If I’m a Stay-at-Home Spouse in New York, Can I Receive Financial While the Case is Pending ? How Much Does Divorce Cost and How Long Does It Take?

If you’re a stay-at-home spouse, divorce immediately raises two practical questions:

• How much is this really going to cost me?

• How long will I be stuck in this process?

• Am I going to receive financial support while this case is pending ?

  
  

Let’s deal with reality—not optimism, not fear, not law firm marketing.

HOW MUCH DOES A DIVORCE ACTUALLY COST IN NEW YORK ?

There is no single number. But there are real ranges, and pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone. This is to assist the you in mapping out your divorce plan.

Uncontested divorce (New York reality)

In New York City, many firms charge:

• $3,000 on the very low end

• $5,000–$10,000 is common

• $12,000+ at larger firms, even for “simple” matters

In surrounding counties (including places like Orange County):

• Fees are often lower, but still commonly $2,500–$7,500

  
  

Uncontested assumes:

• No fighting over custody

• No disputes over support

• No complex assets

• Minimal court involvement

Once disputes creep in, costs move fast.

Contested divorce (this is where people get blindsided)

In contested cases, you should think in ranges, not flat numbers:

• $15,000–$30,000: lower-end contested cases

• $30,000–$75,000+: common in NYC

• Six figures is not rare when custody, business assets, or extended litigation are involved

  
  

Why?

Because contested divorce is paid for in time, and time is expensive in New York.

This isn’t about greed. It’s about hours, motion practice, court appearances, and prolonged conflict.

HOW DO LAWYERS GET PAID IF I DO NOT EARN INCOME ?

This is where stay-at-home spouses panic unnecessarily.

Yes, most lawyers require:

• A retainer

• Hourly billing in contested matter

  
  

But here is the part people miss:

CAN I GET SUPPORT WHILE THE CASE IS PENDING ?

Absolutely. Yes.

In New York, courts can order:

• Temporary spousal support

• Temporary child support

• Contribution to legal fees (counsel fees)

These orders exist specifically to prevent one spouse from financially starving the other into submission.

To the stay-at-home spouse reading this:

You are not expected to fund a divorce on no income.

To the higher-earning spouse thinking they can “wait it out”:

That approach often backfires. New York courts have mechanisms to address financial imbalance, and delays tend to increase—not reduce—exposure.

Temporary support is not a favor. It is a legal mechanism, and courts use it.

HOW LONG DOES A DIVORCE TAKE IN NEW YORK ?

There is no statutory deadline, but there are realistic expectations.

• Uncontested divorce:

  
  

  Often 3–6 months after proper filing, depending on county backlog

• Contested divorce:

  
  

  Commonly one year or more, sometimes significantly longer on a contested matter.

  
  

What makes cases drag:

• Fighting every issue at once

• Poor early planning

• Refusing to address support promptly

  
  

What helps:

• Securing temporary orders early

• Structuring disputes instead of escalating them

• Understanding sequence

  
  

The key takeaway

If you’re a stay-at-home spouse, divorce is not about “surviving” the process.

It’s about:

• Stabilizing finances early

• Using the tools the law already provides

• Not letting fear dictate strategy

  
  

You don’t need to "win" everything immediately. You need to protect yourself while the case is pending.

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.