When Domestic Violence Impacts Property Division: A Landmark New York Divorce Decision

A recent New York decision marks a significant, and in many ways historic, victory for domestic violence advocates and survivors navigating divorce. The case is N.S. v T.S., out of Nassau County Supreme Court (Dec. 2025). The court made clear that abuse within a marriage, including the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can carry serious financial consequences under New York’s Equitable Distribution law, the statute that governs how marital property is divided. That statute was amended in 2020 to expressly include domestic violence as a factor courts may consider when distributing marital assets. This case shows just how powerful that amendment can be.

A desk with financial documents, two calculators, a notebook, a pen, and a small plant, all bathed in natural light.

The Remedy Is What Makes This Historic

The headline is not just the finding, it’s the result. The court awarded the wife 100% of the marital estate based on the domestic violence she endured. While the wife testified to additional acts of physical abuse, the court’s recognition that the husband’s transmission of STIs constituted domestic violence under the amended Equitable Distribution statute is particularly notable. The decision makes clear that intimate partner abuse, especially conduct with lasting medical consequences, is not economically neutral in divorce.

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Would You Leave Your Partner for $1 Million? What a New Survey Really Reveals About Modern Love

A recent survey found that 43% of Americans say they would leave their partner if offered $1 million.

At first glance, the statistic feels outrageous. Cold. Transactional. Maybe even cynical.

But as a divorce lawyer who spends her days at the intersection of love and money, I don’t find it shocking at all.

I find it revealing.

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Stress, Secrets, and Health: How Avoiding the Talk Impacts Divorce

Divorce is a significant life event that can bring about a whirlwind of emotions. While many may prefer to avoid discussing the painful aspects, the truth is that open communication, about feelings, finances, and future plans, can profoundly influence the divorce experience and its aftermath. Neglecting these important dialogues can foster stress, secrets, and health issues that affect not just the individuals involved, but also their families and communities.

Let’s delve into the relationship between avoiding difficult conversations and the resulting impacts on stress levels, mental and physical health, and overall well-being in the context of divorce.

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High Net Worth, High Stakes: How NYC Courts Handle Divorce with Million-Dollar Assets

High Net Worth, High Stakes: How NYC Courts Handle Divorce with Million-Dollar Assets

A break down of equitable distribution in cases involving brownstones, co-ops, startups, and Wall Street bonuses.

Divorce is never simple, but in New York City, it can become extraordinarily complicated when millions of dollars are on the line. This is a city of brownstones worth more than most people’s lifetime earnings, Wall Street bonuses that rival lottery wins, and startups where today’s idea might be tomorrow’s IPO. When those assets are part of a marriage, the process of dividing them is anything but straightforward.

Equitable Distribution: What It Really Means

New York is an equitable distribution state. That means marital property is divided fairly, but not necessarily equally, when a couple divorces. Marital property generally includes assets acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. Separate property, on the other hand, usually refers to assets owned before the marriage, inheritances, or gifts made to one spouse individually.

But when millions are at stake, the line between marital and separate property often blurs. Appreciation on a premarital asset, contributions from a spouse’s labor, or the use of marital funds to maintain or improve property can transform what looks like separate property into something that’s at least partly marital. That’s where the litigation begins.

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