Expert: Equality in Marriage Institute - 9/30/2005

Question
NY state

Answer
Dear Mike,

Thanks for your patience. Divorce is hard on a person emotionally, financially and physically. While your brothers divorce started off okay, the tone often changes when you start to move through the process. The best thing your brother can do is to educate himself on his rights. Here are some sites/ resources that he might find helpful:

1. aaml.org- gives a lengthy and easy to read dresciption of the divorce process.
2. mensdefense.org- husband/ male focused site
3. divorcesource.com- they have state- by- state divorce laws
4. equalityinmarriage.org- great section on the divorce porcess and how to handle lawyers.
5. New York State Bar association- http://www.nysba.org/Template.cfm?Section=Public_Resources- how to fnd a lawyer AND http://www.nysba.org/Template.cfm?Section=Educational_Pamphlets&Template=/Conten specific New York divorce information.

Generally, purchases made during marriage become marital property. If the gas station was purchased under his name only and they were married a short time it is possible that the gas station would remain his. As I am not a lawyer he should speak with a one about his options.

As far as his wife not returning calls- there area few ways to go through a divorce, some require more money than others. The more the two of them can work out prior to meeting with lawyers the less expensive the process will be. If she chooses to only speak via her lawyer then it will take more time and more money to end the marriage.

I hope this was of some help.