Source: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/divorce/legislationandcourtrules.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 03:50:39+00:00

Document:
Joint Order of the Departments of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division was signed adopting the attached Revised Form of Statement of Client’s Rights and Responsibilities pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1400.2, effective February 15, 2019.
By Administrative Order AO/269/18 dated September 20, 2018, an amendment to paragraph 3 of 22 NYCRR 202.50(b) governing the form of judgments in contested and uncontested matrimonial actions was adopted. Said Administrative Order also adopted a revised form of Judgment of Divorce (Form UD-l l) and instructions in the Unified Court System's Uncontested Divorce Packet. The Administrative Order was effective September 30, 2018 but provided that divorce submissions using the earlier version of the divorce judgment shall still be accepted through October 30, 2018.
Prior to the effective date of August 31, 2018, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance further amended and corrected Form LDSS-5039.
By Administrative Order AO/191/18 dated May 21, 2018, the Uncontested Divorce Packets were modified effective May 31, 2018 to adopt a revised Uncontested Divorce Judgment of Divorce (Form UD-11) and Revised Instructions. These revisions comply with amendments to 22NYCRR 202.50(b)(2) and new 22NYCRR 202.50(b)(4) regarding the required form of judgments of divorce.
By Administrative Order A/O/124/18, Revised Instructions and Forms for Use in Matrimonial Actions in Supreme Court were adopted effective March 1, 2018. The revisions reflect the required increase in the combined parental income cap under the Child Support Standards Act on March 1, 2018 to $148,000 per year based on CPI increases as required by Social Services Law 111(i)(b). In addition, the revisions further reflect the increases as of March 1, 2018 in the Self Support Reserve to $16,389 and in the Poverty Income Level for a single person to $12,140 (see https://childsupport.ny.gov/dcse/child_support_standards.html).
Forms and Calculators for both Contested and Uncontested Divorces revised March 1, 2018 reflecting these changes are posted at http://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/MaintenanceChildSupportTools.shtml.
By Administrative Order AO/289/18, a revised Preliminary Conference Stipulation/Order for Use in Matrimonial Actions in Supreme Court was adopted effective January 31, 2018 to reflect the increase in the annual income cap of the maintenance payor for temporary and final (post-divorce) maintenance from $178,000 to $184,000 per year based on CPI increases as required by the 2015 Maintenance Guidelines Law (L. 2015, ch. 269).
By Administrative Order A/O/117/18, Revised Instructions and Forms for Use in Matrimonial Actions in Supreme Court were adopted effective January 31, 2018. The revised forms reflect the increase in the annual income cap of the maintenance payor for temporary and final (post-divorce) maintenance from $178,000 to $184,000 per year based on CPI increases as required by the 2015 Maintenance Guidelines Law (L. 2015, ch. 269).
Forms and Calculators for both Contested and Uncontested Divorces revised January 31, 2018 reflecting the $184,000 annual income cap of the maintenance payor are posted at http://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/MaintenanceChildSupportTools.shtml.
By Administrative Order A/O/ 138/17 dated July 18, 2017, the Uncontested Divorce Packet Forms were modified to adopt a revised Uncontested Divorce Judgment of Divorce (Form UD-11) in order to comply with new 22NYCRR 202.50(b) (3).
By Administrative Order A/O/ 100/17, 22NYCRR §202.50(b) was amended to add a new section 202.50(b)(3) requiring that every Uncontested and Contested Judgment of Divorce contain certain decretal paragraphs, including one concerning the venue where post judgment applications for modification or enforcement in Supreme Court should be brought.
By Administrative Order A/O /99/17, 22NYCRR §202 was amended to add a new section 202.16-b addressing the submission of written applications in matrimonial actions.
By Administrative Order A/O 102/17, the Uncontested Divorce Packet Forms were modified to reflect the increases as of March 1, 2017 in the Self Support Reserve to $16,281 and in the Poverty Level Income for a single person to $12,060.
By Administrative Order A/O 147/16, Revised Forms for Use in Contested Matrimonial Actions in Supreme Court were adopted effective August 1, 2016 (a revised Preliminary Conference Stipulation/Order - Contested Matrimonial and a revised Statement of Net Worth) pursuant to § § 202.16 (f)(2(v) and 202.16(b) of the Uniform Rules for the Supreme and County Courts. The newly revised forms are posted at http://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/forms.shtml#Statewide.
By Administrative Order A/O 143/16, § 202.16 (m) of the Uniform Rules for Supreme and County Courts was amended effective immediately to make the rule (providing for limited redaction of personal information from written decisions in contested matrimonial actions) applicable “prior to submitting any decision, order, judgment, or combined decision and order or judgment in a matrimonial action for publication.” The amendment also clarifies requirements about identification of parties.
By Administrative Order A/O /192/15, § 202.16(m) of the Uniform Rules for Supreme and County Courts was adopted effective March 1, 2016, providing for limited redaction of personal information from written decisions in contested matrimonial actions.
By Administrative Order A/O/64/16, Revised Instructions and Forms for Use in Matrimonial Actions in Supreme Court were adopted effective March 1, 2016. The revisions reflect the required increase in the combined income cap under the Child Support Standards Act on March 1, 2016 to $143,000 per year based on CPI increases as required by Social Services Law 111(i)(b). In addition, the revisions further clarify instructions regarding use of the UD-Packet forms and reflect the increases as of March 1, 2016 in the Self Support Reserve to $16,038 and in the Poverty Level Income for a single person to $11,880 (see https://childsupport.ny.gov/dcse/child_support_standards.html).
By Administrative Order A/O 12/16, Revised Instructions and Forms for Use in Matrimonial Actions in Supreme Court were adopted effective January 31, 2016. The revised forms reflect the increase in the annual income cap of the maintenance payor for temporary and final (post-divorce) maintenance from $175,000 to $178,000 per year based on CPI increases as required by the 2015 Maintenance Guidelines Law (L. 2015, ch. 269), and clarify instructions regarding use of the UD-Packet forms.
The Governor signed the new temporary and permanent spousal maintenance guidelines [Laws of 2015, Ch. 269; S. 5678/A. 7645].
The prior IWO forms adopted for use in NYS Supreme Courts by Administrative Order dated April 25, 2014 were repealed by said Administrative Order AO/99/15 dated May 15, 2015. The LDSS-5039 contains instructions for filling out the LDSS -5037 and LDSS-5038 and NYS Case Registry Form.
As of January 31, 2014, the Combined Parental Income Cap under the Child Support Standards Act has been adjusted from $136,000 to $141,000.
Revisions to the Uncontested Divorce Packet Instructions and Forms may be found at the Instructions, the UD-8 Child Support Worksheet, and the UD-10 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
As of January 31, 2014, the Income Cap under the Temporary Maintenance Guidelines has been adjusted from $524,000 to $543,000.
Revisions to the Temporary Maintenance Worksheet and Calculator may be found at Temporary Maintenance Worksheet and Calculator.
These changes are required by statute. The statutes (Social Services Law §111-I for the CSSA and D.R.L. § 236 Part B (5-a) for the Temporary Maintenance Guidelines) require adjustment of the cap on January 31, 2012 and on January 31st every other year thereafter pursuant to CPI-U increases published by the Department of Labor.
1/14 : Changes were made to the UD-11 Judgment of Divorce to eliminate the requirement that, where orders relating to custody, visitation, maintenance and child support are being continued, a copy of the Judgment of Divorce must be filed with the Family Court within 10 days of entry.
The Uncontested Divorce Booklet Instructions were amended to clarify that there is a single packet for both divorces with children and divorces without children. This revision also amended the instructions regarding the UD-6, UD-7 and UD-10 forms. At the same time, revised versions of Form UD-6, Form UD-7 and Form UD-10 were adopted to clarify that the no-fault ground may be used where neither party to the divorce has contested any ancillary issues based on the Affidavit of Plaintiff (which Defendant has not contested).
Revisions to Uncontested Divorce Child Support Worksheet (Form UD-8), Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (Form UD-10),and Instructions adopted by Administrative Order. Revisions implement increases required by statute in the combined parental income child support cap, based upon the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) published by the United States Department of Labor. The old cap was $130,000, and the new cap is $136,000 effective January 31, 2012. The statute requires adjustment of the cap on January 31, 2012 and on January 31st every other year thereafter.
Revisions to Temporary Maintenance Worksheet and Calculator to implement increases required by statute in the combined parental income temporary maintenance cap, based upon the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) published by the United States Department of Labor. The old cap was $500,000, and the new cap is $524,000 effective January 31, 2012. The statute requires adjustment of the cap on January 31, 2012 and on January 31st every other year thereafter.
Effective May 31, 2012 a new form of Income Deduction Order known as an Income Withholding Order ("IWO") was adopted by the Federal Office of Management and Budget on a mandatory basis. The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance ("OTDA") created a special version of this form for use in New York State. The new form was adopted for use in NYS Supreme Courts by Administrative Order of the Chief Administrative Judge dated June 22, 2012. It instructs employers to reject Income Withholding Orders not on the new form.
To coincide with the date that the new IWO form was adopted for use in NYS Supreme Courts, a new website for Child Support Resources (http://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/childsupport/) was posted on the UCS Divorce Resources website. The new website makes clear that the Court must issue an immediate Income Deduction Order in every case where the Court orders child or spousal support or combined child and spousal support with two exceptions. See Child Support Resources (http://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/childsupport/) for the two exceptions to when a Court must issue an IWO, and for other information about IWO's, child support, and applications for child support services.
The OTDA made some important changes regarding the IWO for use in New York State, making necessary the further revision of this form. By Administrative Order dated September 20, 2012, a new IWO form for spousal support only was adopted. Also adopted was a new IWO form for child support or combined child and spousal support. See Child Support Resources (http://www.nycourts.gov/divorce/childsupport/) for detailed information and instructions about the differences between the two forms, where payments must be sent, and on whom the forms must be served.
On October 31, 2012, New York State Department of State launched its new Address Confidentiality program adopted as Chapter 502 of the Laws of 2011, making the Secretary of State Agent for Service and provides eligible victims of domestic violence with a substitute mailing address which may be used for court and government records. See See NYS Address Confidentiality Program (http://www.dos.ny.gov/acp/index.html).
On December 4, 2012, by Administrative Order 524/12 the Administrative Board adopted an amendment to Court Rule NYCRR 202.16a to clarify that failure to comply with the automatic orders may be deemed a contempt of court.
There is now a seventh ground for divorce, for proceedings filed on or after October 12, 2010, which does not require the parties to allege fault.
To qualify for a no-fault divorce, one of the parties must have sworn under oath that the relationship between husband and wife has broken down "irretrievably" for a period of at least six months. Also, all ancillary issues relating to finances, and custody and visitation must have been resolved and incorporated in the judgment of divorce.
The Uncontested Divorce Packet now contains the instructions and forms to obtain a "no-fault divorce."
When a spouse asks the court for temporary spousal maintenance in a divorce action, the law now requires the Supreme Court to use formula guidelines for determining the award on income up to $500,000.
Requests for temporary spousal maintenance should not be made using the Uncontested Divorce Packet. This packet is designed for requests for final maintenance awards only.
See the new Temporary Maintenance Guidelines Worksheet and Calculator for determining the guideline amounts in cases begun in Supreme Court after October 12, 2010.
If the court lacks enough information about income to apply the formula, the court must award temporary spousal maintenance based on needs or standard of living, whichever is greater.
No formula yet! The court will continue to consider standard of living and needs and factors for the time being, but new factors have been added for the court's consideration.
The Law Revision Commission is studying the maintenance laws of New York State with regard to fairness. A final report is due to the Legislature by December 31, 2011.
The law now requires the court in most cases to grant requests of the spouse with less money for payment of their counsel fees by the spouse with more money at any time from commencement to the end of the action. The burden is now on the "monied spouse" to show why the request of the "non-monied" spouse should not be granted. The court may also award expert fees.
The purpose of the new law is to make sure that the parties are adequately represented.
The law now allows parties to seek a modification of a child support order upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances, when three years have passed since the order was entered, or when there has been a change in either party's gross income by fifteen percent (15%) or more.
There are new provisions allowing incarcerated spouses to seek modification of child support orders, except where incarceration is the result of failure to pay child support, or an offense against the custodial parent, or the child whose support is involved.

References: §202
 §202
 § 202
 § 202
 § 202
 §111
 § 236