fbpx
Skip to content
 

DivorceMarriageCan I File for Divorce in New York If My Spouse Has Moved Out of State?

May 18, 2016

When a marriage deteriorates and one spouse moves out of the marital residence, they sometimes move way out. When way out is out of New York and the New York spouse  wants to divorce, where will the divorce take place?

New York Domestic Relations Law, Sections 230 and 231 define the residency requirements for filing a divorce action. The statutes provide that a divorce action can proceed in New York only if:

  • The parties were married in the state and either party is a New York resident when the action is commenced and has been a resident for a continuous period of one year immediately prior to filing, or
  • The parties  have  resided  in this state as husband and wife and either party is a New York resident when the action is commenced and has been a resident for a  continuous  period of one year prior to filing, or
  • The cause occurred in the  state  and  either  party  has  been  a New York resident   for  a  continuous  period  of  at  least  one  year immediately prior to filing, or
  • The cause occurred in the state and both  parties are New York residents thereof at the time of the commencement of the action, or
  • Either party has been a resident of New York for a continuous period of at least two years immediately prior to filing the divorce action.

As a result of no-fault divorce, which simply requires that the marriage irretrievably has broken down for six months preceding the commencement of the divorce, the residency requirement will be satisfied if one souse lives in New York at the time of commencement  and for one year preceding  the divorce.

If you file for divorce in New York, the other spouse will still have to be personally served with the summons and required notices.  Service can be made in another jurisdiction. If the out-of-state spouse cannot be located or is actively avoiding being served, an motion can be made to provide for some alternative means of service, whether by “nail and mail,” publication and most recently, via social media.

If there are children involved, interstate divorce proceedings can become much more complicated. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act is a uniform law, applied in all fifty states, used to determine which state has the most compelling interest to decide interstate child custody disputes. Custody, visitation, and support issues involving multiple jurisdictions and state laws make having a divorce attorney experienced in interstate divorce matters all that more important.

If you have questions or concerns about interstate divorce or custody matter, please give Clement Law a call at (212) 683-9551 of fill out our online form to arrange for a consultation. We look forward to assisting you.

The information contained in this website has been provided for general informational purposes only and DOES NOT constitute legal advice; there is no warranty on this information and it does not in any way constitute an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. All individuals are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their specific situation and facts. 

THIS SITE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COMPETENT AND INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE.

Further, e-mails or other correspondence with any member of this firm does not create an attorney-client relationship without the explicit written agreement between the parties

Call Now Button