White Plains Divorce Attorney
Providing comprehensive divorce representation to government employees, civil servants and unionized workers for 20 years
The divorce process ranges significantly from couple to couple depending on numerous factors, including each spouse’s economic and professional situation. It is important to understand all of your options and investigate potential scenarios to determine the best course of action for protecting your rights. At the Law Office of Karen Jansen, our White Plains divorce lawyer offers extensive legal resources, advice and legal representation designed to resolve your case as efficiently and economically as possible. Whether you have questions about the potential implications of a divorce, or are ready to move forward with the process, you receive reliable, one-on-one legal counsel to guide you through each step.
Retirement and pension benefits for civil service officers and employees may be impacted by divorce
Retirement plans for more than one million New York civil service officers and employees are administered by the New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS), collectively known as the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS). These two systems provide retirement services for more than 3,000 employers and members include:
- State employees
- Local government employees
- School district employees
- Employees of state and local public authorities
- Employees of other governmental corporations
The NYSLRS has received more than $5 billion in contributions from employers and $285 million from employees and paid more than $10 billion in benefits to more than one million members.
In the event of divorce, these retirement benefits may be considered as marital property and thus subject to equitable division. You may be required to designate a portion of your pension to your former spouse in addition to designating your former spouse as a beneficiary for death benefits. Once the Court enters a final judgement of divorce, a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) is issued that explicitly dictates how the participant’s retirement benefits are to be distributed to the ex-spouse. Marital assets must be distributed in an equitable fashion and the amount that an ex-spouse receives is usually dependent on the participant’s years of service accrued during the marriage.
Establishing a DRO often requires extensive mediation, negotiation and/or litigation. You need an experienced divorce lawyer on your side protecting your best interests to ensure that your rights are protected.
For answers to all your divorce questions, contact a leading White Plains, New York divorce attorney for full-service legal assistance
Police officers, firefighters and other civil servants provide invaluable services to millions of New Yorkers. When civil service officers and employees get divorced, there are additional issues that must be handled to ensure that pension and retirement benefits are properly valued and distributed. To discuss your options, call 914-821-5200 or contact the firm online to schedule an appointment with an experienced White Plains divorce attorney at the Law Office of Karen Jansen. Free initial phone consultations are complimentary and consultation fees are kept at a reasonable and affordable rate. Credit cards accepted for your convenience. Serving clients in White Plains, Scarsdale, Harrison, Greenburgh, North Castle, Eastchester, Bronxville, Rye and Mamaroneck.
