To begin by meeting residency requirements—either you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least one year. Start by filing a "Summons with Notice" or "Summons and Complaint" at your local county clerk's office. File for Divorce in New York You'll need to provide information about the grounds for divorce, which can be based on irretrievable breakdown, fault grounds, or separation agreements. Pay the filing fee and serve your spouse with the divorce papers. Your spouse then has 20 to 30 days to respond. Once both parties agree on terms or a judgment is issued, the divorce can be finalized by the court.
