Practice Areas

Route one: automatic sealing under the Clean Slate Act The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. The Unified Court System has until November

Misdemeanor charges in New York, and the consequences that follow the disposition.

Driving while intoxicated in New York, and the license consequences that run alongside the charge.

How the points work Points increase in bands as the alleged speed over the limit rises. A high-speed charge can carry a large enough number

What paying the ticket actually does Paying a ticket by submitting a guilty plea accepts a conviction and normally closes the case. Discuss the charge

What “best interest of the animal” means here It is not the child custody standard transplanted onto pets. It is narrower, and understanding the difference

Who needs one Couples adopting together. Unmarried couples in particular, because they do not have a divorce proceeding to resolve possession. See Pet Custody Between

Who keeps the animal, and what New York courts now take into account.

What makes a case complex A business or professional practice. The hardest asset in a divorce. It must be valued, and the marital portion identified

Two routes A separation agreement. A written contract between spouses covering the same ground a divorce settlement would. It must be in writing, signed, and

Grandparent visitation: two steps Step one — standing. Before the court considers whether visitation is a good idea, the grandparent must show they are entitled

How is paternity established? Acknowledgment of Paternity. A form both parents sign, commonly at the hospital after birth. Once signed and filed it has the

What guardianship covers Guardian of the person — authority over the child’s care, custody, education, and medical decisions. Guardian of the property — authority over

The execution requirements are strict Under DRL §236(B)(3), a marital agreement must be: In writing Signed by both parties Acknowledged in the manner required to

Enforcing child support A violation petition asks the court to find the other parent has failed to pay as ordered. Court and administrative enforcement tools,

Modifying child support Three routes: A substantial change in circumstances since the order A change of 15% or more in either parent’s income Three years

Merger and survival — the question that decides your options When a divorce is finalized, the settlement agreement either merges into the judgment or survives

What portion is marital? Generally what accrued during the marriage. Contributions made before the marriage, and their growth, are usually separate property. For a defined-contribution

Mediated divorce in New York, and how the agreement becomes an enforceable judgment.

CPS investigations and Article 10 neglect and abuse petitions, and why the first days matter.

Medicaid planning and applications for New York families, including nursing-home transfer rules, spousal protections and urgent care needs.

What makes a divorce contested, how the process moves, and why most still settle.

What counts as marital property, what stays separate, and why equitable is not equal.

What makes a divorce uncontested, and why the drafting is the whole job.

How to obtain an order of protection, and how to respond if one is sought against you.

The CSSA formula, the income cap, enforcement, and modification in Family Court.

How New York courts decide custody, and what the best-interests standard actually weighs.

A limited-scope consultation: analysis, strategy, and a written plan you can act on.

The guideline formulas, the income cap, and how long maintenance lasts.

The CSSA percentages, the combined income cap, and the add-on expenses.