What is an uncontested divorce and how much does it cost?
Uncontested Divorce in New York City: What is it? How much does it cost? etc
An uncontested divorce in New York, as opposed to a contested divorce, means a divorce where both parties agree on every issue related to the divorce and they simply want to part ways. In this case, there will be no need to ask the court to decide on any issues because there are none. Both parties know how the property (debts and assets) will be divided, how child support and custody will be decided, how spousal support will be decided etc etc.
In other words, all there is needed is to get the documents together and file them with the court. The parties agree to sign any and all documents needed to obtain the divorce. There are many documents still needed to be filed with the courts but by virtue of being uncontested, the parties save a lot of money and headache by working together, instead of against each other.
We at Rose Law Office, PLLC offer flat fee packages for Uncontested Divorces. We handle the whole process for you by collecting the information needed, drafting the documents and filing them for you.
1. Simple Divorce: $499 + fees. This applies for the simple divorces with no children or property/debt to allocate.
2. Children OR Property: $699 + fees. This applies to a divorce with either children OR property to allocate.
3. Children AND Property: $899 + fees. This applies to a divorce with children AND property to allocate.
Fees includes filing fees charged by courts and any other fees required for your specific situation. For most divorces these fees are about $300 total.
Reach out to us to see how much it might cost you.
Call (917) 774 - 5947 or esquiredenis@gmail.com
'Family Court vs Supreme Court? The Pros and Cons of Each.' by Denis B. Rose, Esq.
When it comes to Family Law matters, New Yorkers generally have a choice between Supreme Court and Family Court. There are pros and cons to both, including cost, ability to be heard, efficiency, speed etc.
Cost
Family Court does not have filing fees for petitions and motions which is great for folks who need relief but cannot afford to spend even a couple of hundreds of dollars on fees. Family Court was designed to help working people. Supreme Court does have filing fees for different documents, including a $45 fee for motions or cross motions. If you make below a certain amount you may be able to apply for a waiver of certain fees.
Winner on cost ---> Family Court
Ability to be Heard
Family Court, in theory, should be more accessible because there is no filing fees but things move really fast because there is so many cases being processed everyday. If you don't have an attorney, you may be trampled by the volumes of people spilling out to the hallway. Supreme Court is generally more calm and orderly and judges, with some exceptions, have more time to dedicate to their cases and listen to the parties.
Winner on ability to be heard ---> Supreme Court
Efficiency
Supreme Court, probably in part because that's where wealthy New Yorkers go to divorce, operates more efficiently than Family Court. Supreme Court is usually more orderly and controlled than Family Court, which can be busy and overwhelming.
Winner on efficiency ---> Supreme Court
Speed
This is another toss up. Times vary a lot by county and specific judge assigned. There are emergency procedures in both courts if you need relief that is time sensitive.
Winner on speed ---> No clear winner
Overall
If you can afford it, go to Supreme Court.
*This article is not a substitute for good legal advice from an attorney.