A Verified Complaint New York Divorce proceeding is a formal legal document submitted to the court by one of the spouses (the plaintiff or petitioner) to initiate the divorce process. This document outlines the grounds for divorce as well as any other relevant claims, such as child custody, child support, spousal support, and division of assets and debts. In New York, divorces can be granted on both no-fault and fault-based grounds. The complaint will specify the grounds on which the divorce is being sought. Common grounds include irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (no-fault), abandonment, adultery, cruelty, or imprisonment.