Suffolk County Contested Divorce Attorney
Skilled & Trusted Contested Divorce Lawyers Easing Your Emotional Burdens
The difference between a contested and uncontested divorce is whether or not the splitting couple can reach complete agreement without court intervention regarding all matters in their case that need to be established before a divorce can be finalized. Issues such as child custody, support, visitation, and division of assets will all need to be determined prior to the actual termination of any marriage.
Due to the sensitive nature of these decisions, it is no surprise that many divorcing couples have a difficult time mutually agreeing upon the terms and conditions that dictate who will receive which assets and who will have what rights and parenting times with the children. When great debate exists over these issues as well as equitable distribution, the divorce is classified as a contested divorce and it will need to be handled with more than simple mediation. Luckily, our Suffolk County contested divorce attorneys have the experience and empathy to help.
Contact The Meyers Law Group, P.C. online or call (631) 496-1484 to speak to one of our Suffolk County contested divorce attorneys.
Powerful Help for Contested Divorces
Thelitigation process involved in a contested divorce is often highly complex, requiring much more time to reach a conclusion. Only the highest level of divorce law skill from an attorney will be able to address the issues that arise when the assets of a marriage split are under hot debate. If you are seeking to end your same-sex marriage or if you have a prenuptial agreement, you need to be informed of the important topics that require nothing short of complete and total agreement between both individuals before the marriage can be successfully ended.
A contested divorce attorney from our team with the necessary experience to protect your rights and interests during your divorce litigation is your best bet for successfully determining the end results of a contested divorce. It is often less than easy to figure out how your life will play out after the dissolution of a marriage, and when this is the case intense arguments and heated discussions can arise concerning the ultimate outcome of the divorce. These are common characteristics of contested divorces, and they often make their way to a courtroom for settlement.
Is It Worth Contesting a Divorce?
When assets are concealed
In the event of a divorce, everyone wants to receive their fair share. Parting spouses often get greedy when their relationship goes sour and hide financial assets from each other. A judge cannot divide assets between the parties when one of the spouses conceals assets from the court. Consequently, they will have no bearing on spousal maintenance or child support. The discovery process of a contested divorce, however, gives each spouse access to discovering all assets, putting both ex-spouses on equal footing.
How alimony is decided
Divorced couples often argue over spousal maintenance. As part of a contested divorce, one spouse must prove to the court that he or she sacrificed significant opportunities throughout the marriage in order to obtain financial support, such as leaving school for a job while the other spouse earned a degree, or caring for a disabled child for the entire marriage. Alimony requests may be approved by a judge for a variety of reasons.
Is your spouse unwilling to compromise on the divorce terms?
In some cases, an ex will not be reasonable or play fair. That doesn't mean you must give them what they want just because they demand it. Even though you will have to go through a longer process, it will be worth it in the end when the terms of the divorce are more fair. If your spouse is unwilling to compromise or negotiate, you may have to pursue a contested divorce to avoid a clearly one-sided, unfair divorce settlement.
What is in the best interests of your children?
It is common for parents to disagree on co-parenting arrangements during a divorce, such as child custody, support, and/or visitation. By considering factors such as the emotional and physical needs of the involved children, the ability of each parent to provide for them, their relationship with their children, and the wishes of the children themselves, the family court judge will determine what is in their best interests.
How long does a contested divorce take in New York?
The length of time a contested divorce takes in New York can vary greatly depending on the specific circumstances of the case. In general, a contested divorce can take anywhere from several months to several years to be finalized. Factors such as:
- the complexity of the case
- the willingness of the parties to compromise
- the availability of the court can all impact the duration of the divorce process
Generally speaking, the process may involve the following steps:
- Filing of the divorce complaint: One spouse (the plaintiff) files a divorce complaint with the court, which begins the legal process.
- Service of the complaint: The other spouse (the defendant) must be served with a copy of the complaint.
- Answer to the complaint: The defendant has 20-60 days to file a written answer to the complaint, depending on how they were served.
- Discovery: The parties may engage in the process of discovery, which involves exchanging information and documents related to the case.
- Pretrial conference: The parties and their attorneys may participate in a pretrial conference, where they can discuss the case and try to reach a settlement.
- Trial: If the parties are unable to reach a settlement, the case will go to trial. This can be a bench trial (decided by a judge) or a jury trial.
Give us a call to speak to an attorney about the specifics of your case and get a better estimate of a timetable at (631) 496-1484.
The Importance of Aggressive Advocacy
The issues that surround contested divorces of contest cannot be handled nonchalantly by a professional who is inexperienced. For this reason, it is imperative to ensure that you can trust the legal counsel you have chosen to represent you, because it is these professionals who will be working to help secure your future.
Nothing but unwavering dedication and attention will be provided to each and every client that walks through the doors of The Meyers Law Group, P.C. We recognize just how important this time of your life is, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that its significance is treated with nothing less than the best there is to offer. For our Suffolk County contested divorce attorneys, there is no case out of our reach, as we aim to help those who are looking for a brighter future.
Contact one of our contested divorce attorneys in Suffolk County today for your free consultation at (631) 496-1484.
