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The legislation would let couples end their marriages without having to assign blame in court. A New York resident can also unilaterally file for no-fault divorce.

Previously, a couple seeking a divorce had to either separate for a year or cite reasons like adultery, abandonment or cruel treatment.

"Finally, New York has brought its divorce laws into the 21st century," said the governor in a statement. "These bills fix a broken process that produced extended and contentious litigation, poisoned feelings between the parties and harmed the interests of those persons – too often women – who did not have sufficient financial wherewithal to protect their legal rights."

Opponents say the new law will make the number of the state's divorce cases skyrocket and that wealthy spouses will be able to leave their former partners with nothing.

Paterson also vetoed 34 bills that represented $22.9 million in increased and unfunded state spending, according to the governor's office.