Marriage counseling or couples therapy is the process of spouses working with a trained professional (usually a psychologist) to resolve problems in their relationship, with the goal of saving the relationship and marriage. Marriage counseling is generally not required before getting divorced, but in some states courts have the discretion to require couples seeking a divorce to engage in marriage counseling—although this is rare. And in some states the court may order the spouses to attend marriage counseling if one spouse requests it. But because a spouse is generally entitled to a divorce on no-fault grounds (without claiming or proving fault in the breakup of the marriage), marriage counseling is not usually a significant factor in the divorce process, and if one spouse wants a divorce, it will be granted.

In New York, marriage counseling or couples therapy is a voluntary process where spouses work with a trained therapist to address issues in their relationship. While it can be a helpful step for couples looking to improve or save their marriage, it is not a legal requirement before filing for divorce. New York operates under a no-fault divorce system, which means that a divorce can be granted without the need to prove fault or wrongdoing by either spouse. The courts in New York do not typically require couples to undergo marriage counseling before a divorce is granted. If one spouse wants a divorce, they are entitled to pursue it without mandatory counseling, even if the other spouse would prefer to attend counseling. However, if both parties agree, they can certainly choose to attend marriage counseling at any point during their relationship or the divorce process.