Same-Sex Divorce Lawyer in Westchester County

90+ Years of Combined Family Law Experience, Right Here in Westchester County

New York’s Marriage Equality Act took effect on July 24, 2011, and the matrimonial law that has developed in the years since is well established. At Friedman & Friedman PLLC, Attorneys at Law, we’ve been part of that work, representing clients navigating same-sex divorce throughout Westchester County. Our team brings 90+ years of combined family law experience to every case, and we represent all clients with the same quality of counsel, regardless of sexual orientation.

Same-sex couples face many of the same procedural steps as different-sex couples in a New York divorce, but certain legal nuances require particular attention. How courts treat property accumulated before same-sex marriage was legal, how parental rights are established for a non-biological parent, and how a prior domestic partnership or civil union factors into the proceedings are questions that call for an attorney who understands how New York courts approach them.

Call (914) 873-4410 today to set up a consultation with a Westchester County same-sex divorce attorney. We’re familiar with same-sex matrimonial law in New York.

Legal Issues Unique to Same-Sex Divorce in New York

New York is a no-fault divorce state. Either spouse may seek a divorce by establishing that the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months, and that standard applies equally to same-sex couples. But several issues arise in LGBTQ divorces that require more than routine procedural knowledge.

Parental Rights for Non-Biological Parents

When one parent isn’t a biological or adoptive parent of record, establishing legal parentage becomes critical before or during the divorce. New York courts apply a best-interests-of-the-child standard, but a parent without legal recognition may face significant obstacles to custody and parenting time. Couples who built their families through surrogacy or adoption may face additional considerations when the court addresses parenting arrangements.

Property Accumulated Before 2011

Assets acquired before New York recognized same-sex marriage can raise questions about whether that property is marital or separate under equitable distribution. The answer often turns on the specific circumstances of the relationship, how assets were titled, and how the couple structured their finances during the years when legal marriage wasn’t available to them.

Domestic Partnerships & Civil Unions

Couples who entered a domestic partnership or civil union before marriage legalization sometimes have questions about whether the duration of that earlier relationship affects property rights or spousal maintenance calculations. These are fact-specific questions with no automatic answer, and courts may approach them differently depending on how the relationship was formalized and in which state.

What We Handle in Same-Sex Divorce Cases

Divorce rarely involves just one legal issue. Friedman & Friedman PLLC, Attorneys at Law represents clients in the full range of matters that arise when a same-sex marriage ends, including spousal maintenance, which is calculated under the same New York statutory formula applied to all divorcing couples, and contested custody matters where parental status needs to be clearly established. We also advise on premarital agreements for same-sex couples who want to define their financial rights before marriage.

• Separation
• High-net divorce
• Child custody
• Child support
• Maintenance
• Property division

Why Same-Sex Couples in Westchester County Work with Our Firm

Our team carries more than 90 years of combined family law experience. Westchester Managing Partner Andrea B. Friedman has been handling complex matrimonial and family law matters for over 15 years. She is a board member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and a member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals. Her work has been published in the New York Law Journal, and she lectures on family law topics at Hofstra University School of Law, the Marino Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and through Westchester Women’s Bar Association continuing legal education programs.

Andrea has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and recognized by New York Magazine as a Women Leader in the Law. The firm has also received Top 10 Family Law Attorney designations and recognition from the American Association of Attorney Advocates. That depth of local professional presence distinguishes Friedman & Friedman PLLC, Attorneys at Law in LGBTQ family law matters in Westchester County.

Our practice is focused entirely on family law. When you work with us, you work with attorneys whose full professional attention is on the legal issues affecting families, not a department within a broader general practice.

Contact Friedman & Friedman PLLC, Attorneys at Law to schedule a consultation about your same-sex divorce in Westchester County.