Find Lawyers in New York, United States for Family Law
Practice Area Overview
Family law is the broad practice area dedicated to marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, domestic violence, reproductive rights and many other matters regarding familial relationships. The most common family law issue involves divorce, which includes all the related concerns that arise from it, such as the division of marital property, child custody, support and alimony.
While many family law attorneys eventually develop a specialty, such as adoption law or domestic partnership law, many practicing attorneys usually hold experience in more than one area. Additionally, family law attorneys can draft and negotiate contracts, pleadings and other legal documents, all while possessing the interpersonal skills to adapt to and manage each case's unique, emotional history.
The following subspecialities are a sampling of the types of legal issues that family law lawyers will address:
Divorce
Child Custody
Marital Settlement Agreements
Family Businesses
Alimony
Prenuptial Agreements
Domestic Relations
Child Support
Adoption
Paternity
Family Law Mediation
Partnership Disputes
Child Abuse
Family Law Appeals
Juvenile Matters
Guardianships
Collaborative Family Law
Marriage
Family lawyers interact with many aspects of marriage and the marriage relationship. The legal definition of marriage varies from state to state, but generally it is a contract between two people that is recognized by the state and gives both parties certain legal rights and responsibilities. Some of the key rights and responsibilities that come with marriage include property rights, inheritance rights and the responsibility to support one another financially.
Prenuptial Arrangements
Prenuptial arrangements, or the arrangements that are made before a marriage regarding the topic of a future separation, are handled by family attorneys. These agreements are legally binding contracts.
Divorce
Another major area of family law is divorce. Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage, and it can be a complicated and emotionally difficult process for all parties involved. For a divorce to occur, one of the parties must file a petition with the court, and the court will then decide on issues such as property division, alimony, and child custody.
Child Custody and Support
Child custody and support is another important aspect of family law. When parents' divorce, the court will often make a determination as to which parent will have primary physical custody of the children, as well as how much financial child support will be required from the parent without custody. Child custody and support issues can also arise in situations where the parents were never married.
Adoption
Adoption is another important area of family law. Adoption is the legal process of becoming a parent to a child who is not biologically related to you. The laws surrounding adoption vary from state to state, but generally, adopting parents must meet certain qualifications and go through a rigorous process before the adoption is finalized.
Domestic Violence
Family law also encompasses issues related to domestic violence. Domestic violence refers to any type of abuse that occurs within a domestic relationship, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Individuals who are victims of domestic violence can seek legal protection through restraining orders and other legal remedies.
Hiring a Lawyer: Best Lawyers in America for Family Law
The Best Lawyers’ family lawyer directory has an extensive list of experienced family law attorneys who work with marriage, divorce, adoption, and all other specialties within family court.
When searching for a family attorney, it is important to consider the following factors:
Experience and Specialization: While some of the best family lawyers will have experience representing clients in a variety of legal issues, not all attorneys have the same level of expertise or experience in the field of family law. It is important to find an attorney who specializes in this area of law and has a proven track record of success in handling similar cases.
Communication: A good attorney should be able to clearly explain the legal process and your options to you, and be responsive to your questions and concerns.
Availability: Family law matters can be time-sensitive, and it is important to find an attorney who is available and responsive to your needs.
Professionalism and Ethics: Look for an attorney who is a member of a professional organization, such as the state bar association, and who adheres to a strict code of ethics.
Cost: It is also important to consider the cost of hiring an attorney. Make sure to ask about the attorney's fee structure and any additional expenses you may incur. There will generally not be a lawyer cost for initial consultations, but not all law firms have the same structure.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers for family law 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 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.
Select a city from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Francis (Chris) Affronti is a divorce, family law lawyer and appellate advocate. He handles cases where the marital estate might involve two office blue collar employees who own a house and have some retirement accounts. At the same time, he handles high conflict custody cases and divorces with complex financial issues and extensive marital estates. He is a meticulous and strategic thinker. He handles child support, maintenance, and family offense cases in Supreme and Family Court. He prepare...
A founding partner of Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP, Barry Berkman received his B.A. degree from Harvard College and his law degree from Stanford University. Specializing in matrimonial law and mediation, he has guided many of his clients to successful, highly satisfactory out-of-court resolutions through the collaborative law process or mediation. He has served on the American Bar Association Task Force on Standards of Practice for Divorce Mediation and has been a member of the Matr...
Peter O. Bodnar, a co-founder and member of the firm, is an experienced litigator, having limited his practice over the course of the past 46 years to matrimonial and family law. He also mediates and arbitrates such matters, selected by the parties and/or their attorneys. A member of the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association Family Law Section since 1992 (Chair from 2000 to 2002), and a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Family Law ...
Lawrence Jay Braunstein is a partner in the law firm of Braunstein & Zuckerman, Esqs, in White Plains, New York. His practice includes the areas of Matrimonial and Family Law and related civil and criminal litigation. Since 1985 he has specifically focused his practice in the areas of child custody litigation and litigation involving allegations of child sexual abuse, physical abuse and abusive head trauma (shaken baby) in matrimonial, family and criminal cases. He is a Fellow of the Amer...
Alexis L. Cirel is a partner in our Matrimonial and Family Law Group. In addition to her matrimonial practice, Ms. Cirel is a recognized leader in the quickly evolving area of reproductive family law. She was instrumental in the recent passage of the Child-Parent Security Act, legislation that legalizes gestational surrogacy in New York and ensures protections for New York families formed through the use of assisted reproduction, including being appointed to the Campaign Leadership Committee ...
Mr. Clair is widely recognized as one of a handful of elite New York divorce lawyers. While Mr. Clair is skilled at all facets of client advocacy and representation, it is his skill as a trial lawyer and his command of the courtroom that sets him apart. Mr. Clair has a unique ability to communicate and effectively advocate on behalf of his clients in both financial and custodial matters. On account of his courtroom experience, he is an effective negotiator and many of Mr. Clair’s cases ...
Mr. Cohen is one of the leading matrimonial lawyers in the United States. He has been counsel in some of the most important equitable distribution and custody matters in New York. Mr. Cohen regularly represents many of the most accomplished individuals and their spouses in the fields of finance, real estate, business, public service and entertainment. Due to Mr. Cohen’s extensive record of accomplishment and reported decisions, he is also frequently called upon to represent individuals ...
John P. Frucco brings a unique breadth of legal experience to the practice of matrimonial and family Law. With over five decades of trial experience, Mr. Frucco has successfully litigated cases involving the full spectrum of matrimonial and family law issues. He is also a seasoned and tough negotiator of favorable settlements. Mr. Frucco has been listed in various editions of Super Lawyers of the New York Metropolitan Area. Mr. Frucco’s courtroom work spans both sides of the bench and m...
“What I like best about my job is making a difference for my clients who are often in difficult situations.”Ira is recognized by both his colleagues and judges as one of the top matrimonial attorneys in New York. He has been listed as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” since 2008 and has received a Preeminent Rating for the past fifteen years for both legal ability and ethical standards (“AV”) in the Martindale Hubbell directory of attorneys. Ira has been...
Donna M. Genovese, Esq. is a partner of GOLDSCHMIDT & GENOVESE, LLP. Ms. Genovese has dedicated her practice to the field of matrimonial and family law for thirty plus years. Ms. Genovese’s experience includes all aspects of matrimonial matters, including negotiation, litigation and drafting of separation and settlement agreements. Ms. Genovese is also trained in Collaborative Law and Mediation. Ms. Genovese regularly handles complex matrimonial matters which include issues involvin...
Mr. Greifer regularly handles matrimonial matters involving large and complex marital estates. Mr. Greifer has a well-earned reputation for strategic thinking, financial acumen and successful representation of clients in all facets of matrimonial litigation. Mr. Greifer’s litigation track record and professional reputation often fosters a conducive environment for settlement without the need for litigation, although if litigation is necessary, Mr. Greifer is an effective, efficient and ...
Robert Grossman's practice is focused in the areas of matrimonial and family law, real estate, commercial litigation and appeals. Understanding that clients often prefer to resolve their disputes out of court, Mr. Grossman is an adept negotiator who seeks to devise creative solutions to complex issues. Mr. Grossman is also currently taking family and marital law cases related to COVID-19.
Pamela Jenson, who has practiced exclusively in the field of family law for more than 30 years, is a 1982 graduate of the University of Washington School of Law and a 1979 summa cum laude graduate of SUNY Buffalo, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Pam has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1999 and has also been included annually in The Best Lawyers in America and New York Super Lawyers. Her practice includes the negotiation and drafting of prenuptial ag...
Caroline Krauss is a fierce advocate for individuals in all matrimonial and family law matters, from pre-nuptial agreements to custody trials. She often protects the interests of clients whose legal issues are complicated by their significant assets and heightened public profiles. For more than 25 years, Caroline has focused exclusively on matrimonial and family law, earning widespread praise in the area, including designation as a Trailblazer by The National Law Journal. Appreciating the int...
Erik Kristensen is a founding partner of Kristensen Law Group P.C., a law firm devoted exclusively to the practice of matrimonial and family law, serving the New York metropolitan area, and located in White Plains, New York. Mr. Kristensen’s comprehensive practice includes litigating matters from commencement through trial, appeals, settlement through negotiation, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements and post-judgment matters.Mr. Kristensen is a recognized leader in his field, receiving nu...
Deborah Lans has divided her practice between complex commercial and marital litigation for more than 40 years. She was a founding partner of Morrison Cohen LLP in 1984 and was the head of its Commercial Litigation Department for 15 years, until she left in 2000 to serve as the Executive Director of Mentoring USA, a non-profit organization founded by Matilda Raffa Cuomo to provide one-to-one mentoring to at-risk youth. In 2003 she co-founded Cohen Lans LLP, where she continued to concentrate ...
Ms. Milone is a member of BodnarMilone LLP and an experienced matrimonial litigator, having so limited her practice over the course of the past 30 years. She has represented matrimonial litigants in the Counties of Westchester, New York, Kings, Nassau, Suffolk and Putnam in both Supreme and Family Court, and in the Appellate Divisions of the First and Second Departments. She is a member of the Family Law Sections of the New York State Bar Association, the Westchester County Bar Association an...
Tamara A. Mitchel practices matrimonial and family law. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, after receiving a B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard College, where she was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She also graduated from the Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute of the American Bar Association, Family Law Section. Ms. Mitchel has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for Family Law every year from 2018 through 2023, Marquis Who's Who in American Law 2017-2018...
Patrick C. O’Reilly focuses his practice on matrimonial litigation, handling all aspects of divorce and separation and representing clients in matters related to the modification or enforcement of existing matrimonial judgments and orders. For more than 25 years, Mr. O’Reilly has served as a panelist and speaker on matrimonial and family law topic for numerous seminars, workshops, and symposiums sponsored by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New York State Office of Cou...
Lee Rosenberg is a trial and appellate litigator with over 20 years of experience in all phases of matrimonial and family law practice. This includes the trial of complex custody, support and equitable distribution matters, as well as the important ability to settle these cases. Lee is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys (AAML) where he previously served as National Parliamentarian and as Chair of the AAML's National Chapter Leaders Committee. He is a member of the AAML'...
Mr. Roy practices in the areas of complex family law matters and business litigation. Prior to becoming a member of Cohen Clair Lans Greifer Thorpe & Rottenstreich LLP, Mr. Roy was a partner of Cohen Lans LLP. Mr. Roy is a member of the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association (Section on Family Law; Committee on Legislation); the American Bar Association (Family Law Section); and New York County Lawyers’ Association (Matrimonial Law Section). He is a Fellow...
Lisa has practiced exclusively in the field of matrimonial and family law since her admission to the New York State Bar. She handles all types of matrimonial/family law matters, including but not limited to complex financial and custody matters, spousal and child support issues, postnuptial agreements, prenuptial agreements, and appeals. In addition to being selected as a Best Lawyer since 2018, Lisa is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and The New York Bar Foundation. L...
Valentina Shaknes is a founding partner at KSTM. Since graduating from law school, she has practiced exclusively in matrimonial and family law. Valentina represents clients in a wide variety of complex matrimonial matters involving high-conflict equitable distribution and custody disputes, child and spousal support, and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Valentina particularly specializes in valuations and divisions of closely-held businesses and complicated custody proceedings. Valenti...
A.J. Temsamani approaches every case with the goal of creating practical, reasonable solutions that achieve the client’s objectives in a sound and sensible manner. Whether litigating or mediating a divorce or family law matter, A.J. believes that every client and every case presents a unique situation and calls for an individualized, personal approach. A.J. has devoted his practice to divorce and family law for over 20 years. His reputation has contributed to his attainment of various p...
Eric A. Tepper is a partner in Gordon, Tepper & DeCoursey, LLP, and was born in Schenectady, New York. Mr. Tepper graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, and from George Washington University Law School with a Juris Doctor degree, with honors. He has been selected for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America" for the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions. Best Lawyers has s...
Ms. Thorpe obtained her J.D. from the New York University School of Law. She was a Family Court Judge of the State of New York from March 1979 to October 1988, when she left to enter private practice as a member of Morrison Cohen Singer & Weinstein, LLP in its matrimonial and family law department. While a member of the judiciary, she was a Civil Court Judge in New York County by assignment from January 1981 to March 1982. In 2003, she co-founded Cohen Lans LLP, a predecessor of Cohen Cla...
Elliot J. Wiener co-chairs the firm's New York Matrimonial & Family Law Department. A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers with over 40 years' experience practicing family law, he concentrates his practice in the areas of matrimonial and family law including divorce, custody/visitation, support, and related matters. He has a particular interest in child custody and visitation issues and in trial work. Mr. Wiener is also a trained mediator and has been selected by other ma...
Mr. Wrubel’s legal practice is devoted to handling complex family and matrimonial matters. He is accomplished in negotiating the amicable dissolution of marriages as well as taking these cases to trial if settlement is not possible. In addition, he has years of experience in the New York Appellate Courts. Mr. Wrubel has dealt with a large variety of issues in family and matrimonial matters, including complex equitable distribution questions, novel support and custody issues, as well as ...
Malissa Osei concentrates her practice in commercial litigation and matrimonial matters. She has experience litigating complex contract disputes, negotiating pre-nuptial agreements, and litigating child custody and child support matters in New York’s Family and Supreme Courts. Malissa was named to the National Black Lawyers’ 2019 class of Top 40 Under 40, an invitation-only network of African American attorneys from each state who demonstrate superior leadership, reputation, influ...
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.
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