Best Lawyers in New York, United States for Family Law
New York City is one of the most active and complex legal markets in the world. With a dense network of courts, regulations and high-stakes legal matters across every industry, navigating the legal system here requires more than just any attorney—it requires the right one.
Whether you're dealing with a corporate dispute, a criminal charge, or a personal legal issue, experience matters. So does reputation. That’s why this directory exists.
The Best Lawyers New York directory offers a streamlined, trustworthy way to start your search. Every attorney in New York listed has been recognized by their peers for professional excellence and the platform is designed to help you filter by legal need, review credentials and take the next step with confidence.
How the Directory Works
This page serves as a targeted directory for users looking to find a lawyer in New York. Each attorney listed has been recognized in the most recent edition of Best Lawyers—a distinction based entirely on peer nominations and evaluations.
You won’t find ads or sponsored listings here. Instead, you can search by:
- Practice area: filter by the type of legal help you need
- Location: narrow results to your borough or region
- Attorney name: if you’re looking to verify someone you’ve already heard of
Each attorney profile includes a clear summary of their experience, focus areas and credentials—giving you the information you need to make a confident decision.
Legal Help by Practice Area
New York City residents’ and visitors’ legal needs are wide-ranging and so are the attorneys listed in this directory. You can quickly narrow your search by legal focus. This directory includes attorneys who concentrate on some of the most in-demand areas of law in New York, such as:
- Business and commercial law
- Criminal defense and investigations
- Employment and labor disputes
- Real estate and construction law
- Divorce, custody and family matters
- Immigration issues
- Personal injury and malpractice
- Estate planning and probate
Why These Attorneys Are Listed
Every attorney on this page has earned a place through Best Lawyers’ rigorous annual peer-review process—one of the most trusted selection methods in the legal profession.
It’s recognition by fellow attorneys who know the work and understand what excellence looks like. Attorneys are nominated by peers and then evaluated on legal skill, professional conduct and client outcomes. Thousands of lawyers participate each year, providing confidential assessments within their specific practice areas.
To be listed, an attorney must:
- Be nominated by another legal professional
- Receive consistently high marks from peers in their practice area
- Maintain a strong track record of ethical behavior and client success
Only those who stand out among their peers are selected. And only those chosen in the most recent edition of the Best Lawyers awards appear in this directory, ensuring that every listing reflects current, active recognition.
Attorneys also manage their own profiles, so the information you’re reviewing is not only credible, but current. You’ll find clear details about each attorney’s practice focus, background and achievements—everything you need to make an informed decision.
This page is built to support your search—not get in the way of it. Whether you're starting from scratch or narrowing down a list of top attorneys in New York, this directory is a practical, no-frills tool to help you move forward.
Start Your Search
If you're trying to find a lawyer in New York, this directory offers a trusted, peer-reviewed way to start. Whether you're hiring for the first time or looking to verify someone's standing, the attorneys listed here have been selected for a reason.
Begin your search by selecting your legal focus. Then explore profiles, compare qualifications and connect with an attorney in New York who’s already earned the trust of the legal community.
Practice Area Overview
Navigating a family law issue is never easy. Emotions run high, outcomes feel personal and the stakes often involve your children, your financial security or your safety. In these moments, choosing the right legal counsel matters. Whether you’re filing for divorce in Brooklyn, seeking custody in Buffalo or negotiating a prenup in White Plains, working with a qualified family law attorney in New York gives you a clear legal path forward and peace of mind that someone is protecting your interests every step of the way.
New York applies its own statutory framework and case law precedent across family law matters. For example, the state uses the doctrine of equitable distribution rather than community property when dividing marital assets.
Custody determinations hinge on the best interests of the child, which takes into account not only living arrangements and parental fitness but also a child’s preferences in some cases. Local court practices vary significantly between downstate counties like Kings and Queens and upstate jurisdictions, which may have fewer resources or different filing processes.
When to Hire a Family Law Attorney in New York
Timing can significantly impact the outcome of a family law case. If you’re asking when should you hire a family lawyer—the answer is almost always, as soon as possible. The earlier you bring in legal guidance, the more protected you are. Lawyers can help you prepare paperwork correctly, avoid unintentional legal concessions and anticipate complications before they arise.
Here are some of the most common reasons people in New York turn to family law attorneys:
- Divorce and separation: New York allows both fault and no-fault divorce and the process can become especially complicated when dealing with high-value assets, shared businesses or significant debt. An attorney ensures proper valuation and division of property and helps you understand long-term financial implications.
- Custody and parenting time: In contested custody cases, courts look closely at each parent's living situation, work schedule, relationship with the child and ability to provide a stable environment. A lawyer can advocate for a fair parenting plan and help enforce custody rights through the court.
- Child support and spousal maintenance: Both are calculated based on formulas, but nuances—like imputed income or support deviations—require careful analysis. An attorney can help ensure that payment amounts are appropriate, enforceable and in line with New York’s guidelines.
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements: These contracts aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy. They’re critical tools for financial planning, especially in second marriages or situations involving inheritances, businesses or large debts.
- Adoption and guardianship: These cases often involve strict procedural requirements, home studies and, in some cases, termination of parental rights. Legal representation can help reduce delays and ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
- Domestic violence and protective orders: For victims of abuse, securing a temporary or permanent order of protection is often the first step in establishing safety. Lawyers also help clients document abuse and prepare for related criminal or family court proceedings.
Many family law attorneys in New York also assist with mediation and negotiation, offering clients a way to resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Collaborative law and alternative dispute resolution are growing in popularity across the state as more families seek private, less adversarial solutions.
What Makes New York Family Law Unique
New York has a reputation for being legally complex and family law is no exception. Every county has different court structures, local rules and administrative hurdles. For example, downstate counties often have overburdened dockets and crowded court calendars, while upstate families may face access-to-justice issues due to fewer available resources or legal aid options.
One key distinction is New York’s equitable distribution law. Unlike community property states that split marital assets 50/50, New York courts divide property fairly based on a list of factors such as income, age, duration of the marriage and future financial needs. Separate property, like assets owned before marriage or inherited individually, is generally excluded but proving that can require documentation and legal strategy.
In custody cases, New York applies a best interest of the child standard that examines multiple factors: the child’s relationship with each parent, educational needs, health considerations and, depending on age and maturity, the child’s preferences. Courts may also appoint forensic evaluators or law guardians in high-conflict matters.
Do you need a lawyer for family court in NY? Technically, no. Individuals may represent themselves in family court for matters like child support, visitation or custody. But given the legal complexity and the potential consequences, many choose to retain counsel, especially when disputes arise or protective orders are involved. A skilled attorney can help you avoid procedural pitfalls, present evidence effectively and negotiate a resolution in your favor.
How to Find a Trusted Family Law Attorney
Choosing the right attorney can feel overwhelming. That’s where Best Lawyers provides a valuable starting point. Unlike crowd-sourced reviews or pay-to-play listings, Best Lawyers relies on peer evaluations to identify leading attorneys across every practice area. Each lawyer listed has been vetted through confidential feedback from other top-rated attorneys in their field, making it one of the most trusted legal resources available.
You can filter by location and years of practice. Whether you’re looking for a top rated family law attorney in New York City or a lawyer who practices in more rural counties, the Best Lawyers directory allows you to find someone who meets your specific needs.
Start Your Search with Confidence
When legal matters hit close to home, you deserve more than just any lawyer. You deserve someone who understands the intricacies of New York family law, who’s been endorsed by peers for their professionalism and ethics and who can guide you through your case with clarity and care.
Use Best Lawyers to find a family law attorney in New York who has earned their place through experience, integrity and results. Your family deserves nothing less.
Family Law Legal Guide 2025
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Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.