International Divorce Lawyer Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s population includes many residents with connections to other countries, whether through birth, marriage abroad, a spouse living overseas, or assets and family located outside the United States. When a marriage has this kind of international dimension, a divorce filed in Kings County can raise questions that a purely local case does not, from how to serve a spouse who lives abroad to how foreign assets, income, or a prior foreign legal proceeding might factor into the case. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents Brooklyn residents whose divorce involves an international element, working through these added layers alongside the same New York divorce framework that applies to every case filed here.

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 Brooklyn clients with international divorce matters alongside him. Because the specific facts of an international case, including where a spouse resides and what property or agreements exist abroad, vary enormously, the firm reviews each client’s circumstances individually. 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 International Divorce Means in Brooklyn

A divorce filed by a Brooklyn resident proceeds under the same grounds available to any New York filer: the seven grounds set out in N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170, including cruelty, abandonment, imprisonment, adultery, the two separation-based grounds, and the no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown for at least six months, sworn to by one party, under which a judgment cannot be entered until the case’s economic and custody issues are resolved. An international element does not change which grounds are available; it changes the practical steps needed to bring the case to judgment.

When a spouse lives outside the United States, serving that spouse with the divorce papers, and confirming that service meets the requirements a Kings County court will accept, becomes an early and often pivotal issue in the case. Where the marriage has connections to another country’s legal system, questions can also arise about whether a prior foreign proceeding affects the New York case, and about how property or income located abroad should be addressed as part of equitable distribution or maintenance. Because these jurisdictional and procedural questions depend heavily on the specific country involved and the specific facts of the marriage, Brooklyn residents with an international divorce should expect that their case will require more individualized planning than a case with no cross-border element.

Custody and child-related issues can also take on an international dimension where a child has lived in, or has connections to, another country, and where family members involved in the case reside abroad. These issues are addressed under New York’s best-interests framework once the matter is before a Kings County court, but the practical logistics of an international family situation add complexity that a purely local custody matter does not present.

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

When a Brooklyn client’s divorce has an international element, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin by identifying exactly what makes the case cross-border: whether a spouse resides abroad, whether assets or income are located outside the United States, whether a prior foreign legal proceeding exists, or whether a child has connections to another country. That assessment shapes the practical steps the case will require from the outset.

Where a spouse must be served abroad, the firm works to identify and complete a method of service that will be accepted by Kings County Supreme Court given the specific country involved. Where foreign assets or income are part of the marital estate, the firm works to gather the financial documentation needed to address those items under New York’s equitable distribution and maintenance framework.

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys prepare the pleadings and supporting documentation the case requires, coordinate with the client on any additional steps an international element demands, and represent the client through appearances in Kings County Supreme Court as the case proceeds toward judgment on the applicable DRL § 170 ground.

Throughout the matter, the firm explains what the international element of the case is likely to require in practical terms, without promising a particular timeline or outcome, since cross-border logistics and any related foreign legal considerations can affect how the case unfolds in ways that are specific to each client’s circumstances.

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 and his accounting and information systems background from George Mason University both support the document-intensive work that an international divorce often requires. He is individually admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, which includes the Brooklyn 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 international divorce matters. 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

Can I file for divorce in Brooklyn if my spouse lives in another country?

New York’s grounds for divorce under DRL § 170 do not depend on where a spouse lives, but serving a spouse who resides abroad requires a method of service that meets the requirements a Kings County court will accept, which the firm addresses based on the specific country involved.

Which grounds for divorce apply if my marriage has an international element?

The same seven grounds under DRL § 170 apply regardless of any international connection, including the no-fault ground, which requires a sworn statement of irretrievable breakdown for at least six months and resolution of economic and custody issues before judgment.

How are foreign assets handled in a Brooklyn divorce?

Assets located abroad are generally addressed under New York’s equitable distribution framework once properly disclosed, though gathering documentation for foreign holdings can require additional steps compared to domestic assets.

Does a prior foreign divorce or separation proceeding affect a New York case?

Whether a prior foreign proceeding affects a New York filing depends on the specific facts, and the firm reviews any such proceeding individually before advising a client on how it may factor into a Brooklyn divorce.

What happens with custody if our child has lived abroad?

Custody is addressed under New York’s best-interests framework once the matter is before a Kings County court, though a child’s connections to another country can add practical complexity to how the case is presented and resolved.

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.