You make an interesting point!

New York did pass a Divorce Reform Law in 1966, and it came into force (its “effective date”) in 1967. It seems that there is some disagreement about whether that law introduced true “no-fault” divorce or not. It apparently allowed divorce with no assignment of fault in cases where the spouses consensually separated for a certain amount of time, which technically meets the definition of “no-fault” and thus it made it into this paper.

But most Americans, when they hear “no-fault divorce,” think of a unilateral legal grounds for divorce such as “incompatibility.” New York did not allow THAT until 2010. Thus the news reports you cite.

Incidentally, the paper is now available in full, thanks to some professor who posted it on a Google-indexed server. So, anyone who wants to read it, here it be: http://content.csbs.utah.edu/~fan/fcs5400-6400/studentpresentation2009/04DivorceReadingVinsky.pdf

But as late as 2010, New York was both praised and damned for being the only holdout, 25 years after South Dakota fell.

Here the New York Times complains:

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/is-new-york-ready-for-no-fault-divorce/?_r=1

The Wall Street Journal thinks it’s still not final:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304811304577368110112622548

That’s a 43-year discrepancy!

Evidently there’s a distinction between introduction and completion of the process. Like when I took, passed, and got credit for driver’s ed immediately after turning 16, but waited until 24 to take out the license.

WHOOHOO!

My day is made. Thanks!

I was looking for a reference with the effective dates for each state’s adoption of no-fault divorce. Thanks for posting this info.