Online Divorce
in New York

Divorce in New York is quick and easy
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Do you know the location of your spouse?
Can you and your spouse agree to the division of property, debts and all child related issues?

Divorce Online in New York

New York Divorce

If a couple has an uncontested divorce in New York, the quickest and most efficient option is to contact an online divorce service. OnlineDivorceNewYork.com offers the necessary completed divorce forms ready to download within two business days.

To do this, you just need to complete the online questionnaire so that the system can get the details of your case. The service also provides detailed instructions for filing the documents with a court, saving time and nerves.

Here are the main advantages of an online divorce platform:

  • Complete freedom of action. Spouses are not tied to any place or the schedule of a lawyer. They can fill out all the documents without leaving home directly from their computer or smartphone.
  • Thoughtfulness and lack of haste. A couple completes the forms at their own pace. If you need more time — you use this opportunity. If spouses need to go back and fix a mistake, they are free to edit.
  • High result speed. Ex-partners receive ready-made forms for downloading within just two business days.
  • Independence from an attorney. You aren’t restrained by a lawyer’s schedule. Work with the papers at a time and place that is convenient for you.
  • Easy filing. We offer detailed instructions for filing paperwork with a court, saving your time.
  • Low price of the service. This option costs several times less than the most affordable flat-rate lawyer for uncontested divorces.

We ensure that the process of preparing documents is as smooth, simple, and understandable as possible for you. So why waste extra time and huge sums on a lawyer if you can turn to an online divorce service?

Compare Your Options for Filing for Divorce in New York

Divorce With a Lawyer

The traditional divorce process requires the parties to have lawyers who represent their interests in court.

  • Litigation is the most energy-intensive divorce option;
  • Lawyers provoke even more drama because they want to win in court at any cost;
  • Spouses have to adjust to the lawyer’s schedule;
  • The atmosphere at court hearings negatively affects minor children;
  • New York divorce lawyers typically charge $305 — $380 per hour.
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The premier uncontested divorce tool

A fast and cheap option, ideal for uncontested divorces. Clear and transparent process of selection and submission of documents to the court.

  • You work with all documents online from any place convenient for you;
  • Flat rate to access all forms;
  • No hidden fees;
  • Intuitive and straightforward platform interface with detailed instructions;
  • The service is much cheaper than even the most affordable lawyers in New York.

DIY divorce

The easiest and cheapest solution is to have a do-it-yourself divorce. However, this does not guarantee correctly completed forms or the speed and efficiency of the case as a whole.

  • Can lead to an unfair outcome;
  • There is no certainty that the documents are filled out correctly;
  • One mistake — and the court will not accept the form;
  • May lead to additional financial investment if it escalates into a contested divorce;
  • Often delayed due to a person's ignorance of their rights.

What Forms Do I Need to File for Divorce in New York?

New York Divorce Forms

A couple can find and download all the necessary forms on the New York State Unified Court System website.

To start divorce proceedings, the spouses will need to complete the following initial forms:

  • Notice Concerning Continuation Of Health Care Coverage
  • Summons with Notice (UD-1)
  • Affirmation (Affidavit) of Regularity (UD-5)
  • Affidavit of Defendant (UD-7)
  • Annual Income Worksheet (UD-8(1))
  • Support Collection Unit Information Sheet (UD-8a)
  • Judgment of Divorce (UD-11)
  • Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) (UD-13)
  • Certificate of Dissolution

If a couple does not have children, they do not consider those forms related to their custody, alimony, etc. However, the formation of documents does not end with the initial forms.

To complete a divorce in New York, ex-partners need these additional forms:

  • Child Support Worksheet (UD-8(3))
  • Support Collection Unit Information Sheet
  • Qualified Medical Child Support Order (UD-8b)
  • Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage
  • LDSS 5143 Application for Child Support Services
  • Short Form Application for Child Support Services in Supreme Court (may be used instead of LDSS 5143)
Welcome to your online New York divorce guide
Qualify for divorce1
Provide your case details2
Get your papers3
File for divorce4

How to Fill Out New York Divorce Papers

New York

1. To start the divorce process, a petitioner needs to fill out and submit the following forms:

  • Summons With Notice (or Summons and Verified Complaint)
  • Notice Concerning Continuation of Health Care Coverage
  • Notice of Automatic Orders
  • Settlement Agreement (if you have one).

2. Specify the grounds for divorce and other essential points.

On the Summons With Notice and the Summons and Verified Complaint, an applicant needs to state the legal grounds for the divorce and the issues they want to resolve with their spouse (called “relief”). Topics such as the division of property, child custody, payment of alimony (spousal support), child support, etc., are part of the “relief.”

3. Gather financial documentation ahead of time.

Some forms will require a solicitor to provide the financial information needed by the court. For example, this may relate to their income and expenses, especially if the case is related to property division or payments for children or spouse maintenance. Prepare this information ahead of time to avoid looking for it while filling out divorce forms.

4. Bring completed divorce forms to the court.

Once a claimant has finalized all the required paperwork, they take it (including copies) to the Supreme Court Clerk's office in the county where they are filing for divorce. Typically, this is the county where they or their ex-partner lives. Next, the court clerk gives the petitioner’s case a number, which they put on all divorce forms.

5. Pay court filing fees.

A case index number, which must be included on all forms, costs $210. An uncontested New York divorce costs $335, including all court and filing fees. However, this does not include notary fees, postage, photocopies, processing fees, etc.

If the financial situation does not allow spouses to pay the required fees, they can apply for a waiver of legal fees.

File for Divorce Online in New York Without a Lawyer

New York

Filing Requirements for Online Divorce in New York

Before a spouse files for divorce in the state of New York on their own without the involvement of an expensive lawyer, they must make sure that they and their spouse meet the residency requirements.

Next, spouses must have legal grounds for the dissolution of the marriage. The New York court recognizes both fault and no-fault divorce. If a petitioner files for a divorce based on fault, they assert that their spouse is responsible for the dissolution of the union. The reason may be adultery, cruel or abusive behavior, abandonment, etc.

If an applicant chooses a no-fault divorce, the most common ground is the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” It means they and their spouse cannot be together, and reconciliation is impossible in their particular case.

There are the following options to file for divorce in New York:

  • Spouses can file the required paperwork online through the NYSCEF — the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system;
  • A couple can send documents by mail to the court;
  • Spouses can come to court in person and file divorce papers;
  • Ex-partners can use the additional services of OnlineDivorceNewYork.com for filing documents with the court.

When filing for divorce, the spouses must pay New York court filing fees, $335.

Do-It-Yourself Divorce in New York

New York

An uncontested divorce is a good base for a do-it-yourself divorce. So, where does a couple start if it wants a DIY cheap divorce in New York?

1. Meet the residency requirements.

For the New York courts to consider the case, a spouse must prove that they meet the residency criteria. To do this, they or their spouse must have lived in New York for at least a year before filing for divorce.

2. Give legal grounds for divorce.

There are seven reasons for divorce that New York considers sufficient. Among them:

  • Adultery during marriage
  • Abandonment of a spouse (need to prove that the spouse left for at least one year)
  • Inhuman or cruel treatment
  • Imprisonment of a spouse for three or more consecutive years after marriage
  • The relationship has been cut off for at least six months (commonly referred to as no-fault divorce)
  • Divorce after legal separation (spouses must sign and file a Separation Agreement and live separately for one year)
  • Divorce after a judgment of separation

3. Prepare all necessary forms.

Remember that papers will be different depending on whether spouses have children or not. After completing the documents correctly, they need to file a Summons and Complaint with the county clerk's office. Please note that some courts allow filing online using NYSCEF. Check the list of counties to see if the needed county has an e-filing system.

4. Serve a respondent with a copy of the original divorce forms within 120 days of filing them.

A plaintiff can’t serve a copy of the documents in person: if their spouse lives in New York, anyone who lives in New York, is over 18, and is not directly involved in the divorce can deliver the forms to them. Also, the person who hands over the papers to their ex-partner must file an “Affidavit of Service” with the court.

5. Wait for the respondent’s response.

The defendant will have 20 days to respond after being served with the divorce complaint. They will have 30 days if they receive an out-of-state complaint. If the divorce is uncontested, the spouse will sign an "Affidavit of Defendant." If the divorce becomes contested, the respondent will respond to something said in the complaint.

6. Put the case on the court calendar and wait for the court hearing.

A couple will need to complete the remaining applicable forms to schedule the divorce case. After completing them, they can submit them to the clerk. If the divorce is approved, the judge will sign the divorce decree. The defendant must be served with a copy of the signed decision.

We provide you with:
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  • All Required New York State Forms.
  • New York-Specific Court Filing Instructions.
  • Unlimited Revisions for as long as your account is active.

Getting a Divorce With Children in New York

New York

If spouses have children, they should consider the following points when divorcing.

Matters relating to custody, alimony, and visiting hours must be agreed upon before the judge signs the divorce decree. This applies only to children of the marriage. “Children of the marriage” is a legal term that refers to children aged 20 or younger born or adopted by spouses before or during the marriage.

For all children in a marriage, a child support decision must be made before the divorce. A custody and visitation decision must also be made for all children of the marriage aged 17 years and under before the divorce is granted.

There are two types of legal custody in New York:

  • Sole custody means that one of the parents can make decisions regarding the child. The other parent may be entitled to receive educational information but not decide.
  • Joint custody means that both parents share the power to make decisions about the child. In joint custody, parents need to communicate well enough to inform each other of the child's needs and make decisions together.

Courts in New York City use the specific terms “physical custody” or “primary placement” to describe where a child primarily resides. Also, “visitation” or “secondary placement” refers to time spent by the other parent.

However, there are times when issues of custody, visitation, and alimony can be considered part of the divorce process itself. In this case, these issues are raised and resolved as part of the divorce judgment and may take some time.

Residency Requirements in NY

There are several conditions under which spouses can meet residency requirements in New York:

  • The wedding ceremony took place in New York. Moreover, at least one of the spouses lived for at least one year in New York before filing for divorce;
  • The couple lived together in New York, and at least one of them was a resident of the state for at least a full year before filing for divorce;
  • The reason for filing the divorce papers was in New York, and both spouses were New Yorkers at the time;
  • If the spouses were not married in New York and never lived as husband and wife in the state, one of the spouses must have lived in New York State at some time and also lived there for at least two years before divorcing.
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How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in New York

Naturally, the duration of a divorce in New York State directly depends on the type of divorce. So, for example, if we are talking about an uncontested divorce, then on average, it takes up to three months. On the other hand, if we are talking about contested divorce, it can last nine months or longer, depending on the nature of the dispute.

As for the waiting period, once the petitioner has filed for divorce in New York, there is no official waiting period before the judge finalizes the case.

The time a couple spends filing for a divorce depends on two things: the court’s workload and how quickly the defendant can return the necessary copies of the documents to the applicant. This is why some uncontested divorces end in five or six weeks, while others can take up to six months.

Since there is no waiting period in New York State, an uncontested divorce takes about three months on average. But, of course, if there are issues on which the parties disagree, this can make the divorce process longer.

Customer Testimonials
Maria P.
Ontario County
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Kylie G.
Fulton County
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Wayne County
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Mark F.
Herkimer County
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Albany County
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Delaware County
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Laura G.
Kings County
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Schuyler County
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Anthony D.
Orange County
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Frequently Asked Questions