Divorce Attorney Staten Island Achieves Custody and Support Win

The parties had been married for more than a decade and shared two minor children. 

Throughout the marriage, the spouse maintained substantially higher income and exercised control over household finances, creating a clear imbalance in economic power. 

As the marriage deteriorated, the client experienced escalating verbal mistreatment and emotional pressure, ultimately leading her to separate from the marital residence with the children.

Following separation, the spouse attempted to leverage financial dominance to limit the client’s access to marital assets and to contest her role as the primary caregiver. 

These actions became central factual issues requiring formal litigation before the New York Supreme Court.

While New York is a no fault divorce jurisdiction, a spouse’s conduct during the marriage may still be considered insofar as it affects economic circumstances, parental fitness, and the best interests of the children.

The divorce attorney presented evidence demonstrating the spouse’s sustained disengagement from household responsibilities, inconsistent financial contributions to child related expenses, and conduct that undermined cooperative co parenting.

This contextual evidence supported the client’s position that the marital breakdown was accompanied by unequal burdens, justifying a favorable allocation of marital assets and primary decision making authority.

Under New York’s “best interests of the child” standard, custody determinations focus on stability, caregiving history, and the child’s emotional well being. 

The divorce attorney Staten Island established that the client had been the children’s primary caregiver since birth, managing daily routines, education coordination, medical care, and emotional support.

Witness testimony and documentary records showed that the children were deeply bonded to the client and that continuity of care would best serve their long term interests. 

This evidence was critical in supporting a request for sole legal custody with primary decision making authority, together with structured parenting time for the other parent.

New York follows an equitable distribution model, requiring courts to divide marital property fairly based on statutory factors rather than automatically splitting assets equally. 

The court credited the client’s non monetary contributions, including years of childcare and household management that enabled the spouse’s career advancement.

As a result, the court awarded the client a substantial share of marital assets, including liquid funds and long term financial interests, ensuring economic stability post divorce.

Child support was calculated pursuant to the New York Child Support Standards Act, taking into account combined parental income, statutory percentages, and child related expenses. 

The divorce attorney Staten Island successfully demonstrated that deviations from guideline minimums were warranted due to the spouse’s income level and the children’s established standard of living.

The final order required the spouse to pay monthly child support along with proportional contributions toward education and healthcare costs.

The client received the full amount of property division sought, sole authority over major child related decisions, and enforceable child support payments. 

The ruling allowed the client to re establish financial independence while maintaining a stable environment for the children.

From a broader perspective, the case demonstrates how a divorce attorney Staten Island can effectively protect vulnerable spouses by leveraging New York law, evidentiary discipline, and child focused advocacy.