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NEW YORK - Officials of the state court system are offering help to couples seeking uncontested divorces.
With the Unified Court System's new Uncontested Divorce Packet, New Yorkers seeking an uncontested divorce without the assistance of an attorney will have an innovative new tool to help them. The comprehensive new packet, announced Tuesday by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye and Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, is designed to simplify the complex legal process for self-represented litigants seeking uncontested divorces that do not involve children. It features user-friendly graphics and design with plain language step-by-step instructions and practice forms.
The Uncontested Divorce Packet was created by Administrative Judge for Matrimonial Matters Jacqueline W. Silbermann, in collaboration with Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Juanita Bing Newton, after recognizing the need for a more user-friendly resource for the large number of self-represented litigants seeking uncontested divorces. Approximately 50,000 uncontested divorces are filed each year in New York, many by litigants without attorneys.
"We expect this new packet, with its user-friendly format and easy-to-read instructions to be a tremendous help to people without attorneys," said Judge Lippman. "New York's divorce process can be complicated, even when no children are involved, and self-represented litigants could easily become confused or feel overwhelmed. This new booklet leads litigants by the hand, step by step, through the whole process, preparing them to complete the required forms. In this way, the new uncontested divorce packet can hopefully help lessen the stress of what for many might already be a very trying period in their lives."
The packet, which includes the instruction booklet with practice forms, and a set of the official court forms for filing the divorce, are available at no charge in the New York Supreme Court in every county. The packet can also be accessed online from www.nycourts.gov/litigants/divorce or www.nycourthelp.gov. A packet for uncontested divorces that involve children is under development. 5-30-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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