information about marrying your same-sex partner, click here.
For information about domestic partnership, click here
(Separate Website)
A Domestic Partnership is a legal relationship permitted under the laws of the State and City of New York for couples that have a close and committed personal relationship. Domestic partners do not have as many rights as married couples.
Do you have trouble with English? Are you unable to to speak, read, write, or understand English well?
(Separate Website)
Did you know federal agencies and organizations that get money from the federal government have to provide reasonable services to assist you? Learn more.
By: Federal Interagency Working Group on LEP
Video: How to Work with Interpreters
(Separate Website)
In this video, you will learn some basic tips that will allow you to communicate effectively and easily through an interpreter with a person who doesn't speak your language.
By: Legal Services of New Jersey
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
New York City Family Justice Center, Brooklyn The New York City Family Justice Center in Brooklyn is a walk-in center for all domestic violence victims and their children. To make it easier for you to get help, many agencies are located at the Center. Services are free and available to all victims. We can help you regardless of what language you speak.
By: New York City, Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence
Complaints About Attorneys
(Separate Website)
If you have a complaint against an attorney, you may contact the Attorney Disciplinary / Grievance Committee. The office you need to contact depends upon the location of your lawyer's office. Click for more information.
By: New York State Unified Court System
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