DIVORCE BASICS
First, identify what you own and what property you got during the marriage. Dig out all written proofs before they disappear. In my office, I firmly believe that a friendly letter to another attorney or to a spouse goes a long way in saving money for attorney?s fees. You should talk to your spouse before you see an attorney. You can see if you can agree on amounts of child support, custody, visitation, health insurance and child care. Any good attorney will tell you whether the things you agreed to are too much or not enough.
Marriage is a legal bond. Because of this, it requires a legal ending. Many of my clients do not realize that you must be sued or get sued to bring a divorce. Suing means you go to Court, pay a bunch of fees and get a Judge assigned. It is only a Judge who can sign an Order stating that the marriage bond is over. There is no other way to do it. It must be done in Supreme Court New York. There is a Supreme Court in every County in the State of New York.
Just to get to first base, if you have a divorce, there are filing fees of no less than $400. A divorce can cost between $500 and $500,000 before additional amounts for expenses and costs that do not go to the attorney for his fee.