Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines.
"No-fault" divorce is now allowed in the New York -- the very last state to adopt the policy, which means that couples wanting a split will no longer have to provide "grounds" or reasons such as cruelty or adultery.
Gov. Paterson signed the bill into law back in August.
The new measure took affect today and requires one spouse to swear under oath that a relationship has broken down for at least six months. Property division, alimony, child custody and support would have to be resolved first.
Experts believe the new no-fault clause could drastically reduce the time taken by divorce cases -- yet could still be a boon for lawyers.
“Clearly it’s going to open up the floodgates because now people don’t have to allege the wrongdoing of the other person,” matrimonial lawyer Lois Liberman told Crain's New York.
Data shows that New York State had 46,070 divorces in 2009.
