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    When your marriage is no longer savable despite your efforts, you have to make a difficult choice. You are probably considering divorce as the best option for you and your children. A divorce can be achieved in different ways. If there are important issues that you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse have not yet agreed upon, filing for a contested divorce in New York may be the best option. This type of divorce can be very lengthy, stressful and expensive, but may be necessary to ensure your rights are protected and for you to get what you truly deserve.

    Paul E Rudder, Esq. is an experienced NYC contested divorce lawyer who will work with you in getting results favorable to you. Mr. Rudder has been providing aggressive and zealous legal representation to clients dealing with divorce and family issues, helping them protect and fight for their rights to just asset distribution, child custody and support, spousal maintenance and other important issues. Call (212) 826-9900 today to set up a consultation.

    What Is A Contested Divorce?

    A contested divorce is when you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse are unable to come to an agreement about the essential divorce terms. This type of divorce requires a trial and the judge will base its decisions on divorce case facts and testimonies of witnesses. Often, the judge will make decisions that are just and suitable for divorcing couples. It is recommended to seek legal advice from an experienced divorce attorney to make sure your rights are protected.

    When Should You Consider Filing For A Contested Divorce in New York?

    A contested divorce is a good option if both parties cannot settle anything on their own. The family court’s intervention will help ensure a better proceeding and allows you to fight what you truly deserve.

    This type of divorce is advisable if the disputing couple have substantial assets and joint back accounts. The proceeding will also help identify hidden assets. The distribution of assets will also be decided by the judge and are often fairly divided.

    Additionally, if you have minor children to fight custody over and you have legitimate concerns about why you should have the sole custody of your kids, bringing the matters to court will help.

    The Contested Divorce Process in New York

    If you and your spouse cannot resolve the terms amicably, you can file for a divorce petition in your local court. Your spouse will then be served with divorce papers and needs to respond in a certain period of time. If your spouse disagrees with your demands, both of you will be required to appear in family court and defend yourselves. How long does a contested divorce trial in NY take? For simple contested cases, it can last not more than a day. For complex divorce cases like those that involve child custody disputes, it can take weeks or months.

    Top 10 Tips for Preparing for A Contested Divorce in New York

    When you’re preparing for a contested divorce, consider these important tips:

    1. Know your exact debts.
    2. List all your assets.
    3. Avoid harmful legal advice from family and friends.
    4. Hire a good therapist to deal with the emotional stress of divorce.
    5. If your lawyer ignores your calls, hire a more reliable one.
    6. Get organized so you can respond to your lawyer’s questions quickly.
    7. Keep a journal (if custody will be contested) of all dates and notable events as they happen with your young children.
    8. Know your income. You can obtain copies of your tax transcripts here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf.
    9. Understand what no-fault means in New York State.
    10. Create a list of questions for your first legal consultation with a contested divorce attorney in NYC.

    When you have all these important things in place in advance, it will make your divorce journey a lot easier to bear.

    Outstanding Legal Representation By An Experienced Contested Divorce Attorney in Manhattan

    Divorces are not simple. When facing a contested divorce in New York City, do not hesitate to contact our law firm. Paul E Rudder, Esq. provides aggressive and zealous representation. Mr. Rudder has been accepted to The National Advocates: Top 100 and is recognized as one of the top lawyers in the country.

    Mr. Rudder will be on your side, protecting your rights and will aggressively represent your best interests. If you are considering a divorce in New York and would like to know more about your legal options, set up a consultation today with the most trusted contested divorce attorney in Manhattan! Call (212) 826-9900.

    Resource:

    New York Contested Divorce Timeline – https://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/divorce_timeline.shtml