Westchester County Divorce Lawyer

Providing Skilled Representation For Divorce Proceedings in White Plains

At the law firm of Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP, our divorce lawyers have a reputation of success throughout Westchester County and the surrounding counties. Whatever divorce matter you face, we want to ensure that your specific needs and goals are met at all times.

When Should You Hire a Divorce Attorney?

There are several instances where it would be beneficial for you to hire a divorce attorney. Some of circumstances where you should consider hiring a lawyer include:

• If your spouse has hired a divorce attorney.
• If there is a history of abuse in your marriage.
• If there is an imbalance of power between you and your spouse.

Hiring a divorce lawyer can ensure that you are prepared for court and can help you to fight for your best possible outcome.

The experienced lawyers at our law offices in White Plains always strive to minimize the negative impact that a divorce case has on the lives of our client. We are known for our caring and compassionate approach in every case, and we are always mindful of the fact that legal issues involving a family can have an enormous emotional toll on everyone involved.

A Divorce Client Review

"I hired the firm to help me with my custody and divorce cases. The lawyers at this firm are extremely knowledgeable and explained complicated legal matters to me in a way that was easy for me to understand. They are really responsive when you need to talk to them, they stay in touch via email and phone calls on a regular basis. My cases were very stressful and upsetting, but everyone at the firm always made me feel at ease and confident that I would get what I deserved. Now that my cases are over, I am happy to say that I feel I was represented really well, and I have custody and a divorce settlement that I am comfortable with. I highly recommend this firm for any legal matter you may have."

Grounds for Divorce in New York

New York recognizes both fault and no-fault divorces. A no-fault divorce allows for a divorce when a marriage is irretrievably broken for a period of at least six months provided that one party has stated so under oath. Before the courts will allow a no-fault divorce all ancillary issues regarding the marriage must be resolved. Ancillary issues include the following

• Equitable distribution of marital property
• The payment or waiver of spousal support
• The payment of child support
• The payment of counsel and expert fees
• Custody and visitation of the children of the marriage.

When filing for a no-fault divorce, you have to allege that there are grounds for your divorce, such as:

• Cruel and inhuman treatment
• Adultery
• Abandonment
• Prison sentence
• Living separate and apart for at least one year

What Kind of Divorce is Right for Me?

Few decisions are more difficult and stressful than the one to dissolve your marriage. Before you dive headfirst into your decision to file for a divorce in New York, take a moment to review your legal options, understand the procedure from start to finish, and figure out which kind of divorce is actually right for you and your individual needs.

Contested Vs. Uncontested

One of the earliest steps in the divorce process is determining whether your divorce is contested or uncontested. A divorce that is uncontested will involve both spouses easily coming to an agreement about the division of their estate and responsibilities; generally, a Westchester County divorce attorney will be necessary to draft the divorce paperwork, but court appearances are rare. Contested divorces are quite the opposite – one or both parties cannot come to an agreement about any number of important aspects of their divorce, such as custody agreements or debt distribution. If your divorce is contested, you might be in for a battle with your spouse if you do not prepare your case with a professional Westchester County divorce lawyer.

Collaborative Divorce Vs. Mediation

If you want to ensure that your divorce does not go to court – thus, avoiding possible high court costs – you, your spouse, and both of your attorneys can sign a “no court” agreement and go through what is known as a collaborative divorce. This form of divorce works explicitly with the intent to form agreements through informal meetings and flexible decisions. Mediation is similar yet altogether different, as your mediator – most likely one neutral attorney – doesn’t have any real power in the divorce; they are simply there to help you get through it peacefully and quickly.