The job of a Family Court Attorney in Suffolk County NY may encompass far more than most people imagine. Although this type of attorney does work in all areas of law that pertain to family units, perhaps the lion’s share of a family lawyer’s work revolves around divorce. The New York state statutes for divorce are very strict, and only an experienced Family Court Attorney in Suffolk County NY can help most people navigate the process successfully.
In New York state, there are specific allowable grounds for divorce. Your lawyer can help you to determine which of the following is the best one to use in your divorce. These grounds include:
1. Cruel or inhumane treatment
2. Abandonment: To constitute abandonment, the spouse must have been absent from the marital home for at least one year continuously.
3. Prison confinement: Prison confinement of one spouse for three years or more continuously.
4. Adultery
5. Legal Separation: The couple has been legally separated for one year or more continuously.
6. Irretrievable Breakdown: The marital relationship has suffered an “irretrievable breakdown.” This situation must have been present for a minimum of six months.
Your situation may qualify for more than one of the grounds listed above. In this case, the Family Court Attorney in Suffolk County NY will determine which of the grounds will be easiest and fastest to file. If you and your spouse both agree that divorce is the best action to take, the grounds of marital breakdown may be best. If your spouse wants to remain married but you want to get divorced, it can become more complicated. It is important that you can find grounds that are provable in court, and this may take some detective work. Your attorney can conduct investigations, work with private detectives, and do anything necessary to help you find suitable grounds to file for divorce.
Another important part of the divorce process is the property division. This is often a matter of some contention among divorcing couples, and therefore negotiations are typically necessary. Property division must include not only the assets, but also the debts. Although many couples start divorce proceedings being completely at odds, the skill of a good family court lawyer can swiftly convince the other spouse to come to a reasonable agreement.
