Contested Divorce Lawyer Brooklyn

Not every Brooklyn divorce can be resolved by agreement. When spouses disagree about the grounds for divorce, custody, support, or how to divide marital property, the case becomes a contested matter that Kings County Supreme Court must resolve through litigation rather than a negotiated settlement alone. A contested divorce demands more from both the client and the attorney handling the case, since disputed issues must be developed with evidence and presented persuasively to the court. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents Brooklyn spouses through the full course of a contested divorce, from the initial pleadings through trial if the case does not settle.

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., is individually admitted to practice law in New York, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey, and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys assist with Brooklyn contested divorce matters alongside him. Every contested case is different, and the firm evaluates each client’s disputed issues individually rather than applying a one-size-fits-all litigation strategy. The firm does not offer free consultations; a consultation can be scheduled by calling the firm. The firm’s intake line is staffed 24/7 at (888) 437-7747.

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What a Contested Divorce Means in Brooklyn

A divorce becomes contested when the spouses cannot agree on one or more issues the court must resolve before entering a final judgment. That disagreement can involve which ground for divorce applies. N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170 sets out seven grounds a spouse may plead: cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment for a year or more, imprisonment of the defendant for three or more consecutive years, adultery, living apart for six months or more under a separation judgment, living apart for six months or more under a written separation agreement, or the no-fault ground of an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for at least six months. Even where the parties agree the marriage should end, a case becomes contested when they disagree about custody, the amount or duration of maintenance, how to divide marital property, or child support.

Under the no-fault ground in DRL § 170(7), a court cannot enter a divorce judgment until the economic issues of equitable distribution, maintenance, and child support, along with custody and visitation, have been resolved by agreement or by the court. This means that even a divorce filed on the no-fault ground can become fully contested litigation if the spouses cannot agree on these ancillary issues, since the case cannot conclude until they are decided.

Brooklyn spouses in a contested divorce should expect a longer, more document-intensive process than an uncontested case, involving financial disclosure, potentially discovery on disputed issues, and one or more court appearances in Kings County Supreme Court before the disputed issues are resolved, whether by eventual settlement or by the court’s decision after a hearing or trial.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle These Cases

When a Brooklyn client’s divorce becomes contested, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin by identifying exactly which issues are actually disputed, whether that is the ground for divorce itself, custody, maintenance, equitable distribution, or child support, since a case can be contested on some issues while the parties agree on others. That assessment shapes the entire litigation strategy going forward.

The firm then gathers the financial disclosure and other documentation the disputed issues require, whether that involves sworn net worth statements for a property or maintenance dispute or evidence supporting a specific ground for divorce. Where a fault ground under DRL § 170 is contested, the firm evaluates what evidence is available to meet the statutory standard for that ground.

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys represent clients at every stage of a contested Kings County Supreme Court case, including preliminary conferences, motion practice, and, where a case does not settle, a hearing or trial on the disputed issues. The firm also remains open to resolving disputed issues by negotiated settlement at any point in the case where that serves the client’s interests.

Throughout the matter, the firm keeps the client informed about how the disputed issues are developing and what to expect at each stage, without predicting how the court will ultimately rule, since the outcome of contested litigation depends on the specific facts and evidence presented at each hearing.

Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris founded Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. in 1997 and has served as Owner and Founder since. His background as a former prosecutor directly informs how the firm approaches contested litigation, where building and presenting a clear evidentiary record is central to the outcome. He is individually admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, which includes the Brooklyn contested matters the firm handles in Kings County Supreme Court.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. and assist Mr. Sris on Brooklyn contested divorce matters, dividing responsibility for motion practice, discovery, and court appearances based on each case’s needs. The firm’s principal office is in Fairfax, Virginia, and Brooklyn clients are served by appointment. The firm does not offer free consultations; call (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation, and the intake line is staffed 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Brooklyn divorce contested rather than uncontested?

A divorce is contested when the spouses disagree on one or more issues the court must resolve, such as the ground for divorce, custody, maintenance, equitable distribution, or child support, requiring the court to decide those issues rather than simply approve an agreement.

Which grounds for divorce can be disputed in a contested case?

Any of the seven grounds under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170 can be disputed, including the fault grounds of cruelty, abandonment, imprisonment, and adultery, the separation-based grounds, and the no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown, which itself requires resolution of economic and custody issues before judgment.

Can a divorce filed on the no-fault ground still become contested?

Yes. DRL § 170(7) requires that equitable distribution, maintenance, child support, and custody and visitation be resolved before a judgment can be entered, so a no-fault filing can still involve fully contested litigation over those ancillary issues.

How long does a contested Brooklyn divorce typically take?

Timelines vary significantly based on how many issues are disputed, the complexity of the parties’ finances, and the Kings County Supreme Court’s calendar, and the firm does not project a specific timeline without first reviewing a client’s particular circumstances.

Can a contested divorce still settle before trial?

Yes. Many contested cases resolve by negotiated settlement at some point before trial, and the firm remains open to settlement throughout the litigation process where it serves the client’s interests, while continuing to prepare the case in the event it does not settle.

This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.