It's almost as though New York was the last state to secede and has now returned to the Union. The state's governor, David Paterson, has just signed a bill that makes no-fault divorce legal in New York. The bill's passage eliminates New York's singular status as the only state in the country without no-fault divorce.

Prior to the law's passage, New York had always been marching to a different drummer when it came to divorce. In fact, the only acceptable ground for divorce was adultery until 1966. Subsequent reform enabled a couple to get an uncontested divorce, but only after living separately for a year and agreeing to settlement terms.

For couples with disagreements, though, a contested divorce was the only option, and that required a finding of fault and, often, a trial.

The trial was "never pleasant," says Robert Ross, a Long Island matrimonial judge. "You are putting two people in the position of pointing the finger at each other and having to defend the finger pointed at them."

New York State Bar Association President Stephen Younger strongly supports the new law, stating that "the courts will no longer have to waste resources litigating on whether a marriage should end." He adds that time can be spent instead on important matters such as children's welfare and fair division of marital assets.

Pennsylvania residents seeking to obtain an affordable divorce and having questions or concerns regarding no-fault divorce should contact an experienced divorce attorney who specializes in low-cost divorce services.

Related Resource: www.bloomberg.com "Divorce Easier as New York Law Ends Need to Lie" August 16, 2010