Manhattan Divorce Lawyer

Stephen Bilkis has spent nearly 30 years handling divorce, custody, and support cases in New York. Under his leadership, the attorneys at Stephen Bilkis & Associates have handled more than a combined 10,000 divorce consultations and cases, and together they bring more than 300 years of legal experience. In Manhattan, those cases often involve a co-op that needs board approval to transfer, pay that arrives in year-end bonuses and stock awards, and careers that rarely stop at 6 p.m.

The decision to divorce can bring your whole life into question at once. You may be worried about who will stay in the apartment, how you and your spouse will share time with the children, and what will happen to your bonuses, investments, and retirement savings. You may also wonder whether your spouse is being truthful about what the family owns. We start by learning about your marriage, your children, your career, and your finances, so that our strategy fits the life you want to build next.

Manhattan divorces vary as widely as the people who live here. Some couples married recently, rent their apartment, and agree on almost everything. Others have been married for decades and must divide deferred compensation, partnership interests, real estate, and investment portfolios, often while one spouse knows far more about the money than the other. We take the time to understand every part of your situation before deciding how to proceed.

Clients also come to us knowing that Stephen Bilkis’s work has been recognized well beyond the courtroom. He has been named to the New York Super Lawyers list, an honor that goes to only 5% of attorneys in the state. Avvo rates him Excellent, Justia recognizes him as a Top-Rated Lawyer, and he has also been recognized by Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com.

Uncontested and Contested Divorce in Manhattan

Whether you and your spouse have already worked out the terms or cannot agree on anything, the way your divorce proceeds will affect how quickly you can move on, what it costs, and how much it disrupts your family and your work. Manhattan divorce attorney Stephen Bilkis handles both agreed and disputed divorces for clients across the borough. We give an agreed divorce the same careful review as a litigated one, because a settlement that leaves out an asset or a parenting issue can lead to new disputes years later.

The two paths look very different in practice:

• Uncontested divorce. When you and your spouse have resolved everything from the apartment to the children’s schedule, we draft or review a settlement that is complete enough to hold up long after the divorce is final.
• Contested divorce. When even one issue is in dispute, Stephen Bilkis and his team demand records, take depositions when needed, and work with appraisers and financial experts to prepare the case for court.

Manhattan divorces are heard in New York County Supreme Court at 60 Centre Street, where contested cases are assigned to a matrimonial part. Early in the case, the judge holds a preliminary conference and sets deadlines for exchanging financial information. Most contested divorces in Manhattan settle before trial, and being ready to go to court gives our clients real leverage in those negotiations.

One of the first documents the court expects is a statement of net worth, and many clients want to know what it involves. Under Domestic Relations Law § 236(B)(4), each spouse must fully disclose their finances, and the statement of net worth is the sworn form used to do that. It lists income, expenses, assets, and debts, and we prepare yours carefully, because the court will rely on it for decisions about support and property.

High-Asset Property Division in Manhattan

When a marriage has produced significant wealth, the stakes in dividing it are high, and a single overlooked asset or undervalued interest can cost a spouse a great deal of money. Stephen Bilkis handles property disputes involving apartments and other real estate, investment and brokerage holdings, retirement plans, deferred compensation, stock options and restricted stock, partnership interests, professional practices, and closely held businesses. Our approach begins with a complete inventory of every asset and debt so that nothing is missed, undervalued, or moved without disclosure.

New York divides marital property through equitable distribution, which means a fair division that is not necessarily equal. Marital property generally includes anything acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. Separate property, such as property owned before the marriage, inheritances, and certain gifts, generally stays with the spouse who owns it. Compensation earned during the marriage but paid later, such as certain bonuses and stock awards, may be partly marital.

According to the New York State Department of Health, 3,209 divorces were granted in Manhattan in 2022, and more than 60 percent of them ended marriages that had lasted less than 10 years. In a shorter marriage, much of what each spouse owns may have been built before the wedding, so we trace premarital savings and investments to make sure they are treated correctly. When a business, partnership, or practice is involved, we work with valuation experts. If assets may be concealed, Stephen Bilkis and his team review tax returns, brokerage statements, and business records and, when necessary, use subpoenas and forensic accountants.

Many Manhattan couples own a co-op, and they want to know how it is handled. A co-op is owned through shares in a corporation rather than a deed, but it is divided like other marital property. If one spouse keeps the apartment, the transfer of shares usually needs co-op board approval, and that spouse may have to refinance, so we plan for both steps before the settlement is signed.

Spousal Maintenance in a Manhattan Divorce

A spouse who stepped back from a career to raise children or support the other spouse’s success may be frightened about affording life in Manhattan after the divorce, while the higher-earning spouse may fear an award that becomes hard to sustain. The attorneys at Stephen Bilkis & Associates stand up for spouses seeking maintenance and spouses who may be ordered to pay it. We make sure the court has an accurate picture of each spouse’s income, expenses, and earning ability so that any award is fair.

Maintenance, formerly called alimony, may be paid while the divorce is pending, after it is final, or both. New York uses a formula based on the spouses’ incomes, up to an income cap, to calculate a guideline amount. The length of the marriage helps determine how long payments may last.

In Manhattan, one spouse’s income is often well above the cap. In those cases, the court may consider the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse’s age and health, and career sacrifices made for the family. We gather the financial evidence needed to argue for or against an adjustment.

Child Support in Manhattan Divorce Cases

Whether you are worried about keeping your children in the school and neighborhood they know or about being ordered to pay more than you can manage, child support can feel like it will decide your family’s future. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps parents on both sides of these cases build an accurate picture of income before any number is set. We look at salary, bonuses, commissions, and business or investment income, not just a base paycheck.

New York parents are required to support their children until age 21. Basic child support is generally a percentage of the parents’ combined income up to a statutory cap, and the percentage increases with the number of children. The court can also divide costs such as childcare, health insurance, uncovered medical costs, and education, which can include private school tuition.

When combined income is above the cap, as it often is in Manhattan, the court has discretion in how support is calculated on the rest. Income can also be uneven, such as for a musician who performs at Lincoln Center during the season and earns little in the summer. We present evidence of the family’s lifestyle, the children’s needs, and each parent’s real earnings over time so the court can reach a fair result.

Child Custody and Parenting Time in Manhattan

Nothing about divorce feels more urgent than protecting your relationship with your children and making sure they feel secure as their family changes. Mothers and fathers across Manhattan turn to Stephen Bilkis when custody and parenting time are disputed in New York County Supreme Court or Family Court. The firm works toward a parenting arrangement that keeps you involved while giving the children consistency in school, activities, and daily routines.

New York courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child. Judges look at which parent has provided day-to-day care, the stability of each home, the child’s needs and wishes, and whether each parent supports the child’s relationship with the other parent. In Manhattan, a workable parenting plan often has to spell out details like these:

• School-day logistics. The plan sets who handles drop-off, pickup, and after-school activities on each day.
• Work travel. The plan explains how parenting time shifts when a parent travels for work.
• Holidays and summers. The plan divides holidays, school breaks, and time away from the city.
• Communication. The plan sets how and when the children can reach the parent they are not with.

Suppose a mother who works long hours at a firm in Hudson Yards travels several days a month. Instead of a rigid weekly split, we might propose a schedule built around her actual calendar, with makeup time on weekends and regular Saturdays with the children in Central Park. When a case involves a forensic evaluation or an attorney for the child, the experienced Manhattan divorce lawyers at our firm also prepare clients for each interview.

International Divorce in Manhattan

When a marriage spans two countries, the fear that your spouse could take the children abroad, or that assets overseas will never be found, can be overwhelming. Stephen Bilkis & Associates handles divorces involving spouses from other countries, children with dual citizenship, and property held outside the United States. We address the international issues at the start of the case, before they become emergencies.

Many couples who married abroad ask whether they can divorce in New York. Generally they can, because a marriage that was valid where it took place is recognized here, as long as the residency requirements are met. When one spouse has ties to another country, we also look at whether a foreign court might try to hear the case first.

Parents are often most worried about international travel with the children. A custody order or agreement can require the other parent’s written consent or advance notice before a child leaves the country. A U.S. passport for a child under 16 generally requires both parents’ consent, and when a child is taken abroad without permission, the Hague Convention on international child abduction may provide a way to seek the child’s return. For property overseas, the court can consider its value when dividing assets and can order a spouse to take steps to transfer it or offset it with other property.

Mediation and Collaborative Divorce in Manhattan

Many couples would prefer to resolve their divorce privately, without public court appearances, rising legal fees, or children caught in the middle. Stephen Bilkis & Associates counsels spouses through both of the main out-of-court approaches and helps them decide which one fits. We support a cooperative process while making sure you understand your rights and the long-term effects of any proposal.

The two approaches work in different ways:

• Mediation. A neutral mediator helps you and your spouse resolve your disagreements, while we prepare you for each session and review the final agreement before you sign.
• Collaborative divorce. Each spouse has their own attorney, and everyone commits in writing to settling the case through a series of meetings rather than in court.

Neither approach works for every couple. When there has been domestic violence or one spouse controls most of the financial information, a different approach may be necessary. We will tell you directly if we believe that is true in your case.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in Manhattan

Even if you knew exactly what your prenup said when you signed it, a lot can change by the time a marriage ends. Clients come to Stephen Bilkis & Associates both to enforce these agreements and to challenge them. We examine how the agreement was negotiated and signed, what each spouse disclosed about their finances, and whether its terms remain fair.

Prenups are no longer just for celebrities. According to a 2022 Harris Poll, 15 percent of married or engaged Americans have signed one, up from just 3 percent in 2010. In Manhattan, where many people marry later and arrive with careers, apartments, and savings of their own, we see them regularly. They often protect a family business, an apartment bought before the marriage, or future equity in a startup or partnership.

An agreement may be set aside when it was not properly signed and acknowledged, was obtained through fraud or duress, or is unconscionable. After a divorce, support, custody, and parenting time orders can generally be changed when there has been a substantial change in circumstances.

Request a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with Stephen Bilkis & Associates

Contact an experienced divorce attorney serving Manhattan at Stephen Bilkis & Associates today for a free consultation at 800.696.9529. Tell us what is happening in your marriage, whether a court date or temporary order is already pending, and what you hope to accomplish. We will review your situation and identify the next steps that may be available. Early action matters, because decisions made at the start of a divorce, such as moving out of the apartment or transferring funds, can affect the outcome of your case.

The attorneys you will work with are part of a firm whose founder has earned wide professional recognition. Stephen Bilkis has been selected to the New York Super Lawyers list, which honors the top 5% of attorneys in the state. He holds an Excellent rating from Avvo, has been named a Top-Rated Lawyer by Justia, and has also been recognized by Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com.

Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps clients throughout Manhattan, from the Upper East Side and Upper West Side to Tribeca and Harlem. The firm also works with clients across the rest of New York City and the surrounding area.