Honest and Thorough Long Island Divorce Lawyers Serving Suffolk and Nassau Counties, NY

Five decades of combined experience guiding families in Long Island toward bright futures

Ending a marriage or a lengthy co-habitation is never easy. An experienced Long Island divorce attorney from Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP can help. We encourage clients to find cooperative ways when ending their marriages. But we also use all necessary measures to protect the rights of our clients and their children — whether through negotiation or in court.

How divorce works in New York

To file for divorce in New York, both spouses must meet certain residence requirements. The filing spouse must cite one of the following grounds for divorce, as explained by the New York State Unified Court System:

Irretrievable breakdown of the relationship (also known as no-fault divorce) Cruel and inhuman treatment Abandonment Incarceration resulting in living separately for more than two years

Adultery Living separate and apart pursuant to a separation judgment or decree Living separate and apart pursuant to a separation agreement

After meeting all legal requirements, couples must make certain decisions about the type of divorce they want to pursue. The first decision involves choosing either a contested divorce, which is decided within the family courts, or an uncontested divorce that provides a means for arriving at settlement issues through negotiation. Certain circumstances, such as an imbalance of power within the marriage, can sometimes make negotiation impossible. But whenever possible, our divorce lawyers encourage our clients in Long Island to retain greater control of the process through a negotiated settlement.

Making decisions in divorce

If you strip away the emotional issues of divorce, you can view the overall process as the division of one household into two. But most people cannot take such a detached view. Whenever possible, each Long Island divorce lawyer at our firm guides clients toward a negotiated settlement that takes the best interests of everyone — especially the children — into account. But whether at the negotiation table or in court, we remain staunch advocates for our clients and their children in settling all issues, including the following:

• Division of property: Judges decide how to divide the property owned by both spouses (marital property) following the guidelines of equitable distribution, which is not the same as equal distribution. Although couples can negotiate virtually any type of settlement, a judge considers many factors to help ensure both parties walk away with their fair shares of the property.
• Child custody, support and visitation:  Each divorce lawyer at our firm encourages divorcing couples in Long Island to enter into meaningful negotiations on issues of child custody, support and visitation rather than leave these vital decisions in the hands of the courts.
• Spousal support: Although New York does not guarantee the continued financial support of either spouse by the other, the courts consider awarding spousal maintenance (formerly known as alimony) to either spouse for a defined time period based on need.

Divorce of same-sex couples

With New York State’s recent adoption of  the Marriage Equality Act, our office now handles divorces involving same-sex couples. Despite the recent enactment of the statute, we have already handled these matters and can do so in a professional, competent and compassionate manner.

Addressing special issues during divorce

You may have a complex estate, a family business to divide or children with special needs. Or domestic violence may present an immediate danger within your household. The family law attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP have the experience and resources to handle complex divorce cases. And we know exactly how to obtain orders of protection through the family courts when you or your children are in danger of domestic violence.

For full support when your marriage is dissolving, contact an experienced divorce attorney in Long Island

With more than five decades of combined experience in the sensitive areas of family law, the attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP work to find creative solutions that help your family move forward. To discuss your legal issues and learn how we can help, contact us online or call us at 631-360-0400.