File For Divorce In New York »

Brette McWhorter Sember is a former New York state attorney and skilled mediator. She was on the Law Guardian panel in four counties and acted as a volunteer mediator for the Better Business Bureau. Sember is an expert at explaining and simplifying legal concepts. She has written more than 30 books, including File for Divorce in New York, Tenant's Rights in New York, Landlord's Rights in New York, The Complete Legal Guide to Senior Care, The Complete Credit Repair Kit, The Infertility Answer Book, The Adoption Answer Book, How to Parent with Your Ex, Gay & Lesbian Legal Rights, How to Form a Corporation in New York, Child Custody, Visitation, and Support in New York, Seniors' Rights and many more. Her web site is BretteSember.com.

Sember has authored The Visitation Handbook: Your Complete Guide to Parenting Apart, Child Custody, Visitation and Support in New York as well as six other Sphinx consumer legal titles. She teaches a course about life after divorce and writes frequently about parenting and family life.

File for Divorce in New York simplifies and explains everything you need to know to work with an attorney or handle your case on your own.

Using Self-Help Law Books -
Introduction -
Chapter 1: Deciding to Divorce -
Understanding the Meaning of Divorce
Considering Your Options
Getting Help
Weighing the Choices

Chapter 2: New York's Divorce Process
Divorce Terms
Costs
Divorce vs. Annulment
Legal Separation vs. Divorce
Court System
Divorce Laws in New York
Issues Resolved by Divorce
Divorce Prerequisites in New York
Ways to Get a Divorce in New York
Grounds for Divorce

Chapter 3: Working With an Attorney
Deciding If You Need an Attorney
Finding an Attorney
Choosing an Attorney
Understanding Attorney Charges
Affording an Attorney
Learning Law Office Procedures
Cooperating with Your Attorney
Identifying Problems with Your Attorney
Changing Your Attorney
Representing Yourself

Chapter 4: Alternative Procedures to Divorce -
Mediation
Arbitration

Chapter 5: Custody and Visitation -
The Language of Custody
Thinking about Custody
Understanding How Custody Is Decided
Preparing for a Custody Case
Talking to Your Child about Custody
Court Procedures
Settlements
Visitation Schedules
Experts for Child and Parent Evaluation

Chapter 6: Child Support -
Child Support Laws
Determining Child Support
Varieties of Child Support
Other Kinds of Support
Taxes
Presenting a Child Support Case
Child Support Hearings

Chapter 7: Financial Survival -
Maintenance
Property Division

Chapter 8: The Court System and Court Procedures
Court Personnel
Courtroom Manners
OrganizingDocuments and Managing Deadlines
Trials and Hearings

Chapter 9: Temporary Assistance -
Determining If You Need a Temporary Order
Seeking a Temporary Order

Chapter 10: Separation -
Understanding the Meaning of Separation
Getting a Separation
Separation Agreement
Filing for Separation
Converting Separation to Divorce

Chapter 11: Uncontested Divorce -
Uncontested Divorce Forms
Defendants
Step-by-Step Procedure for Uncontested Divorce

Chapter 12: Contested Divorce -
Avoiding a Contested Divorce
Differences from an Uncontested Divorce
Understanding Discovery
Property and Debt in a Contested Case
Custody and Visitation
Child Support
Maintenance
Grounds
Settling
Judgment of Divorce
Defendants
Appeals

Chapter 13: Special Situations -
Domestic Violence
Child Abuse
Parental Kidnapping
Poor Person Status
Difficulty Locating Your Spouse
Common Law Marriage
No Fault Divorce
Community Property
Changing the Locks
Prenuptial Agreements

Chapter 14: Life after Divorce -
Finalizing Your Divorce
Changing Your Name
Coping with Changes in Your New Life
Helping Your Children Cope
Coping as a Single Parent
Surviving Financially
Modifying Your Judgment of Divorce

Glossary -

Appendix A: Other Resources -

Appendix B: New York Statutes -

Appendix C: Blank Forms -

Index