White Plains Divorce Lawyers Pursue Favorable Terms for Spouses

Skillful firm serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties

Facing divorce can seem confusing and frustrating, but no matter what conflicts exist, the attorneys of Carton & Rosoff PC in White Plains are determined to find creative, positive solutions as your marriage ends. We work diligently to relieve the burden of spouses going through a divorce or separation and to help them focus on the future.  Whether the best way to dissolve your marriage is through litigation, collaboration or mediation, our experienced Westchester County family lawyers are committed to delivering capable, compassionate counsel at cost-effective rates.

Accomplished attorneys explain the rules governing marriage dissolution

Divorce isn’t easy, but with strong support from an experienced family lawyer, you’ll have the information you need pertaining to key legal concepts, such as:

• No-fault divorce —New Yorkers seeking to end their marriage now have the ability to obtain a no-fault divorce if one party swears that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for a period of at least six months. Fault-based actions are still permitted under the Domestic Relations Law if a spouse chooses to allege misconduct such as adultery or abandonment.
• Contested and uncontested cases — When divorcing couples can agree on all relevant terms, they can proceed to an uncontested divorce. When they are unable to do so, we can represent them in contested divorces while always looking for ways to relieve the emotional and financial burdens for our clients.
• Legal separation — If you’re not ready to finalize a divorce but wish to live apart, our experienced family lawyers will discuss legal separation with you and work to achieve consensus on issues such as child support and maintenance payments.

For clients in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Rockland counties and New York City, our attorneys make every effort to help divorcing spouse start the next chapter in their lives on the right foot.

Effective New York advisers handle child custody and support issues

When divorcing spouses are raising their children, it’s important to make proper arrangements for where children will live (physical custody) and who will make key decisions about their welfare (legal custody).  Though it’s usually desirable for parents to agree on these issues, it’s not always possible. In those cases, judges make decisions based on what they believe to be in the child’s best interests. Establishing appropriate parenting time arrangements, including scheduling for holidays and vacations, is a critical part of creating a supportive environment for young people going through a difficult time. New York’s child support standards set guidelines for the percentage of a noncustodial parent’s income that should be paid to address the needs of their children. Our lawyers advocate for clients in these matters to maximize the likelihood of a fair child support award and see that orders are obeyed.

Dedicated advocates represent paying and recipient parties in alimony cases

Over the course of a marriage, the assets and debts of spouses are intertwined while each party takes on a specific role within the household. Upon separation or divorce, a husband or wife who did not work outside the home could face dire financial circumstances. To make sure that both spouses have the ability to meet their needs, spousal support or spousal maintenance payments can be mandated. Through a court order or agreement of the parties, alimony can be awarded on a temporary basis while the divorce is pending and/or after the marriage is dissolved. The length and amount of spousal support depends heavily on the parties’ particular circumstances. It might end when the recipient ex-spouse is expected to become self-supporting. Other causes for termination include the remarriage of the recipient or retirement of the paying former spouse.

Proven family lawyers strive to secure fair property division terms

The division of marital property can be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce. Relying on accountants and other experts when necessary, we develop a thorough analysis of assets and debts, including real estate, personal items, bank accounts, investments and other items. From there, we assess whether any key assets should be classified as separate property because they were owned prior to the marriage or inherited by one spouse. As the couple usually has the best grasp of their situation, we seek to work out an agreement concerning property division. If that is not possible, we press for a proper result under New York’s equitable distribution law, where judges evaluate numerous factors to decide what they think is fair.

Contact a trustworthy Westchester County divorce lawyer to schedule a meeting

Carton & Rosoff PC advocates on behalf of divorcing spouses throughout the Hudson Valley and in New York City. To make an appointment to discuss your situation at our White Plains office, please call 914-949-6700 or contact us online.