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Best Family Lawyers in New York City

Our Recommended Top 17

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored New York City Family Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

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17Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

30 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10005

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (255)
Avvo
4.8 (65)
FindLaw
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Manchanda Law Office PLLC represents clients dealing with complex family law issues in New York City. The firm handles various family-related legal disputes, from divorce to custody battles. It also takes on cases involving personal injury, internet defamation, civil rights, immigration, commercial litigation. It has handled cases involving well-known organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, New York University, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Principal attorney Rahul Manchanda has been featured on Newsweek, CNN, Court TV, and News Max.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Rahul Manchanda - PrincipalActive22 yrs

45 Broadway Ste 1500, New York, NY 10006

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (84)
Yelp
4.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2004, the Kleyman Law Firm with its team of family lawyers in New York helps families and individuals with family law issues throughout the greater New York area, serving all five boroughs and Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester counties. Its scope of practice includes divorce, child support, child custody, and LGBT divorce matters. It also takes on sensitive issues related to family law, including domestic violence. The firm regularly represents clients in contested, uncontested, and high-net-worth divorce actions.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Val Kleyman - Founder & Managing PartnerActive20 yrs
Catherine Mckinney - PartnerActive9 yrs

630 3rd Avenue, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10017

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.5 (4)
FindLaw
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Cox, Padmore, Skolnik, & Shakarchy LLP is a multidisciplinary law firm that handles divorce cases and other matters in Denver and additional cities. The firm provides guidance to clients in high-net-worth, international, no-fault, same-sex, and contested and uncontested divorce cases. Its family lawyers in Denver help clients protect their assets while discovering the other spouse's hidden assets. The firm also gives aid in matters related to child custody and grandparents' rights, focusing on the well-being of clients' children. Additionally, the firm handles prenuptial agreements.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Gerald Padmore - Managing PartnerActive43 yrs

The Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Ave. 26th Floor, New York, NY 10174

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Heidi E. Opinsky, located in New York and Fairfield, is a team of legal professionals with more than three decades of experience focusing their practice on family law. Ms. Opinsky, a family attorney in New York, helps clients with cases involving civil unions, post-divorce modifications of alimony, child support and custody, visitation, post-judgment enforcement, and same-sex divorce. She also assists clients with paternity determination. Ms. Opinsky is a member of the New York, Connecticut, American, and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Heidi Opinsky - PartnerActive38 yrs

299 Broadway Suite 708, New York, NY 10007

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (41)
Avvo
5.0 (22)
Yelp
1.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Bryant & Bleier, LLP, is a law firm that offers legal solutions to individuals and families in New York City and the surrounding communities. It handles uncontested, contested, and high net worth divorces and assists clients in related matters such as paternity, child custody, relocation, child support, spousal maintenance, and domestic violence and orders of protection. The firm also offers mediation services and drafts prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Darren D. Bleier, one of the company's partners, is also fluent in Hebrew.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Anne Bryant - PartnerActive16 yrs

122 E 42nd St Rm 2100, New York, NY 10168

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (19)
Facebook
5.0 (10)
FindLaw
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Joseph H. Nivin PC, located in Queens and Manhattan, has been helping clients with family law matters in the New York City area since 2010. The firm’s group of family attorneys in New York helps clients address custody and visitation, paternity and child support, property division, contested and uncontested divorce, and foster care review issues. It also helps clients with sensitive issues such as child abuse, orders of protection, and juvenile delinquency cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Joseph Nivin - PrincipalActive16 yrs

48 Wall Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10005

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (40)
Avvo
5.0 (14)
Facebook
4.7 (13)

Why choose this provider?

Lisa Beth Older is a trial lawyer who provides legal counsel and representation to individuals dealing with family-related legal issues in New York City and the surrounding areas. She handles cases involving divorce appeals, parental alienation, domestic violence, prenuptial agreements, Article 10 neglect and abuse, and child custody. Lisa is a legal analyst and writer who has published breaking news on issues surrounding family law. She has also appeared on ABC News, MSNBC, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, and the Joyce Brothers for her legal insights.

  • Divorce
  • Alimony

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Lisa Older - PrincipalActive38 yrs

641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (18)
Avvo
3.7 (3)
Yelp
3.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Paul W. Matthews, Attorney at Law, handles family law cases in New York City. The firm mainly represents child custody, support, and visitation trials and appeals clients. His law firm deals with uncontested divorce, guardianship, paternity, adoption, and orders protection for domestic violence victims. Matthews served as assistant corporation counsel for the City of New York in torts and family law divisions from 1992 to 1995. He is also a Manhattan Family Court Bar Association former president.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Paul Matthews - PrincipalActive31 yrs

300 Garden City Plz Ste 444, Garden City, NY 11530

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (78)
Avvo
5.0 (2)
FindLaw
0.5 (1)

Why choose this provider?

With more than 100 years of collective experience, the office of Samuelson Hause & Samuelson LLP is located in Garden City and serves clients in the New York area regarding family law matters. It handles divorces and child custody and support, and has experience with complex factors such as high net worth, same-sex divorces, and advocating for grandparents' rights. Attorney Elliot Samuelson has been voted Top Matrimonial and Family Law Attorney by New York Super Lawyers.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Wendy Samuelson - Managing PartnerActive30 yrs

206 East 163rd Street, Bronx, NY 10451

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (29)
Avvo
4.8 (19)
Yelp
2.5 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Gutfriend Family Law addresses the legal needs of families in New York City. Its primary attorney, Ava Gutfriend, has been in the industry since 1990. She handles cases that involve divorce, paternity, guardianship, child support, and alimony. Gutfriend has represented cases in the courts of the Bronx and surrounding five boroughs. She also served as a prosecutor for the New York City CCDLA. Her practice also covers matters of relocation, orders of protection, and enforcement or modification of court orders.

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ava Gutfriend - PrincipalActive34 yrs

355 Lexington Ave, Suite 401, New York, NY 10017

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (125)
Yelp
4.4 (29)
Avvo
3.8 (23)

Why choose this provider?

Roven Law Group P.C. offers counsel and representation to families and individuals in the New York City metro. It deals with various aspects of family law, helping clients file disputes for child custody and support, parental alienation and relocation, divorce, and paternity rights. The legal office also handles issues involving prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and enforcement of court orders. Founder Janice Roven has been practicing law for over 30 years. She also takes on cases related to probate and personal injury law.

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
jance roven - Founding AttorneyActive38 yrs

140 Broadway, Suite 46, New York, NY 10005

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (44)
Avvo
5.0 (20)
Yelp
2.5 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Levoritz Law Firm handles various family-related legal issues in New York City. It helps clients navigate divorce, child custody, spousal support, and property division through a holistic and client-centered approach. Yonatan Levoritz founded the practice in 2005. He is an appellate court litigator and a member of the New York County Lawyers Association's matrimonial and family law sections. He is an advocate of fathers' rights, especially in divorce and custody matters.

  • Alimony

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Yonatan Levoritz - FounderActive19 yrs

115 W 25th Street, New York, NY 10001

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (45)
Avvo
5.0 (8)
Yelp
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Ryan Besinque is a firm serving New York City. It provides legal guidance to individuals and families in a wide range of domestic matters including contested or uncontested divorce, domestic violence, and prenuptial agreements. Its legal team attempts to minimize conflicts between the parties involved whether the proceedings are taking place in and out of court. The firm's practitioner, Ryan Besinque, promotes a collaborative approach in family law issues. He also serves indigent individuals through the Manhattan Assigned Counsel Panel.

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ryan Besinque - PrincipalActive6 yrs

521 Fifth Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10175

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (21)
Avvo
5.0 (10)
Facebook
4.2 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein, LLP represents clients in divorce and other family law matters in New York City. The practice covers child support, spousal maintenance, and same-sex divorce, and prenuptial agreements. Founding partner Barry Berkman served on the American Bar Association Task Force on Standards of Practice for Divorce Mediation. He is also a founding member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, where several attorneys at the firm were trained to be divorce mediators.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Barry Berkman - Founding PartnerActive58 yrs

950 Third Avenue, Eleventh Floor, New York, NY 10022

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (125)
Avvo
5.0 (56)
Yelp
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Cohen Forman Barone, LLP provides legal assistance to individuals navigating complex family law matters in New York City. Lawyers at the firm have over 75 years of combined experience in mediating and litigating cases involving divorce, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, child custody, and child support. Other practice areas include criminal defense, immigration, and crimmigration, which involves representing clients with criminal records in immigration proceedings and vice-versa. The law firm also serves clients from its office in Long Island.

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Cory Forman - PartnerActive23 yrs

780 Third Avenue 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.6 (20)
Google
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Randi L. Karmel, PLLC, is a family law firm in New York City. It handles family law issues, including divorce, spousal maintenance, child support, domestic partnership agreements, and family and marital trials. The firm can also help clients with concerns regarding property division and child custody through the process of mediation. Randi L. Karmel, the firm's founding attorney, was a former litigator for misdemeanor and felony cases. She opened her family law firm in 1997.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Randi Karmel - OwnerActive32 yrs

1123 Avenue Z, Brooklyn, NY 11235

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (39)
Google
3.3 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Vangorodska Law Firm provides personalized legal assistance to individuals dealing with family law-related matters in New York City. From consultation to representation, it helps clients with issues such as child custody and support, domestic abuse, visitation rights, marital agreements, property divisions, and divorce. Its other practice areas include corporate law, criminal law, immigration law, and litigation. Yuliya Vangorodska has over 15 years of legal experience. She is a member of the American Association for Justice.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Yuliya Vangorodska - PrincipalActive18 yrs

Compare our Top Family Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Manchanda Law Office PLLC
30 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10005
Kleyman Law Firm
45 Broadway Ste 1500, New York, NY 10006
Cox Padmore Skolnik & Shakarchy LLP
630 3rd Avenue, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10017
Law Offices of Heidi E. Opinsky
The Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Ave. 26th Floor, New York, NY 10174
Bryant & Bleier, LLP
299 Broadway Suite 708, New York, NY 10007
The Law Offices of Joseph H. Nivin, P.C.
122 E 42nd St Rm 2100, New York, NY 10168
Lisa Beth Older
48 Wall Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10005
Paul W. Matthews Attorney at Law
641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Samuelson Hause & Samuelson, LLP
300 Garden City Plz Ste 444, Garden City, NY 11530
Gutfriend Family Law
206 East 163rd Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Roven Law Group P.C.
355 Lexington Ave, Suite 401, New York, NY 10017
Levoritz Law Firm
140 Broadway, Suite 46, New York, NY 10005
The Law Office of Ryan Besinque
115 W 25th Street, New York, NY 10001
Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein, LLP
521 Fifth Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10175
Cohen Forman Barone, LLP
950 Third Avenue, Eleventh Floor, New York, NY 10022
Randi L. Karmel, PLLC
780 Third Avenue 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Vangorodska Law Firm
1123 Avenue Z, Brooklyn, NY 11235

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What kinds of cases do family lawyers handle?

    Family lawyers handle all types of family-related issues, including divorce, child support and spousal support, custody, adoption, paternity and guardianship. Family attorneys can also handle prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and divide marital assets based on the policies outlined in these documents. Domestic violence cases are also within the purview of family law attorneys.

  • Is family court different from district court?

    In most states, family court is a division of the district court rather than a separate court system. Family law judges primarily preside over family disputes, such as divorce and custody hearings. Most states require family law judges to receive special training on how to best address family law matters.

  • How long do custody cases last in family court?

    The duration of custody cases can differ based on the circumstances surrounding the claim. A case in which parents agree to split custody can be quick, while lawsuits in which both parents or guardians are fighting for full custody can take much longer. Most child custody cases last three to 10 days, but this can vary under more challenging circumstances.

  • Why is there no jury in family court?

    There are no juries in family court cases because the concept of innocence or guilt does not apply. While there may be some cases in which additional opinions could be helpful, most cases are based on the letter of the law versus individual circumstances. Some states, including Texas, permit jury trials for family court cases, but this is uncommon.

  • What are the most common cases in family court?

    Family law covers a variety of different cases pertaining to familial relations. The most common cases in family court include:

    • Divorce cases, including settling issues of alimony, property distribution, and child care
    • Child custody and the determination of paternity
    • Domestic violence protection orders
    • Name changes, including modifications due to adoption or personal preference
    • Guardianship, including who will handle the care of a child or adult should current caretakers be unable to do so
    • Adoptions and the termination of parental rights
    • Juvenile matters, including child abuse and neglect, foster placements, and criminal conduct
    • Emancipation, which is the process of declaring a minor as independent from their parents
    • Approval of underage marriages

  • Do family lawyers handle mediation?

    Mediation can be a valuable part of a divorce case, counseling spouses to work through areas of disagreement in a fair, calm, and unbiased manner. Most, but not all, family lawyers handle mediation. Anyone who believes they may need intervention services is encouraged to ask about an attorney’s experience with resolving disputes, to ensure that support is available if necessary.