# Hillen Druek, PLLC > https://www.hddivorce.com > Last Updated: 2026-09-14 At Hillen Druek, PLLC, we understand that family law matters are not just legal issues. They are deeply personal turning points that affect your home, your finances, and your future. Our Suffolk County divorce lawyers take the time to explain your rights, outline realistic expectations, and help you understand how the law applies to your specific situation. ## Contact - Phone: +1-631-998-0303 - Address: 1455 Veterans Hwy, Suite 104, Islandia, NY 11749 ## Locations - Islandia, NY - +1-631-998-0303 - Westhampton Beach, NY - +1-631-998-0303 ## Practice Areas - Divorce - Family Law - Contested Divorce - Uncontested Divorce - Child Custody - Child Support - Paternity - Parental Rights - Prenup Agreements - Postnup Agreements ## Attorneys - Evans M. Hillen, Esq.: https://www.hddivorce.com/evans-m-hillen-esq/ Mr. Hillen delivers practical, strategic advocacy designed to protect clients’ interests while minimizing unnecessary stress and expense. - Brandon M. Druek, Esq.: https://www.hddivorce.com/brandon-m-druek-esq/ Brandon Druek brings nearly two decades of legal expertise, with a majority of the past ten years devoted exclusively to matrimonial and family law. - Catherine C. DeSanto, Esq.: https://www.hddivorce.com/catherine-c-desanto-esq/ Catherine DeSanto, Esq. brings nearly three decades of legal experience to Hillen Druek, PLLC. ## Key Pages - Homepage: https://www.hddivorce.com/ - Blog: https://www.hddivorce.com/blog/ - Contact: https://www.hddivorce.com/contact-us/ ## Social Profiles - https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/evans-michael-hillen-1602015 - https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/11749-ny-evans-hillen-3817434.html - https://www.lawinfo.com/lawfirm/new-york/islandia/hillen-druek-pllc/2d3c7362-5dea-4d69-89db-a3be65005fb1.html ## Reviews - Rating: 5/5 based on 107 reviews ## Practice Area Details ### Nassau County Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/nassau-county-family-lawyer/ Nassau County Family Lawyer Family law cases in Nassau County carry weight that extends far beyond the courtroom. Whether a marriage is dissolving, a custody arrangement is being contested, or a support order is no longer workable, the decisions made in these proceedings shape daily life for years. ... ### Nassau County Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/nassau-county-divorce-lawyer/ Nassau County Divorce Lawyer Divorce in Nassau County moves through a court system that handles tens of thousands of family law filings each year, and the outcome of your case depends heavily on decisions made before you ever appear before a judge. Property acquired during a marriage, custody arrang... ### Mineola Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/mineola-family-lawyer/ Mineola Family Lawyer Family legal disputes in Nassau County carry a particular weight. Courts here see everything from high-conflict custody battles involving parents on opposite ends of Long Island to divorces where the marital home on the North Shore is the central flashpoint. When a family matte... ### Mineola Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/mineola-divorce-lawyer/ Mineola Divorce Lawyer Divorce reshapes nearly every part of daily life: where children sleep on school nights, whether a family home gets sold or transferred, how retirement savings built over decades get divided. For residents of Mineola and the surrounding Nassau County communities, those decisio... ### Garden City Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/garden-city-family-lawyer/ Garden City Family Lawyer Family legal matters in Garden City rarely arrive at a convenient time. Whether a marriage has reached its end, a custody arrangement is no longer working, or a parenting plan needs to be modified because circumstances have changed, the decisions made during these proceedin... ### Garden City Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/garden-city-divorce-lawyer/ Garden City Divorce Lawyer Divorce reorganizes everything at once: where you sleep, how you see your children, what your finances look like a year from now. For residents of Garden City and the surrounding Nassau County communities, that reorganization plays out in a specific legal environment with ... ### Syosset Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/syosset-family-lawyer/ Syosset Family Lawyer Family law disputes in Syosset and throughout Nassau County rarely follow a predictable path. Property accumulated over decades, children enrolled in schools along Cold Spring Road or Robbins Lane, retirement accounts, business interests, and parenting arrangements all become s... ### Syosset Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/syosset-divorce-lawyer/ Syosset Divorce Lawyer Divorce touches nearly every part of a person's life at once. The house you share, the retirement accounts you built together, the schedule your children depend on, the financial arrangements that kept things running. When a marriage ends in Syosset, those threads do not unrav... ### Woodbury Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/woodbury-family-lawyer/ Woodbury Family Lawyer Family cases in Washington County move through courts that have their own rhythms, their own calendars, and judges who have seen every variation of a contested custody dispute or a divorce gone sideways. What works in Hennepin County does not always translate here. Hiring a Wo... ### Woodbury Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/woodbury-divorce-lawyer/ Woodbury Divorce Lawyer Divorce in Washington County is not a single event. It is a sequence of decisions, each one carrying real consequences for your finances, your relationship with your children, and the shape of your life going forward. For residents of Woodbury and the surrounding east metro c... ### Jericho Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/jericho-family-lawyer/ Jericho Family Lawyer Family law cases in Jericho carry real weight. Whether a marriage is ending, a parenting arrangement is breaking down, or a support order needs to be revisited, the decisions made during these proceedings follow people for years. A Jericho family lawyer does more than file pape... ### Jericho Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/jericho-divorce-lawyer/ Jericho Divorce Lawyer Divorce in Nassau County moves through a distinct legal and community context that shapes everything from how assets are divided to how custody arrangements get structured. Jericho, with its high concentration of dual-income households, significant real property values, and co... ### Suffolk County Divorce Lawyers https://www.hddivorce.com/ At Hillen Druek, PLLC, our Suffolk County divorce lawyers approach every case with a focus on clarity, efficiency, and respect for what you are going through. ### Suffolk County Child Custody Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/suffolk-county-child-custody-lawyer/ Our Suffolk County child custody lawyers represent parents throughout Long Island in child custody and visitation matters, bringing more than thirty years of combined experience to each case. ### Suffolk County Child Support Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/suffolk-county-child-support-lawyer/ Our Suffolk County child support lawyers provide straightforward guidance focused on helping you understand your rights and obligations under New York law. ### Suffolk County Contested Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/suffolk-county-contested-divorce-lawyer/ With more than thirty years of combined experience handling family law matters, our Suffolk County contested divorce lawyers are prepared to advocate for your interests both in and out of the courtroom. ### Suffolk County Divorce Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/suffolk-county-divorce-lawyer/ Our Suffolk County divorce lawyers take the time to answer those questions directly and honestly, providing a clear roadmap tailored to your circumstances. ### Suffolk County Family Lawyer https://www.hddivorce.com/suffolk-county-family-lawyer/ Our Suffolk County family law attorneys provide clear, practical guidance every step of the way. 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Call Hillen Druek, PLLC for a free consultation. ## Recent Articles ### Divorcing a Business Owner in Suffolk County: Valuing a Closely Held Company https://www.hddivorce.com/divorcing-a-business-owner-in-suffolk-county-valuing-a-closely-held-company/ (2026-08-26) Our Suffolk County contested divorce lawyers at Hillen Druek, PLLC work closely with financial experts so our clients understand what a business is really worth before agreeing to any settlement. ### Protecting a Family Business With a Prenuptial Agreement in Suffolk County https://www.hddivorce.com/protecting-a-family-business-with-a-prenuptial-agreement-in-suffolk-county/ (2026-08-19) Our Suffolk County prenuptial agreement lawyers at Hillen Druek, PLLC help business owning clients across Long Island put clear, enforceable agreements in place before marriage. ### Gray Divorce: Special Considerations for Long Island Couples Over 50 https://www.hddivorce.com/gray-divorce-special-considerations-for-long-island-couples-over-50/ (2026-08-12) Our Suffolk County divorce attorneys at Hillen Druek, PLLC serve clients from our Islandia and Westhampton Beach offices. ### Can You Waive Spousal Maintenance in a New York Prenuptial Agreement? https://www.hddivorce.com/can-you-waive-spousal-maintenance-in-a-new-york-prenuptial-agreement/ (2026-08-11) Our Suffolk County prenuptial agreement attorneys at Hillen Druek, PLLC regularly help clients across Islandia and Westhampton Beach negotiate agreements that hold up over time. ### Welcome https://www.hddivorce.com/welcome/ (2026-04-20) Our blog is coming soon. ## Frequently Asked Questions Q: How is property divided in a New York divorce? A: New York divides marital property equitably, which means fairly but not necessarily equally. The court considers factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse's economic circumstances, any prenuptial agreement, and the contributions each person made to the marriage, both financial and non-financial. Assets owned before the marriage or received as gifts or inheritance are typically treated as separate property, though documentation matters considerably. Q: What determines which parent gets custody of the children? A: New York courts use a best interests of the child standard. This is a broad, fact-specific inquiry that looks at each parent's relationship with the child, the stability of each home environment, each parent's ability to foster the child's relationship with the other parent, and in cases involving older children, the child's own preferences. There is no automatic preference for either parent based on gender. Q: How is child support calculated in New York? A: New York uses a statutory formula that applies a percentage of the combined parental income to the number of children. The non-custodial parent pays a proportional share based on income. Courts can deviate from the guideline amount in certain circumstances, particularly when income is very high or when children have special needs that require additional support. The formula covers basic support; additional expenses like healthcare, daycare, and education costs are typically allocated separately. Q: Can I get divorced without going to court? A: If you and your spouse agree on all issues, an uncontested divorce in New York can be completed without a court appearance in many cases. However, all agreements must be reduced to a properly executed written settlement agreement that addresses every marital issue. Working with a family law attorney to draft and review that agreement prevents gaps or errors that lead to disputes after the divorce is final. Q: What is the difference between legal custody and physical custody? A: Legal custody refers to the right to make major decisions about a child's education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Physical custody, sometimes called residential custody, refers to where the child primarily lives. Parents can share legal custody while having one primary residential parent, or arrangements can be structured differently based on what actually fits the family's circumstances. Q: Can a custody order be changed after a divorce? A: Yes, but courts require a showing of a substantial change in circumstances before modifying an existing custody order. Examples include a parent relocating, a significant change in a child's needs, or changes in a parent's ability to care for the child. The modification standard exists to promote stability for children rather than allowing constant reopening of custody disputes. Q: How does a parent's request to relocate affect a custody arrangement? A: Relocation with a child when there is an existing custody order requires either the other parent's consent or court approval. New York courts look at whether the move is in good faith, the effect on the child's relationship with the non-relocating parent, whether the custodial parent's reasons for moving are legitimate, and what kind of parenting schedule could realistically be maintained after the move. Relocation cases in the Nassau County area often involve parents seeking to move for empl... Q: What happens if my spouse is hiding assets during our divorce? A: Asset concealment in a divorce is a serious issue. Discovery tools in New York matrimonial proceedings include depositions, interrogatories, subpoenas to financial institutions, and forensic accounting analysis. If a spouse is found to have deliberately concealed or dissipated marital assets, the court can factor that conduct into the distribution award. Working with an attorney familiar with financial discovery in high-asset Nassau County divorces is important when asset transparency is in q... Q: Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce if my spouse and I agree on everything? A: Having an attorney review or draft the settlement agreement is advisable even in fully agreed cases. The agreement becomes binding on both parties for years and sometimes decades, particularly regarding property transfers and support obligations. Gaps in how retirement accounts, real property, or tax matters are addressed in the agreement often create significant problems down the road that cost more to resolve than a careful review would have cost at the outset. Q: How long does a divorce typically take in Nassau County? A: An uncontested divorce where both parties agree on all terms can be finalized in a few months once paperwork is submitted to the court. Contested divorces that require judicial intervention on custody, support, or asset division can take a year or longer, depending on the complexity of the financial issues and the court's calendar. Nassau County Supreme Court has active dockets, and scheduling realistic expectations early matters. Q: Can spousal maintenance be modified after it is ordered? A: Post-divorce maintenance in New York can be modified if there is a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant change in either party's income or the recipient spouse becoming self-supporting. Maintenance also terminates upon remarriage of the recipient or, if specified in the agreement, upon cohabitation. The terms of any settlement agreement on maintenance matter greatly, because agreed-upon terms that waive modification rights may be enforceable depending on how the agreemen... Q: What is the difference between filing for divorce in Nassau County Supreme Court versus handling custody in Family Court? A: Nassau County Supreme Court is the forum for divorce proceedings, which include equitable distribution, spousal maintenance, and can also incorporate custody and child support if the parties are divorcing. Nassau County Family Court handles custody, visitation, support, paternity, and family offense cases outside of a divorce context. When a divorce is pending in Supreme Court, it generally takes jurisdictional priority over a separately filed Family Court custody petition, but the interactio... Q: How does a Nassau County judge decide which parent gets custody? A: New York courts apply the best interests of the child standard, which requires examining a range of factors rather than applying a fixed formula. Judges in Nassau County's matrimonial and Family Court parts evaluate each parent's ability to provide stability, the existing parent-child relationship, each parent's work schedule and living situation, the child's adjustment to school and community, and the willingness of each parent to facilitate the child's relationship with the other parent. Th... Q: Can I get spousal maintenance if I have been out of the workforce during a long marriage? A: Yes. New York's maintenance law uses a statutory formula to calculate a guideline amount, and a spouse who left the workforce or reduced earning capacity during a long marriage is typically in a stronger position to receive maintenance than someone in a shorter marriage with maintained employment. Courts may also deviate from the guideline amount based on factors including the recipient's health, the payor's ability to pay, and the lifestyle maintained during the marriage. Maintenance duratio... Q: What happens to the marital home in a Nassau County divorce? A: The marital home is typically the most emotionally charged asset in a Nassau County divorce and also frequently the most valuable one. Options include one spouse buying out the other's share, selling the home and dividing the proceeds, or, in cases involving minor children, a deferred sale arrangement that allows the custodial parent to remain in the home until a triggering event like the youngest child reaching a certain age. The buyout amount depends on the home's current value, any outstan... Q: How does child support work in Nassau County when one parent earns a very high income? A: New York's Child Support Standards Act applies a percentage to combined parental income up to a statutory cap. For income above that cap, the court has discretion to apply the statutory percentage, use the factors set out in the statute, or both. In Nassau County, where many households have incomes well above the statutory threshold, disputes about above-cap child support are common. Courts examine the child's needs, the standard of living the child would have enjoyed, and each parent's finan... Q: Can a custody order entered in Nassau County be modified if I want to relocate? A: Relocation cases are among the most difficult in New York family law. When one parent wants to move a significant distance from the other, the court applies a relocation-specific analysis that examines the reasons for the proposed move, the impact on the child's relationship with the non-relocating parent, how visitation would be restructured, and the child's overall best interests. Courts do not prohibit relocation categorically, but approval is not automatic, and cases where one parent want... Q: What is a forensic custody evaluator and how much weight does the report carry? A: In contested Nassau County custody cases, a court may appoint a mental health professional to conduct a forensic evaluation, which involves clinical interviews with both parents and the children, home visits, review of records, and collateral interviews with teachers, therapists, or others involved in the child's life. The evaluator prepares a written report with recommendations. While the report is not binding on the court, judges frequently give it significant weight, and the evaluator may ... Q: My spouse owns a business. How do I find out what it is actually worth? A: Determining the value of a closely held business in a Nassau County divorce typically requires hiring a forensic accountant or business valuation expert. That expert reviews the business's financial records, tax returns, accounts receivable, client base, and goodwill, among other factors, and renders an opinion of value. One important issue in New York divorce law is the distinction between enterprise goodwill, which is marital property subject to distribution, and personal or professional go... Q: How long does a contested divorce in Nassau County typically take? A: An uncontested Nassau County divorce can be completed in a matter of months once all paperwork is properly filed. A contested divorce that involves disputed property, contested custody, and significant financial complexity can take considerably longer, often two to three years from filing to trial, depending on the court's calendar, the pace of discovery, and whether expert witnesses are needed. Preliminary conferences, compliance conferences, and pre-trial conferences are all part of the Sup... Q: Is mediation required before a Nassau County family case goes to trial? A: Nassau County courts encourage settlement and may direct parties to participate in settlement conferences or alternative dispute resolution processes, but formal mediation is not universally required before trial. Parties can voluntarily agree to mediate their disputes outside of court, which many Nassau County family law attorneys recommend as a way to reduce cost and preserve some control over the outcome. Even in cases that eventually settle, the preparation required for litigation, includ... Q: How does New York decide who gets the house in a divorce? A: The marital home is typically subject to equitable distribution like any other marital asset. Courts consider whether one spouse can afford to buy out the other, the impact on children's schooling and stability, and whether an immediate sale serves both parties' financial needs. When children are involved and one parent is the primary custodian, courts sometimes delay the sale until a milestone like a child finishing school. A buyout requires the buying spouse to refinance the mortgage solely... Q: Is New York a no-fault divorce state? A: Yes. New York allows divorce based on the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for at least six months, which is the no-fault ground most commonly used today. This means neither party needs to prove adultery, abandonment, or cruel treatment to obtain a divorce. Fault can still be relevant in narrow circumstances, particularly when a court exercises its equitable distribution discretion, but it does not function as a barrier to divorce itself. Q: What happens if my spouse hides assets during divorce? A: Both parties are required to provide full financial disclosure under oath. Concealing assets is a form of fraud on the court and on the other spouse. Courts have the authority to sanction parties who fail to disclose, draw adverse inferences from missing financial information, and award a greater share of the marital estate to the non-offending spouse as a remedy. Forensic accountants and subpoenas for financial records are the primary tools used to uncover undisclosed assets. Q: Can I get divorced in Nassau County if my spouse refuses to sign anything? A: Yes. If your spouse will not cooperate, a contested divorce proceeds through service of process, where your spouse is formally served with the divorce summons and complaint. Once served, your spouse has a limited time to respond. If they fail to respond at all, you can seek a default judgment. If they respond and contest the terms, the case proceeds through discovery, potential mediation, and ultimately trial if no agreement is reached. A spouse cannot prevent a divorce from happening by refu... --- Detailed version — see https://www.hddivorce.com/llms.txt for summary Generated by MileMark Schema Pro