Where Do You Get Copies Of Records
For copies of marriage licenses issued anywhere in New York State except the five boroughs of New York City, a certified copy of the marriage record may be obtained from the office of the town or city clerk who issued the license, or from the New York State Department of Health. The fee is $10 if you obtain a certified copy from the town or city clerk who issued the license. If applying to the New York State Department of Health, the fee is $30. For a certified copy, write to:
- New York State Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records Certification Unit P.O. Box 2602 Albany, New York 12220-2602
For marriage licenses issued in New York City, do not apply to the New York State Department of Health. For an application, current fees and ordering information contact the City Clerk of New York at NEW-YORK or visit their web site at New York City Marriage Bureau. You can also write them at:
-
New York City marriage records from 1930 to 1995 can be obtained solely from the Manhattan Office.
MANHATTAN:Office of the City Clerk141 Worth StreetNew York, New York 10013
- BRONX:851 Grand Concourse, Room B131New York, New York 10451
- BROOKLYN:210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Room 205Brooklyn, New York 11201
- 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Room G-100Kew Gardens, New York 11424
- STATEN ISLAND:
Acknowledgement Of Service Approx 2
Once the court has confirmed the details of your petition are correct they will send your spouse a copy of the petition with an acknowledgment of service to complete.
If the Respondent returns the acknowledgment to the court at an appropriate time, the court will send you a copy of the acknowledgment of service.
After a period of 2-4 weeks, you will be able to move onto the next stage and apply for the decree nisi.
Modifying A Divorce Order
Filing a Motion:
If you need to change or enforce the court order in your divorce, you must file a motion with the same court that issued the court order. A motion is a written request asking the court to change something in the order or make the other party comply with the terms of the order.
Common reasons to file a motion include:
- to increase or decrease child support payments
- to increase or decrease alimony or spousal support payments
- to change the custody arrangements of a minor child
- to change the visitation/parenting time arrangements
- to relocate children to another state
- to emancipate a child, which ends child support obligation
- to get reimbursement of medical expenses
- to âenforce litigantâs rights,â
The kit has several forms that you must fill out and file with the court.
You will also have to send a copy of everything you file to your ex-spouse.
Important Note: There are very specific time frames for selecting a motion date, for filing and for getting the motion papers to your ex-spouseâcontact the family division in the county where you are filing to make sure you understand and meet these deadlines.
7 Steps to file a motion to change or enforce an order in your divorce case
Responding to a Motion:
Filing a Cross-Motion:
You can also use this packet to file a cross-motion, meaning you are asking the court to take action on your behalf, in addition to opposing whatever the other party has asked for.
Outcome of a Motion:
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Appealing A Contested Divorce Case
Either party can appeal a decision in a contested divorce case. You cannot file an appeal if your case was uncontested.
When to file
The appeal must be filed in the Appellate Division of Superior Court within 45 days of the courtâs decision.
Do I need a lawyer to file an appeal?
You do not have to have a lawyer to appeal your case. Be aware, however, that the appeals process can be confusing. It is a good idea to get a lawyer if you can.
Steps to file an appeal
Filing Fees
Do you qualify for a fee waiver?
If you received a fee waiver in your divorce case, you can attach a copy of the order and a signed letter that says your finances have not changed since the case was filed.
If you did not receive a fee waiver in your divorce case, you can submit a
If you did not receive a fee waiver in your divorce case, you can submit a request for a fee waiver with your appeal.
Submit documents to the court
Send copies of your appeals document to:
How To Get A Quick Divorce In New York
This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 260,727 times.
Divorce in New York can be accomplished quickly if the two spouses can agree on distribution of property, custody of children, and support and visitation. If you meet the residency requirements, New York has a step-by-step procedure for uncontested divorces including forms and detailed instructions.
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What Are The Residency Requirements To File For Divorce In New York
You may file for divorce in New York if you meet one of these residency requirements:
1 NY Dom Rel Law § 230
If Only Your Partner Is On The Lease
If a tenancy is in the name of your married partner, they’ll be liable to pay the rent for as long as the tenancy continues. If the rent isn’t paid and arrears build up, the landlord may take action to evict you.
If your ex-partner is no longer paying any rent, you should negotiate with the landlord to pay the rent because you have the right to do so. If the landlord won’t accept the rent you should get advice straightaway. If there are arrears you should also get advice about how to pay these off if you want to stay in the home.
If you’re in this situation you should get advice from an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. Find out more about the advice options we offer.
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Selling A House Before A Divorce
There are no legal restrictions on selling a home prior to filing for divorce. Before youve filed, the transaction is exactly like it would be if you sold at any other point in your marriage. The benefit of selling before filing is you can both use the proceeds to find new living situations, pay off debts and hire attorneys.
Option: Buy Out The Other Party
In a buyout, the person who wants to keep the home pays the spouse half of the current market value of the property in order to gain sole ownership. In an equitable distribution state, the buyout may be more or less than half of the market value, depending on the factors mentioned earlier: income, financial contributions, and earning potential.
Why go this route: One spouse may choose to keep the family home to maintain consistency for their children, or because its close to school or work. Its also a good option if your local real estate market isnt favorable, and youd take a loss if you sold.
Keep in mind: This option requires that the person doing the buying out has access to a significant amount of cash that isnt subject to the rest of the divorce proceedings, although it is sometimes possible to roll a buyout into a home refinancing. Its also important to make sure you can still afford your mortgage payment on a single income.
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Death In The Us: How To Get A Certified Copy Of A Death Certificate
Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred to learn:
- How to order a certified copy of a death certificate online, by mail, or in person
- How to get a copy fast
- The cost for each certified copy
You will need to know the date and place of death. The state may also ask for other details about the person, how you are related to them, or why you want the certificate.
New York Property Division
In a New York divorce, the marital property is usually divided equitably, i.e. the property and debts that were acquired during your marriage are divided on what is considered fair and not necessarily on an equal basis. Your income, home and personal possessions are all considered as your property.
While dividing the property, the court will consider your spouses and your financial circumstances in the future, tax circumstances of both spouses, value of the assets or any business interest and the need for the custodial parent to live in the family home. The court may also divide the separate property of both spouses if it believes that this is fair, i.e. the court can allocate the property brought into the marriage by one of the spouses to the other spouse at the time of divorce.
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How Long Does An Uncontested Divorce Take To Be Final In New York
No one can predict exactly how long it will take to finalize a divorce.However, by using LetsGetDivorced.com our customers can quickly prepare theirNew York Uncontested Divorce forms online in as little as 15 minutes for a simple case without minor children .The Courts in each county may have different backlogs of uncontested divorce actions. Generally speaking, once all of the divorce forms that are required to file for an uncontested divorce have been filed with the Court, it can take at least 4-6 weeks or more for the divorce papers to be reviewed by a Judge.
What About The Ceremony
There is no particular form or ceremony required except that the parties must state in the presence of an authorized public official or authorized member of the clergy and at least one other witness that each takes the other as his or her spouse. There is no minimum age for a witness. However, in selecting a witness, choose at least one person who you feel would be competent to testify in a court proceeding as to what he or she witnessed.
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Family Mediation Or Collaboration
Family mediation and collaborative practice are two ways of helping couples who are separating or divorcing to sort out disagreements and reach decisions about things like money, property and looking after the children, without having to go to court.
To use either of these options, you both have to be willing to go along voluntarily. Any decisions you make there won’t be legally binding but may help you to start drawing up an agreement. Mediation involves you working together with your partner and a trained, impartial mediator, to reach agreement. Collaborative practice involves you and your partner meeting together with your solicitors, to discuss the issues and try to reach agreement.
A couple can use family mediation or collaborative practice as soon as possible after they have decided their relationship is ending and they feel able to discuss any disputes. Mediation and collaborative practice can be helpful before legal proceedings begin, to encourage co-operation between the couple and to prevent disputes from getting worse and agreement becoming harder to reach in the future. They can also be used after a separation or divorce if new issues arise or there are outstanding issues to be resolved. There may be an additional need for children to be able to say how they feel.
You might have to pay for mediation, depending on the provider.
You can find trained mediators through Relationships Scotland or CALM Scotland.
New York Divorce Papers And Forms
The New York Courts website tries to make the complicated divorce process easier through its DIY program for uncontested divorces. As long as you meet the requirements for uncontested divorce, including being over 18 years of age, having no children, being in a marriage that has been over for at least six months and having all of your property issues settled, you can go through the program.
Even with the program offered by New York, you should prepare to spend some time working through all of the instructions and filling out the various online divorce papers. You can expect to complete the Summons With Notice or Summons form, as well as the Verified Complaint. These forms will demand detailed information from you, and they must be filled out correctly to avoid any delays in your divorce.
If you want to get through the divorce paperwork as quickly as you can, you may find that the New York online divorce papers from CompleteCase.com a better option. CompleteCase.com provides personalized solutions to divorce form selection and completion, ensuring that you fill out only the documents you need for your case. Our experts also work with you to make certain your divorce forms are complete and accurate so that you have everything completed correctly the first time.
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Divorce Law In New York
In New York, there are two kinds of divorces, a contested divorce and an uncontested divorce.
In an uncontested divorce, the most trouble-free approach, you and your husband agree about the need for a divorce and you believe you will come to terms on how your property gets divided and how your children are cared for. On your own or with the help of lawyers or a mediator, you and your husband come to an agreement on everything and do not need the court to get involved to divide assets or make decisions about spousal or child support or custody.
Typically, an uncontested divorce moves more quickly through the system. Its less complicated and less expensive. You will likely never set foot inside a courtroom with an uncontested divorce.
In a contested divorce, you and your husband are not in agreement about any or all of these things. If there are disagreements, and often there are, you will likely need the help of a legal professional to resolve them. The more intense the disagreements, the more expensive the process can become and the greater risk you run of having to go to court to have a judge decide.
Many couples will begin the process of a contested divorce and then, before trial, reach an agreement. This is a settlement.
Ask yourself:
How can you split things up if you dont understand what youre splitting like the finances Or what negotiated variable is going to benefit you more in the long run? You need feedback from someone whos an expert on your situation.
Is Legal Separation Right For Me
There are pros and cons to legal separation, and it may not be right for every couple. Here are some of the most important things to consider:
The pros
- Legal separation provides space and time to figure out if divorce is really what you want.
- It can be a good time for marriage counseling.
- You can still get your spouses health insurance.
- Years spent legally separated count as years married, so you will be able to receive your spouses social security retirement benefits.
- Legal separation may not violate your religious beliefs.
- A separation agreement can be helpful if you get divorced because the court may allow you to use your agreement as a basis for divorce.
The cons
- Legal separation does not end your marriage. You would still have financial, legal and logistical ties to your spouse.
- A separation agreement is meaningless unless both spouses sign it.
- Spouses who do not get along or do not communicate well may have a hard time creating a separation agreement.
- You cannot marry someone else when you are legally separated.
- If abuse has occurred in your marriage, legal separation is not a good option.
- You must wait a year to use a separation agreement as a basis for divorce.
The above are just points for you to consider. For legal advice, contact a family attorney in your area who is knowledgeable about legal separation.
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New York Divorce Grounds
New York divorce laws recognize fault and no-fault grounds for divorce. You can seek a no-fault divorce in New York if you and your spouse have been separated for at least one year or if there’s been an “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” for at least six months. Couples can also seek a divorce after entering into a separation agreement and living apart for at least one year.
Alternatively, you or your spouse can seek a divorce based on fault-grounds. In a fault-based divorce, one spouse must prove the other spouse is to blame for the marriage’s breakdown. New York recognizes the following fault-based grounds:
Fault-based divorces are usually lengthier and more costly than a no-fault divorce since you’ll need to prove fault at trial. However, in some situations proving the other spouse’s fault my benefit the innocent spouse in a property award or when a judge decides custody. See NY Dom. Rel. L. § 170 .