International Divorce Lawyer Nassau County

A divorce does not stop being a New York case just because one spouse lives overseas, the couple holds property in another country, or the marriage itself was performed abroad. Nassau County residents facing these cross-border complications still file in the New York State trial courts in Nassau County, and the underlying grounds for divorce and the rules for dividing marital property do not change because of the international facts involved. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents spouses in Nassau County whose divorce involves an out-of-country spouse, foreign assets, or a parallel proceeding filed in another country. What does change in these cases is the practical work: serving a spouse abroad, gathering evidence located in another country, and coordinating with a foreign court or proceeding can add real complexity even though the legal grounds stay the same. Call (888) 437-7747 to request a scheduled consultation and discuss the international facts of a specific case.

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The Same New York Grounds Apply, Regardless of Cross-Border Facts

New York’s divorce grounds are set out in N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170, and the same seven grounds apply whether or not the marriage or the parties have any connection to another country. This includes the no-fault ground at § 170(7), which allows a divorce based on an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for a period of at least six months and does not require either spouse to prove fault. A spouse living abroad, a marriage performed outside the United States, or a parallel proceeding pending in a foreign court does not create a separate or different set of grounds for divorce in New York; the same statutory grounds that apply to any other New York divorce apply here as well.

What the international facts do affect is the surrounding procedure rather than the underlying grounds. Locating and serving a spouse who lives outside the United States, gathering financial records or other evidence held in another country, and understanding how a parallel proceeding filed abroad may interact with a New York case are practical issues that a case with international facts often presents. These issues are addressed on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific countries and facts involved, and an attorney familiar with the case reviews those details before recommending an approach.

Equitable Distribution Applies to Marital Assets Located Abroad

Under N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 236(B)(5), New York’s equitable distribution rules apply to marital property regardless of where that property is physically located. A bank account, investment, business interest, or piece of real estate held in another country is still subject to equitable distribution in a New York divorce if it qualifies as marital property, just as it would be if it were located in Nassau County.

In practice, assets held abroad can be harder to identify and value than domestic assets, and gathering documentation about a foreign account or property interest may take additional time and coordination. The equitable distribution analysis itself, however, still proceeds under the same statutory framework that applies to any other New York divorce involving marital property. A Nassau County attorney handling an international divorce reviews what is known about foreign-held assets, works to identify what documentation is available, and applies the equitable distribution framework to those assets alongside any property located in New York.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris is the Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., which he founded in 1997. A former prosecutor, Mr. Sris is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He attended George Mason University, where he developed a background in accounting and information systems, which he applies when reviewing financial records connected to cases involving assets held in more than one country.

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys represent Nassau County spouses in divorces that involve an out-of-country spouse, assets held abroad, or a parallel foreign proceeding, reviewing the specific countries and facts involved before recommending next steps. The firm does not offer free consultations; a prospective client may request a scheduled consultation by calling the intake line, which is staffed 24/7. The firm does not maintain a physical location in Nassau County. Consultations are conducted by appointment. Because international facts can complicate service, evidence-gathering, and coordination with a foreign proceeding, the firm does not guarantee any particular timeline or outcome in these cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does living outside the United States change the grounds for divorce in New York?

No. The same seven grounds set out in N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 170, including the no-fault ground at § 170(7), apply regardless of whether a spouse lives abroad.

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

The underlying grounds for filing do not change, though locating and formally serving a spouse who lives outside the United States can add procedural steps to the case. An attorney reviews the specific country involved before advising on next steps.

Does a marriage performed outside the United States affect a New York divorce?

The New York grounds for divorce under DRL § 170 apply the same way regardless of where the marriage ceremony took place.

What happens to assets held in another country during a New York divorce?

Under DRL § 236(B)(5), equitable distribution applies to marital property regardless of where it is located, including bank accounts, investments, or real estate held abroad, though identifying and valuing foreign assets can take additional time.

What if a divorce or custody case is also pending in another country?

A parallel foreign proceeding can affect how a New York case proceeds, and the specific facts and the foreign court system involved are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Is there a special New York statute for international divorce?

No. New York applies the same divorce grounds and equitable distribution framework used in any other divorce case; the international facts primarily affect procedure rather than the legal standards involved.

How does the firm handle evidence located in another country?

The firm works to identify what documentation is available and coordinates gathering records connected to foreign assets or a foreign spouse as part of preparing the New York case.

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.

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