NEW YORK SEPARATION AGREEMENT WITH CHILDREN (LONG FORM)
DETAILS REGARDING THIS FORM

Our New York Separation Agreement (With Children, Long Form) is one of the most detailed and comprehensive forms that we provide.  It offers detailed instructions and a variety of different options and solutions that couples with children who are considering separation or divorce.  The form is available for purchase via immediate download. 

This form is in MSWord, and it was revised thoroughly revised on January 25, 2010.  It sets forth all of the required New York statutory language, and it contains various alternatives for addressing financial issues, including:

1. Child Support: The form gives the option of determining child support based on the formula set forth in the New York State Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) or, in the alternative, establishing a child support schedule that deviates from the presumptive amounts set forth in the CSSA. 
   
   
2. Property: The Form has optional/alternative provisions relating to real estate, investment accounts, retirement plans, vehicles, personal property, and more.  Users can delete and edit the various property provisions based on their individual needs.
   
   
3. Maintenance/Alimony: There are a variety of options in this form for dealing with alimony, including both mutual waivers and, in the alternative, payment schedules.

With instructions and legal notes, the form consists of 50 pages.

A separation agreement is the most effective tool for avoiding lengthy and costly divorce proceedings.  A separation agreement may be used in lieu of establishing grounds for a divorce (this is referred to in NY as a “conversion divorce”).  However, it need not be used for that purpose, and is often used as the mechanism to set forth a couples agreement on financial issues, even if they intend to pursue divorce on other grounds, such as abandonment.