Guides & Articles
Resources
Plain language guides to divorce, custody, and support in Suffolk County, written by Beau Taylor.
Uncontested Divorce in New York: What It Means and How the Process Works
What makes a New York divorce uncontested, the issues spouses must agree on, the papers that get filed, how long it takes in Suffolk County, and the mistakes that turn a simple case into an expensive one.
What Can You Do When the Other Parent Won’t Follow a Custody Order?
Missed exchanges, withheld parenting time, ignored decision making rights: how to document violations of a New York custody order, what not to do, and when and how to go to Family Court for enforcement.
Orders of Protection in New York Family Court: How They Work
Who can file a family offense petition in Suffolk County Family Court, how a temporary order of protection is issued, what the order can require, how long it lasts, what happens if it is violated, and how it affects custody.
What to Expect at Your First Family Court Appearance in Central Islip
A walkthrough of your first day in Suffolk County Family Court: where to go, what to bring, how the calendar call works, what the judge actually decides on day one, and the mistakes that hurt people before the case has even started.
How Spousal Maintenance Is Calculated in New York
New York's maintenance guidelines explained: the two formulas, the income cap, how long maintenance lasts, temporary versus post divorce maintenance, when the court deviates, taxes, and what ends it.
Grandparent Visitation Rights in New York
When New York grandparents have standing to ask for visitation, how the two step test works, what the court weighs against a parent's objection, grandparent custody under extraordinary circumstances, and how to file in Suffolk County.
What a Court Evaluator Does in an Article 81 Guardianship
What happens after a guardianship petition is filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court: who the Court Evaluator is, what the evaluator investigates, the statutory questions the report must answer, how the hearing works, and how families can prepare.
How Long Does a Divorce Take in New York?
Realistic timelines for uncontested and contested divorces in Suffolk County, what slows a case down, and how to shorten it.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost on Long Island?
Flat fees, retainers, hourly rates, court costs, and who pays the lawyers. A plain explanation of what a Suffolk County divorce costs and how to keep it down.
Equitable Distribution in New York: Marital vs. Separate Property
How New York divides property in a divorce: what counts as marital property, what stays separate, how the house, pensions, and businesses are handled, and why equitable does not always mean equal.
How Child Support Is Calculated in New York
The Child Support Standards Act formula step by step: combined income, percentages by number of children, the income cap, add on expenses, imputed income, and when the court deviates from the formula.
What to Bring to Your First Consultation With a Divorce Lawyer
A practical checklist for your first meeting with a Suffolk County divorce or family law attorney, and what to expect during the consultation.
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