Getting divorced in Brooklyn means filing in Kings County, the most populous of New York City's five boroughs with roughly 2.6 million residents. Every Brooklyn divorce, whether you live in Park Slope, Bay Ridge, Bushwick, Flatbush, or Brighton Beach, runs through one building: the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term, at 360 Adams Street near Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Borough Hall. New York is the only U.S. state where the Supreme Court is the trial-level court that grants divorces; there is no separate "family court" route for the divorce judgment itself. This guide explains where Brooklyn residents file, what a Brooklyn divorce lawyer costs, how long the process takes, and the specific New York statutes that govern grounds, property, and custody.
Key Facts: Divorce in Brooklyn (Kings County)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Kings County |
| Filing court | Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term — Matrimonial (Divorce) Office |
| Court address | 360 Adams Street, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 |
| Filing fee | $335 total ($210 index number + $125 note of issue) |
| Residency requirement | 1-2 continuous years (5 pathways under DRL § 230) |
| Waiting period | No mandatory post-filing wait; 6-month irretrievable breakdown for no-fault |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (DRL § 236B) |
How do I file for divorce in Brooklyn, New York?
To file for divorce in Brooklyn, you file a Summons With Notice or a Summons and Verified Complaint at the Kings County Supreme Court and pay the $210 index number fee to obtain your case number. The plaintiff (the spouse who starts the case) must allege at least one ground under New York Domestic Relations Law § 170. Most Brooklyn couples use the no-fault ground, swearing under oath that the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months. After purchasing the index number, you serve your spouse, who has 20 days to respond if served in New York State (30 days if served elsewhere). For uncontested cases where both spouses agree on all issues, the New York Courts Uncontested Divorce DIY Program walks you through the forms, and the Kings County Supreme Court Help Center provides in-person assistance at 360 Adams Street.
Where do I file for divorce in Brooklyn? (which courthouse)
Brooklyn residents file for divorce at the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term, located at 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, directly across from Brooklyn Borough Hall and steps from the Borough Hall and Jay Street-MetroTech subway stations. The specific office that processes matrimonial cases is the Matrimonial (Divorce) Office on the 10th Floor, reachable at 347-296-1714 and 360ASupremeCivilMatrimonial@nycourts.gov. This single courthouse handles every divorce, separation, and annulment for all of Kings County, including neighborhoods from Greenpoint and Williamsburg in the north to Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay in the south. Matrimonial files in Kings County are confidential and accessible only to the parties or their attorneys, so the general public cannot pull your divorce record. The County Clerk's office, which issues certified copies of your final judgment, sits in the same building.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Brooklyn?
A Brooklyn divorce lawyer typically charges $300 to $525 per hour, higher than the New York State average because of Kings County's cost of practice. An uncontested Brooklyn divorce with attorney help generally runs $2,500 to $6,000 in legal fees, while a contested case involving custody disputes, complex property, or trial can reach $15,000 to $40,000 or more per spouse. On top of attorney fees, every Brooklyn filer pays the mandatory court costs: $210 for the index number plus $125 for the note of issue, totaling $335. Additional charges include roughly $45 per motion and $8 per certified judgment copy. If you cannot afford these fees, New York's poor person's relief under CPLR § 1101 lets qualifying low-income filers proceed with $0 in court fees. Recipients of Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI generally qualify automatically. Use the divorce cost estimator to model your situation before hiring counsel.
How long does a divorce take in Brooklyn?
An uncontested divorce in Brooklyn typically takes three to six months from filing to final judgment, while contested cases routinely run one to three years through the Kings County Supreme Court. New York imposes no mandatory post-filing waiting period, but a no-fault divorce requires the marriage to have been irretrievably broken for at least six months under DRL § 170(7) before a judgment issues. The court will not sign a divorce judgment until every economic and custody issue is resolved, so timing depends heavily on whether spouses agree. Kings County is one of the busiest matrimonial dockets in the state, and high case volume at 360 Adams Street can add weeks to processing even uncontested papers. The Note of Issue, filed once the case is ready for the court's decision, triggers the final stage of review.
What are the residency requirements to file in Kings County?
To file for divorce in Kings County, you must satisfy one of five residency pathways under New York Domestic Relations Law § 230. The two most common: either spouse has lived continuously in New York for at least two years immediately before filing, or either spouse has lived in New York for at least one year and the couple either married in New York or lived there as a married couple. Under DRL § 230, "residence" and "domicile" are treated as synonymous, requiring both physical presence in New York and intent to make it your permanent home. If residency is challenged, Kings County judges examine your voter registration, driver's license, tax filings, and employment location. For no-fault cases, the two-year pathway is the safest because grounds-based residency arguments may not apply to an irretrievable breakdown claim.
How is property divided in a Brooklyn divorce?
New York is an equitable distribution state under DRL § 236B(5), meaning marital property is divided fairly rather than automatically 50/50. Marital property includes assets and debts acquired during the marriage regardless of whose name holds title, while separate property (inheritances, gifts, and assets owned before the marriage) generally stays with the original owner. Kings County judges weigh statutory factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and future earning capacity, and contributions as a homemaker. Spousal maintenance follows the formula in DRL § 236B(6), and child support is calculated under DRL § 240(1-b) using the Child Support Standards Act percentages: 17% of combined parental income for one child, 25% for two, and 29% for three. Run the numbers with the child support calculator and the alimony estimator.
What about child custody in a Brooklyn divorce?
Child custody in a Brooklyn divorce is decided under DRL § 240, with the court applying the "best interests of the child" standard. New York recognizes both legal custody (decision-making authority over education, health, and religion) and physical custody (where the child primarily lives). Kings County courts can order joint or sole arrangements and may appoint an Attorney for the Child to represent the child's interests in contested cases. Although the divorce judgment issues from the Kings County Supreme Court, related custody and support matters can also move through Kings County Family Court at 330 Jay Street, a short walk away. Domestic violence survivors can seek an order of protection under DRL § 240 and DRL § 252, and Access Justice Brooklyn assists unrepresented spouses, including those separating from an abusive partner.
Recent New York law changes affecting Brooklyn divorces (2024-2026)
New York's core divorce framework remains the no-fault system enacted in 2010, under which the irretrievable-breakdown ground in DRL § 170(7) accounts for the vast majority of Brooklyn filings. As of March 2026, the standard Kings County filing fees remain $210 for the index number and $125 for the note of issue, for a $335 total. The spousal maintenance guidelines under DRL § 236B(6), which use an income cap adjusted periodically, continue to govern temporary and post-divorce support calculations. Because matrimonial fee schedules and income thresholds for poor person's relief change, confirm current figures directly with the Kings County Supreme Court Matrimonial Office at 347-296-1714 or the official New York Courts website before you file.