Divorce is never a one-size-fits-all process. You might undergo a very different set of procedures depending on if your divorce is collaborative, contested or uncontested.
Starting in March of 2022, the New York courts allow filing through the Uncontested Joint Divorce Pilot Project in certain counties. As this program expands to other New York counties, you can make the most of it by understanding the benefits of an uncontested divorce and knowing how to file.
What is an uncontested joint divorce?
Filing a joint petition for divorce is a mutual decision that allows both spouses to file together. This typically implies that there is no fault and little to no conflict in the divorce. Dissolution can proceed smoothly with both parties finding a functional compromise on the major terms of the divorce, such as child custody and asset division.
How can you file for an uncontested divorce?
Filing for divorce through the New York joint divorce pilot project entails submitting the necessary forms with your spouse, rather than filing against your spouse as an instigator for the divorce. The New York courts provide an Uncontested Joint Divorce Information Booklet that details the entire process and required forms. You can then submit the completed forms to the County Clerk’s Office.
Filing for an uncontested divorce is often a preferable option for couples who are mutual in their decision to dissolve the marriage and are amicable on the terms of the divorce. The New York court system allows for easy progress through the joint divorce process by establishing a project that outlines the necessary steps along the way.
