Divorce and Family Law FAQs

Separation is a legal status that many couples use as they consider whether they want to divorce. The couple lives apart and leads separate lives, and a court order is in place that outlines the responsibilities they have to each other and any children. After a year, the separation agreement … [Read more...] about What’s The Difference Between Separation And Divorce?

Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino offer legal services to people in the Queens, New York area, with a personalized approach and at competitive rates. When you retain us to be your divorce lawyers, you’ll sign a contract that describes the terms and specifics of our services and our billing … [Read more...] about How Does Billing Work If I Hire You For My Divorce?

In New York, people file for divorce citing one of several grounds. These include adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, imprisonment, legal separation for one year, and irretrievable breakdown. This last ground, irretrievable breakdown, is new to New York as of 2010, and its … [Read more...] about Which Grounds Result In The Greatest Settlement?

Typically if both parties have participated fully in a divorce action, the judge accepts the settlement that the sides negotiate. In the case of a default divorce or where a spouse is not represented, the judge has more discretion in deciding whether or not a settlement agreement is … [Read more...] about Does The Judge Decide Whether Our Settlement Is Acceptable?

No, all three terms refer to the same thing. Whatever you call it, in New York, courts make an effort to ensure that the contributions made to a marriage by the spouse who wasn’t the “breadwinner” don’t go uncompensated if the marriage ends. While one spouse may have outstanding achievements in … [Read more...] about Is There A Difference Between Alimony, Spousal Support, And Spousal Maintenance?