Divorce Coach for Men in New York

Divorce in New York Is Different

New York allows no-fault divorce when the relationship between spouses has broken down irretrievably for at least six months. In plain English, that is New York's version of “irreconcilable differences”: the marriage is broken and you do not need to prove adultery, cruelty or another spouse's wrongdoing just to end it. New York still retains fault-based grounds, but most men need to understand that proving she was the bad guy is usually not the price of admission for getting divorced.

Property Division in New York

New York is an equitable-distribution state. Marital property is divided in a manner the court considers equitable based on statutory factors, which does not necessarily mean an automatic 50/50 split. Separate property can include certain premarital assets, gifts and inheritances, but tracing and commingling can complicate the analysis. Houses, retirement accounts, bonuses, businesses and compensation earned during the marriage can make New York divorces financially complicated very quickly.

How Much Does a New York Divorce Attorney Cost?

Recent billing data puts New York lawyers overall around $426 an hour. Family-law rates commonly fall in the $300 to $600 range, while experienced Manhattan attorneys and high-asset specialists can charge substantially more. Once a divorce becomes contested, five-figure legal bills are not unusual. If every emotional disagreement becomes an attorney email, you can spend a ridiculous amount of money fighting about things that never needed a lawyer.

How Long Does Divorce Take in New York?

There is no single statewide average that predicts your case. An uncontested New York divorce may be completed in several months, depending heavily on the county and court backlog. A contested divorce involving custody, support or significant property can take a year or longer, and heavily litigated cases can take considerably more time.

How Much Custody Do Fathers Get in New York?

New York does not give fathers a guaranteed percentage of parenting time and does not have a statewide presumption that every family should receive 50/50 physical custody. Custody is determined under the best-interests-of-the-child standard. There is no reliable statewide “average father gets X percent” statistic worth pretending is a rule. A father's history of caregiving, relationship with the child, availability, ability to cooperate, home environment and the facts of the case can all matter. The important point is that being the father does not legally make you a secondary parent.

What a Divorce Coach for Men in New York Helps You Do

I am not your New York attorney and divorce coaching is not legal representation. I help you organize priorities, prepare for attorney conversations, control unnecessary legal spending, think strategically about parenting and negotiations, and build a life outside the divorce while the legal case moves forward. Men’s Divorce Coaching works one-on-one with men throughout New York by video and phone, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Albany, Buffalo and Rochester.