New York Family Law Courts encourage divorcing couples to settle their differences. This includes working to settle issues surrounding financial matters, children, and other elements associated with the dissolution of a marriage. This is undertaken through the process of negotiation between the divorcing spouses, with the aid and assistance of their lawyers.

When spouses reach agreement in regard to issues in a divorce case, those decisions are incorporated into a settlement agreement, according to Cornell Law School. The settlement agreement is then signed by both spouses and submitted to the court for approval. The settlement agreement is made part of the final divorce decree, once it has been approved by the court.

You may have reached a juncture in your divorce case at which an attempt at settling the case is not working, at least in your mind. You and your spouse may have prepared a draft settlement agreement. Your spouse may have signed the document, but you have not.

You spouse may not be threatening to submit the settlement agreement to the court without your signature. You may now wonder what effect your spouse’s submission of a settlement agreement to the court without your signature.

A Settlement Agreement is a Binding Contract

At its essence, a settlement agreement is a binding a contract. A contract does not come into existence unless and until both parties have signed the document. If you have not signed the settlement agreement as of this time, for one reason or another, there is no binding contract between you and your spouse. Therefore, even if your spouse submits a settlement agreement without your signature to the court, that will not bind you to the agreement.

Further Court Proceedings

The submission of a partially unsigned settlement agreement to the court is likely to spur the judge to set the case for further proceedings. These could include a settlement conference involving the court.

A settlement conference before the court is a situation in which the judge brings the parties to a divorce together, along with their attorneys. The court will explore the possibility that the court can still be settlement. The judge is also apt to require the parties and their attorneys to spend some time discussing a settlement while at the courthouse.

Divorce Trial

If you do not reach a juncture at which you are willing to sign a settlement agreement, the final phase of a New York divorce case is a trial. The court ultimately will schedule the matter for a trial.

A divorce trial is quite like a trial in other types of cases. However, the primary difference is that a divorce trial is before the judge and not a judge and jury.

When a divorce trial occurs, both you and your spouse will have the opportunity to present your cases to the court. The judge will then make decisions regarding issues upon which you and your spouse have not reached an agreement in your divorce case. Ultimately, after considering all the evidence, the Family Court will issue a final decree in your marriage dissolution case.

Retain a New York Divorce Lawyer

Due to the complexities of a marriage dissolution case, you likely best protect your legal rights and interests by hiring a skilled, experienced New York divorce attorney. The first step in engaging professional legal representation in your divorce case is to schedule an initial consultation.

At an initial consultation, a divorce lawyer will provide you with an evaluation of your case. Legal counsel will also provide you with more detailed issues about matters like a proposed separation agreement that you have elected not to sign. You will have the opportunity to raise any questions that you might have about your particular case or divorce law and Family Court procedure more generally. As a matter of general practice, a New York divorce lawyer typically does not charge a fee for an initial consultation.

Can he file for a divorce if I’ve already filed and served him papers?

Once you’ve filed for divorce and had your spouse served with papers, he won’t be able to file for divorce and will instead need to respond to your divorce petition. There are situations where two divorce petitions can go through, in which case one must be dismissed – typically whichever petition was filed later.

Here’s what you need to know about what happens when both spouses file divorce petitions.

How Your Spouse Could File for Divorce When You’ve Already Filed

After you file for divorce, a clerk will record that divorce petition, and it will be your responsibility to have your spouse served with the divorce paperwork. The length of time you have to serve your spouse varies depending on where you’re located. In New York, the limit is 120 days.

Let’s say that your spouse attempts to file for divorce after you’ve filed but before you’ve had him served the paperwork. If the clerk sees that you’ve already filed for divorce, they won’t let your spouse’s petition go through. If the records haven’t updated yet and the clerk doesn’t realize that you’ve already filed, then they will likely process your spouse’s divorce petition, at which point there will be two divorce petitions, one for each of you.

Once your spouse has been served, this is no longer a concern, as he wouldn’t be able to file divorce papers. This means that it’s in your best interest to serve your spouse as soon as possible after filing for divorce.

What Happens When There Are Two Divorce Petitions

When you and your spouse each file for divorce, one needs to be withdrawn or dismissed. You two can negotiate to decide which petition will be withdrawn. If you can’t come to an agreement, then you can petition the court to dismiss your spouse’s petition. The court will typically dismiss whichever divorce petition was filed later.

Making a Counterclaim

When you file for divorce, you must include the grounds for divorce in the petition. Grounds are the reason for the divorce, and these will depend on whether you’re filing a no-fault divorce, which is available in every state, or a fault divorce, which is available in some states.

With a no-fault divorce, you’re not alleging your spouse was at fault. The grounds for a no-fault divorce are usually irreconcilable differences.

With a fault divorce, you’re alleging that your spouse was at fault for the divorce. You can then attempt to use your spouse’s actions to get a more favorable settlement in the divorce.

When you have your spouse served with divorce paperwork, he must respond in writing with his answer, where he can agree with your petition, deny it, or claim that he can’t agree or deny due to a lack of information. If he denies it, he can include a counterclaim where he presents his own grounds for divorce.

For example, let’s say that you file for divorce on the grounds of abandonment, alleging that your spouse moved out and hasn’t been home in three months. If he has a counterclaim that you committed adultery which prompted him to move out, he could put that in his answer. The case would then depend on the evidence each of you could present to the court.

The divorce process can be stressful and difficult, especially when you’ve never gone through it before. Sometimes spouses attempt to file unnecessary paperwork simply to bog down the process.

A qualified divorce lawyer can guide you as you go through a divorce. Your lawyer can help you get your petition filed properly, recommend a process server to have your spouse served and explain what to do if your spouse files for divorce after you. They could also go to the court in this situation to ask that your spouse’s divorce petition gets dismissed.

Can a separation be used as grounds for divorce?

Separation is a vague term. It’s used in all sorts of different ways. There are numerous types of separations. It’s important to know the differences – because the type of separation you choose can impact things like property rights. It can also impact whether you can get a divorce or not. The following is an overview of the types of separations. Each state has different rules. In some states, you have to be separated in order to qualify for a divorce.

Trial Separation: When couples live apart for a test period, and decide at that point whether or not to separate permanently, it’s called a trial separation. Even if the spouses don’t get back together. The assets and debt accumulated are considered marital property. This means this type of separation isn’t legally recognized.

Living Apart: Spouses who don’t live in the same house are said to be living apart. In some states, living apart without eventually intending on reuniting changes your property rights. In some states, property and debt accumulated when living apart are considered to be separate property. In other states, property is considered joint until a divorce complaint is filed. In some states, couples MUST live apart for a period of time before you can file a no-fault divorce.

Permanent Separation: If a couple decides to split permanently – it’s called a permanent separation. This often comes after a trial separation, or can begin right after a couple start living apart. In most states, any assets and debts incurred during this phase are the property + responsibility of the spouse who incurred them. Debts which happen after the separation, and before the divorce, are considered joint debts.

Legal separation: This is a type of separation that happens when both parties separate, and the court decides on a division of things like property rights, child support, visitation rights, and everything else – but doesn’t grant a divorce. This isn’t very common – but some people have religious reasons, or financial reason, for not wanting a divorce. But they want a court order that addresses all the issues which would be handled in a divorce.

Divorce is a huge decision, and you shouldn’t make it quickly. Divorce can change not only your life – but the life of your children. 1 in 2 marriages end in marriage. Before you consider divorce, speak to your family, speak to your religious leader, and try to get counseling. The best thing possible is to remain married or try to work out a compromise with your spouse.

Divorce cases can be emotionally draining. It’s a good idea to get counseling and support before, and during, the process. You shouldn’t want for your spouse to participate in counseling. You may even want to get individual counseling for yourself. It’s a good idea to try to de-escalate the issues as much as possible. When you’re separated – it’s a good time to get counseling with yourself, and your kids. In some states, where there is a no-fault divorce provision, or where you can file divorce for “irreconcilable differences,” it can be easy to file a divorce – and tempting. You should do your best to work it out first. In the event you have a legitimate reason for divorce, such as spousal abuse, or something else – you should get immediate legal help.

Getting a divorce in any state requires a court judgment that places an official end to the marriage in question. In order for the court to agree to the conclusion of a marriage, there must be a legal grounds, or reason, for the marriage to come to an end. There are numerous factors that can be used as grounds for divorce. A separation is one of these factors, but only in certain circumstances. Understanding what these circumstances are will ensure that you go into the court proceedings fully prepared.

Why a Grounds For Divorce is Necessary

In many cases, people will choose to list a couple of grounds for divorce that they’ve settled on and can prove. Throughout each state, a divorce is only granted if you can prove one ground for the marriage to come to an end. While the only way to be granted a full divorce is to state a grounds for it, something as simple as you not getting along with your spouse any longer is oftentimes sufficient for the court. It’s wise to have a couple of additional reasons as to why the marriage simply won’t work out. In some cases, a separation can be used as a reason.

Can Separation Be Used as Grounds For Divorce?

While separation between you and your spouse can be used as grounds for a divorce, there are some restrictions that apply. While some grounds only need to be supported in writing by both spouses, others need additional proof. If you want to use separation as a grounds for your divorce, it’s essential that you have some extra proof for the court. First, it’s important to note that the only way to use separation as a grounds for divorce is if the separation has lasted a period of one year or longer. This is if the separation was voluntary.

For an involuntary separation, also referred to as a desertion, you can use this as a means for divorce if the separation period is six months or longer before you file for divorce. For a voluntary separation of one year or more, both spouses must have lived in separate places for this duration of time. You can’t use this reason if you’ve gotten back together with your spouse at any point during this period of time. A witness will also need to be available to back up the information you’ve provided the court about the separation. You also won’t be able to imply that your spouse is at fault if using this reason as grounds for divorce.

If the separation isn’t voluntary and can be defined as abandonment or desertion, you will need a witness there to back up the information that’s provided to the court. This witness can’t be the spouse. With both of these separation types, it’s essential that the separation is still ongoing at the time of filing for divorce. If not, you will be unable to use separation as grounds for divorce.

How do I find out if he actually filed for a separation?

A divorce may involve all sorts of steps as the divorce process continues. One step that is commonly taken before the divorce begins is the decision to get a separation. A separation differs from a divorce in many important ways. It is crucial that both parties understand what a separation means for them. It is also crucial that both parties involved in this process understand what happens during a separation and what laws may apply to their personal legal circumstances. It does not constitute the divorce. The process of getting a separation can vary from state to state. Some states do not recognize this process. Other states may have a detailed legal process that must be followed as part of the separation procedures. Anyone who is party to this process should always bear in that such legal procedures need to be followed. Sometimes, people may see a separation on television and think this applies in their case. It is always best to get legal counsel and avoid making such assumptions.

Court Orders

People who are in the process of getting a divorce can go to court and ask for what is known as a legal separation. A legal separation requires that both parties are notified of this fact. The other spouse must be told by law that they have been served with a separation order. They must also agree to comply with the law legally. Separation is a process designed to help couples work out their differences and see if such differences can be reconciled. Any court orders are legally binding documents that both parties need to know about in order for them to be in effect. This means that any kind of court process related to separation must have the person present or someone who is authorized to act on their behalf legally.

Potential Fraud

If one person filed for separation they must tell the other party. If the other party suspects the other party has done so but has not been notified in court, they may have legal recourse. One party claiming to be separated does not mean they actually are meeting the terms of separation under law. In that instance, the person who is being told of the separation should ask to see any legal documents. Under law, these documents and the details indicated in them must be presented to the other party. Keep in mind it is possible to have an informal separation. Under this kind of agreement, both parties agree to adhere to certain terms. However, this may not be put in writing. In that case, the other party should make sure that all terms are known to both of them. For example, one party should understand that the other party will live somewhere else but both parties will continue to share a joint checking account. However, one party may have attempted to file for a separation legally but has failed to meet all necessary legal requirements to other party involved. In that case, there are steps the other party can take. If there is any kind of fraud, the other party involved may face all sorts of legal consequences. They may be arrested for forgery and even charged for other issues related to the decision to file false papers. This can result in serious fines and even jail time if they filed papers that were inaccurate or they told the court an agreement was made if the other party did not agree to it.

Hiring Legal Counsel

If this kind of issue is suspected, it is best to speak with legal counsel as soon as possible. Speaking with a lawyer about this issue has many advantages. A lawyer can find out if any kind of separation order has been filed in any court. They can also look up any kind of other legal issue related to their clients or related to their client’s children. The legal counsel can also help by sorting out any kind of desired separation between the two parties. For example, one party may want to have a divorce while the other does not. In that case, the lawyer can suggest a separation as a common ground. They can begin the process of separation and make sure it is done legally. The lawyer will handle any paperwork. If the parties live in a state where this kind of process is not recognized, they can also work out an informal system that works for both parties.