
NYC Divorce Lawyers
NYC Family law Attorneys Standing Up for You
Approximately 50% of all marriages, including 41% of all first marriages, will end in divorce. However, only a few spouses are prepared for the legal steps to start and finalize a divorce. This lack of information and preparation can make for headaches and problems as a divorce nears and then progresses.
Give yourself a chance to handle a divorce with as little stress and mess as possible by coming to Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein. Our New York City divorce lawyers are always standing by to help new and returning clients with complex, high-stakes, or frustrating divorce issues. With us leading the way, you can be confident that your best interests will be preserved, and your divorce will be able to avoid unnecessary delays.
On This Page
- Common Reasons for Divorce
- Grounds for Divorce
- Contested Vs. Uncontested Divorce
- Different Ways to Resolve Divorce
- Basic Divorce Process
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Does it matter if I file for divorce first?
- Does my divorce have to be a bare-knuckle brawl?
- How long will my divorce take?
- How much will a divorce cost me?
- Is legal separation the same thing as divorce?
- Is marriage counseling required before a divorce?
- Is marriage dissolution the same thing as divorce?
- What can I do to prepare for my divorce before it begins?
- Get Ready for Divorce the Easy Way
Find out more about our divorce representation in NYC. Call (212) 466-6015 or contact us online.

Most spouses who file for divorce say that a lack of commitment, infidelity, or constant arguing is the reason why they decided to file for divorce. Typically, though, infidelity is what pushes them past the point of thinking the marriage can be repaired. You can also choose to file a divorce for irreconcilable differences or for a marriage that has “broken down irretrievably” and has been that way for at least six months.
When you are filing for divorce, you don’t have to use a generalized term like “lack of commitment” to describe why you want to file. You can choose to cite a specific ground for divorce or an unacceptable act that your spouse committed that ruined your marriage.
Grounds for divorce in New York can include:
- Cruel treatment
- Domestic violence
- Imprisonment
- Abandonment
- Adultery
- And others
If such a ground for divorce exists in your situation, it might be worth including it in the divorce petition. For example, if your spouse physically assaulted you, you should inform the family law court. The court will then be less likely to give them parental rights if there is reason to believe they could physically abuse your child, too.
When going through a divorce, it can be contested or uncontested:
- Contested: A divorce is contested when the petitioner (the spouse who started the divorce process) and the respondent (the spouse who receives the divorce papers from the petitioner) do not agree with everything in the petition. Even disagreeing over one important topic will make a divorce contested, and additional steps must be followed to reach an amicable solution.
- Uncontested: A divorce is uncontested with the petitioner and the respondent agree with the terms of the divorce petition. This situation can make for a relatively quick divorce with lower legal costs. However, you should still hire a divorce lawyer to help you during an uncontested divorce because details can change suddenly.
To conclude a divorce, there might be more than one legal avenue that you and your spouse can follow. Our NYC divorce attorneys can guide you through any of these processes after deciding which would be the best benefit for your particular case.
Divorce can be resolved through:
- Litigation: A contested divorce can head to the courtroom for a ruling from a judge or jury. Litigating a divorce is complicated, so you should only attempt it with a professional divorce lawyer representing you.
- Mediation: When a divorcing couple wants to keep things civil, divorce mediation can be used instead of litigation. Mediation uses a third-party neutral mediator to oversee the discussions and ensure the end result is fair and can be recognized by a family court.
- Collaboration: Divorce collaboration is similar to mediation but involves a promise to keep the case out of the courtroom. Neither spouse should even threaten to go to court during collaboration. It works best when the spouses are on good terms and can cooperate.
- Negotiation: In divorce negotiation, both spouses are represented by their own attorneys who then exchange documents to start building a divorce petition that works for everyone. Negotiation can be followed by mediation, collaboration, or litigation, depending on how successful it is.
Every divorce process will be unique due to the many details that go into each divorce petition. However, there are basic steps in all divorces that will be followed as the case progresses. We will be there to guide you through all the usual steps and any complications that could occur.
A basic overview of the divorce process in New York includes:
- Meeting the residency requirements, which vary but often require both you and your spouse to live in New York for at least two years.
- Naming the grounds for divorce, which can be as vague as an “irretrievable breakdown” of the marriage that has lasted 6 months or more.
- Filing for divorce with the correct court and clerk’s office.
- Serving the respondent or defendant the divorce petition or divorce papers.
- Receiving the other spouse’s response to the divorce petition.
- Scheduling the next steps to advance the divorce, which can include mediation sessions and, eventually, a court date.
Receiving a judgment from the family law court that accepts the final terms of the divorce agreement, or sets those terms if litigation was necessary.

INDUSTRY THOUGHT LEADERS
DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCEss
DEDICATED MATRIMONIAL & DIVORCE ATTORNEYS PROTECTING OUR CLIENTS’ RIGHTS, ASSETS, & FAMILY
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CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO DIFFICULT & COMPLEX PROBLEMS
All families and marriages are unique - our attorneys take the time to listen to our clients to fully understand the circumstances of their case. Only then do we advise the best legal option for their goals.
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PROMPT RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND INQUIRES
Divorce is a time of transition. We understand the emotional and financial stress that clients experience during the divorce process – from day one our team ensures that we provide our clients with prompt feedback so that they are updated on their case every step of the way.
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CHOICES AND OPTIONS TAILORED TO EACH CASE
We are one of the only Manhattan divorce law firms offering all three options for divorce: litigation/negotiation, collaborative law, and mediation - providing custom strategies and solutions for our clients.
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INDUSTRY THOUGHT LEADERS DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS
Our attorneys provide frequent expert legal commentary for national media outlets and have been quoted in numerous publications including Fox's Business, NBC News, ABC News, CBS News and many more.
You can file for divorce or respond to a divorce petition without making things more frustrating or complicated. All you have to do is dial (212) 466-6015 to connect with the New York City divorce attorneys of Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein. We can handle all parts of your divorce, so you know that your best interests will be respected and upheld.
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