If you're working in or interacting with the New York State divorce calculator industry, familiarity with key terms is crucial for effective communication and accurate calculations. Here's a glossary of essential terms:
General Divorce Terms
- Uncontested Divorce
A divorce where both parties agree on all major issues, such as property division and custody.
- Contested Divorce
Divorce is a legal process where a spouse disagrees on certain terms, often necessitating court intervention.
- NoFault Divorce
A divorce granted without the need to prove fault, based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for at least six months.
- Separation Agreement
A legal document outlining the terms of separation, often used in New York State Divorce Calculator for property and support.
- Marital Property
Property acquired during the marriage, subject to equitable distribution in divorce.
- Separate Property
Assets owned by one spouse before marriage or acquired through inheritance or gifts, typically excluded from distribution.
Financial Terms
- Equitable Distribution
New York's legal standard for dividing marital property fairly but not necessarily equally.
- Net Worth Statement
A document listing each spouse’s income, assets, debts, and expenses, essential for accurate calculations.
- Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
Payments made by one spouse to the other postdivorce, calculated using statutory guidelines.
- Child Support Standards Act (CSSA)
A New York law that governs child support calculations based on parental income and number of children.
- Cap on Combined Parental Income
The maximum income subject to statutory child support guidelines (e.g., $163,000 in 2024).
- Deviation Factors
Circumstances allowing courts to modify statutory support obligations, such as high incomes or special needs.
- Temporary Maintenance
Support paid during the New York State Divorce Court process, calculated separately from postdivorce maintenance.
Parenting and Custody Terms
- Custodial Parent
The parent who spends the majority of their time with the child.
- NonCustodial Parent
The parent who provides child support and typically has visitation rights.
- Shared Custody
An arrangement where both parents share significant periods of physical custody, potentially altering support calculations.
Tax and Legal Terms
- Filing Status
Postdivorce tax categories (e.g., single, head of household) that affect tax liabilities and support calculations.
- Imputed Income
Income a court assigns to a spouse if they are underemployed or unemployed intentionally.
- Child Support AddOns
Additional expenses like childcare, medical costs, and education that parents share.
- A provision in support agreements to adjust payments based on inflation.
CalculatorSpecific Terms
- Input Fields
Sections in a calculator where users enter data (e.g., income, number of children).
- Outputs
Results generated by the calculator, such as estimated child support or maintenance obligations.
- Default Values
Preset values in calculators, which may need customization for accurate results.
- Interactive Sliders
A userfriendly feature allowing realtime adjustments to variables like income or parenting time.
- Formula Override
An option to manually adjust calculated results for unique circumstances.
- Scenario Modeling
A feature that compares different outcomes based on varying inputs, such as custody arrangements or income changes.
- Compliance Reports
Printable summaries ensuring adherence to New York's legal guidelines for support and property distribution.
By mastering these terms, professionals can ensure they use the calculator effectively, comply with state laws, and provide accurate guidance to clients.
