Husband Fails to Show Up for Divorce Proceedings After Public Promise

A woman in New York City has been forced to once again wait for the divorce she has been seeking for more than two years after her husband failed to show up to a Jewish court proceeding in early August.

Rivky Stein, says that she has been trying to get her husband, Yoel Weiss, to grant her a Jewish divorce, and he initially resisted. He later told Stein publicly that he was ready to relent and move forward with the divorce, and the pair had a court date set for August 6, 2014. However, on that date, Weiss refused to show up, saying that the only way he would finalize the divorce is if the same three rabbis who started the divorce process were present. Although Weiss says that this is an important part of Jewish law, the rabbis dispute this claim.

The circumstances of this case are quite unique, but there are many situations in which one partner may wish to seek a divorce while the other one does not. If this is the case, the process will likely be a little more complex than if it was an uncontested divorce. You’ll likely need to take the following steps:

Fill out forms: The state of New York’s divorce process is complicated as it is, and there are several documents you need to fill out and file with the county clerk’s office. Your case will receive an index number, and you must pay $210 to file.

Serve your spouse: Next, you must provide your spouse with these documents within 120 days of the filing.

Wait for a response: If your spouse fails to respond or files a Notice of Appearance disputing parts of the divorce documents, you will need to engage in a contested divorce.

At this point, if you haven’t already, it’s important to consult a skilled legal professional who will help you explore your options and move forward with your divorce. For the guidance you need during this time, meet with a Nassau County divorce lawyer with Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.