New York Family Law Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced New York family law attorneys who can navigate New York’s equitable distribution and the post-2010 no-fault framework.

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Matched with a New York attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free New York family law case review

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How we match your New York family law case

When you submit a New York family law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A family law matter needs someone who handles family law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under New York law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in New York who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a family law claim in New York

Day 0
You decide to act.
Separation, custody, support or a modification. Gather financials, the children’s schedules and any agreements or orders that already exist.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A New York family law attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Weeks 1–4
Filing and disclosures.
The petition is filed and both sides exchange financial disclosures. Temporary orders for custody or support can be requested early in New York.
Months 1–6
Negotiation or mediation.
Most cases settle here — parenting plans, division of property, support. Your attorney negotiates from the disclosures, not from guesses.
If it doesn’t settle
Hearing or trial.
Contested issues go before a judge. Preparation matters more than argument; your attorney builds the file for it from day one.
Resolution
Final order.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Residency Requirement: 1 year
1 year in New York (or 2 years if not married/lived in NY) under DRL § 230
Property Division System: Equitable distribution
Equitable distribution across 14 factors (DRL § 236(B)(5))
Custody Standard: Best interests
Best interests under DRL § 240 and Eschbach v. Eschbach factors
Child Support Guidelines: CSSA Income
CSSA Income Shares — DRL § 240(1-b); FCA § 413 (parallel Family Court)
Spousal Support Framework: Post-divorce maintenance
Post-divorce maintenance with presumptive formula under DRL § 236(B)(6); temporary maintenance under DRL § 236(B)(5-a)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

New York became the last state to allow no-fault divorce in 2010 — Domestic Relations Law § 170(7) permits divorce on the ground that the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least 6 months. New York retains 6 fault grounds (cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, imprisonment, adultery, judgment of separation, separation agreement). Residency is 1 year in New York (or 2 years for non-NY-married couples without NY ground) under DRL § 230. New York is an equitable distribution state under DRL § 236(B) — marital property is divided equitably across 14 statutory factors. The 2016 maintenance reform created presumptive maintenance formulas under DRL § 236(B)(5-a) and § 236(B)(6). Custody is decided under DRL § 240 best-interests factors. New York uses Income Shares under DRL § 240(1-b) — the CSSA (Child Support Standards Act).

Exhibit B

When to call a family law attorney in New York

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Family Law cases we take in New York

Which one is closest to yours?

Uncontested divorce

When both spouses agree on all terms, New York allows finalization via the uncontested divorce packet (DIY) or stipulation. Faster than contested.

Sound like yours? A New York attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do New York family law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

New York · Family Law

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Family Law matters in New York are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Family law cases in New York are not handled on contingency. New York Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(d)(5) — patterned on ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) — prohibits contingent fees in domestic relations matters where the fee is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of maintenance, support, or property settlement. New York family law attorneys charge hourly (billed against a retainer) or a flat fee for uncontested matters. Courts may award fees under DRL § 237 with a presumption favoring the less-monied spouse.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit E

What your New York family law compensation can include

A New York family law recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Property Division

Equitable distribution under DRL § 236(B)(5) — 14-factor analysis. Separate property (premarital, gifts, inheritance, personal injury) exempt.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

New York family law questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a New York attorney will review it for free.

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Uncontested divorces in New York typically finalize 3–6 months after filing (depending on court backlogs in venues like Manhattan or Brooklyn). Contested cases generally take 12–24 months or longer in heavy NYC dockets.

Yes — since October 2010. Under DRL § 170(7), New York allows divorce on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably for at least 6 months. New York retains 6 fault grounds (cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment for 1+ years, imprisonment for 3+ years, adultery, decree of separation, and 1-year separation under a written agreement).

For no-fault under § 170(7), only that the marriage has been broken for 6+ months (a verbal assertion). For ground 5 (decree of separation) or ground 6 (separation agreement) — 1 year of separation required. Most modern divorces use § 170(7) and avoid the separation requirements.

New York is an equitable distribution state. Marital property is divided equitably (not necessarily equally) under DRL § 236(B)(5) across 14 factors including income and property at marriage and filing, duration, age and health, need to occupy marital home, loss of inheritance, contributions to acquisition (including homemaker), tax consequences, dissipation, and others. Separate property (premarital, gifts, inheritance, compensation for personal injury) remains with the owner.

New York applies a best-interests standard under DRL § 240 and Eschbach v. Eschbach factors — quality of the home environment, parental guidance, financial stability, parental fitness, sibling and family relationships, child’s wishes, and any history of domestic violence. There is no statutory presumption for joint custody — courts award custody based on totality of circumstances.

New York uses the CSSA under DRL § 240(1-b) — an Income Shares model. The non-custodial parent pays a percentage of combined parental income (17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, 35%+ for five) on combined income up to the statutory cap ($183,000 as of 2024), with court discretion above the cap.

Yes. Custody can be modified on a substantial change in circumstances. Child support requires a 15%+ change or 3 years elapsed or change in financial circumstances. Maintenance modification depends on the decree’s terms. Property division (Equitable Distribution Judgment) is final.

Family Law attorneys by city in New York

Same New York rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in New York

All New York practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysNew York holds dog owners strictly liable for bites only if the owner knew the dog was vicious — ordinary negligence claims for the bite itself are largely barred.

Business Dispute attorneysNew York’s Commercial Division handles cases over $500K — and the state’s recently strengthened non-compete enforcement rules cut both ways.

Car Accident attorneysNew York’s no-fault auto regime means most minor cases stay with your own insurer — but a "serious injury" opens the door to suing the other driver.

Consumer Protection attorneysNew York’s deceptive-practices and false-advertising laws let consumers recover triple damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees — a workhorse for everyday claims.

Criminal Defense attorneysNew York’s 2019 discovery and bail reforms reshaped criminal practice — your attorney needs to know how the new evidence-sharing timelines interact with NYC DA offices.

Defective Product attorneysNew York is one of the leading states for products-liability law — its courts established strict liability for defective products and have shaped duty-to-warn doctrine for decades.

Employment attorneysThe NYS Human Rights Law is broader than federal law (1 employee minimum), and NYC’s Human Rights Law is broader still — both with longer filing deadlines than federal.

Immigration attorneysNYC has one of the highest immigration-case loads in the country — the New York immigration court calendar is years out, so motions to advance matter.

Lemon Law attorneysNew York’s Lemon Law covers both new and used cars — and the state’s Lemon Law arbitration program is a real alternative to suit.

Medical Malpractice attorneysNew York has no damages cap, but judgments over $250K are paid out in installments over time — and state law caps your attorney’s contingency fee on a sliding scale.

Personal Injury attorneysNew York’s 3-year injury filing deadline and pure comparative fault are generous — but no-fault auto and the construction-site "scaffold law" carve out their own rules.

Slip and Fall attorneysNew York City requires written notice to the City within 90 days of municipal-property claims — miss it and your case is gone.

Social Security Disability attorneysNew York SSA hearing offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx are among the busiest nationwide — counsel helps you climb the hearing queue.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysThe NYS Workers’ Compensation Board runs claims through lump-sum settlements and Independent Medical Examinations — process matters as much as facts.

New York Family Law Attorneys

How we match your New York family law case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a family law claim in New York

You decide to act.

Tell us what happened.

Filing and disclosures.

Negotiation or mediation.

Hearing or trial.

Final order.

When to call a family law attorney in New York

Family Law cases we take in New York

Uncontested divorce

Contested divorce

Child custody (legal and physical)

Child support and modification (CSSA)

Maintenance (spousal support)

Premarital and postnuptial agreements

Paternity actions

Adoption

Grandparent visitation rights

Orders of Protection

Same-sex marriage and divorce

Military divorce

How much do New York family law attorneys cost?

What your New York family law compensation can include

Property Division

Maintenance

Child Support

Custody and Parenting Time

Attorney’s Fees

Protective Orders

New York family law questions, answered

Family Law attorneys by city in New York

Other case types in New York

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