Orange County Family Lawyers

Most people never imagine that they will be arrested and charged with a crime and assume that anyone who is arrested must be a criminal. The truth is that anyone can be arrested. A mistaken identification, a misunderstanding or dispute with the police or another party, even simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to being taken into custody by the police and charged with an offense. Being arrested can be one of the scariest moments in anyone's life. Suddenly your liberty is taken away and you may face the prospect...

Michele earned her J.D. Degree from University of Toledo College of Law in 1982. Her coursework included a year at Albany Law School.

After associate work in two New Jersey firms, Ms. Ellerin established her own private practice in 1986. For twenty-six years, she has devoted herself primarily to serving clients in the matrimonial and family law areas.

Ms. Ellerin is active in a number of professional organizations. She has served the Orange County Bar Association in many roles... as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and President. For the past nineteen years, Ms. Ellerin has sat on the organization's Board of...

Howard first stood before a judge, in the Criminal Court of the City of New York at 100 Centre Street, in September of 1972. He has been representing persons accused of crime every working day since then, a period of nearly 46 years.

Howard learned his craft, as a courtroom lawyer, as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Legal Aid Society of the City of New York in Kings County. By the age of 26 he was regularly trying felony cases in the Supreme Court and winning most of them. After five years in that position, he was appointed a...

Okasi & Okasi PC is a law firm serving New York City and Hudson Valley areas of New York with personal and business legal services. We offer extensive support in the areas of Immigration Services, Personal Injuries, Bankruptcy, Real Estate and Family Law. We are proud of the attorneys we have assembled with extensive experience to respond to every aspect of your legal needs. We are here to help! Call us today. 718-822-6800.

Eric S. Shiller, Esq. has successfully represented over 18,000 clients to date. He has significant experience litigating matters in the New York State Courts. Mr. Shiller is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and the State of Connecticut. Mr. Shiller graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1995, and from Hofstra University School of Law with a Juris Doctor Degree in 2000. At Hofstra, Mr. Shiller was a Criminal Courts Bar Association of Nassau County Leon Stern Award Finalist. He was also selected to participate in the National Institute for...

I have been a life long resident of the mid-hudson valley and have been a practicing attorney engaged in the private practice of law in New York since 1994. I attended Law School at Detroit College of Law in Detroit, MI, now known as Michigan State University School of Law and at Albany Law School in Albany, NY. I received a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude. I was immediately admitted to practice law in the State of New York in January of 1994 and began a concentrated practice in the areas of Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor Law, White Collar...

John A. Pappalardo is a Partner in the law firm of Farber, Pappalardo & Carbonari. He has been an active matrimonial practitioner for 32 years handling moderate to very complex litigation involving matrimonial and family law cases. He oversees a very experienced matrimonial department. He also has a private matrimonial mediation practice, is certified in matrimonial collaborative law, sits as a matrimonial arbitrator, and is New York State Certified as an attorney representing children. He has served as Guardian Ad Litem in matrimonial proceedings and is admitted to the State and Federal Bar in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts....

Attorney David Bliven graduated with honors from Syracuse University in 1993 with a B.A. in Sociology. He went on to serve as a judicial intern and statistician with the NYS Commission on City Court Judicial Reallocation with the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge.

David Bliven then attended law school at New York Law School, where he graduated with honors and ranked within the top 15% of his class.

He then worked in private practice for a year, doing mostly matrimonial work, before serving as a prosecutor for nearly 3 years with the NYC Administration for Children's Services. There he prosecuted...

I pride myself on being goal and solution oriented and bring that approach to the firm. Every matter presents its own challenges and I'm committed to overcoming them. My commitment is present from a client’s first contact with the firm to the conclusion of their respective matter. Whether it’s a contract review or a TN Visa, I'm thorough every step of the way. The firm currently handles contracts, business law, immigration and family. Currently, I am licensed in Ontario, Canada and New York State. In addition, I am a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and a Notary Public in...

Shari R. Gordon, Esq.
www.sharigordonlaw.com - Experienced Divorce and Family Attorney.
Since 1986, Shari R. Gordon has been practicing law. Her offices are located in Yorktown Heights and White Plains, New York. The law firm concentrates in matrimonial litigation and divorce mediation and criminal defense. Shari is also admitted to the Eastern and Southern District Courts as well as the United States Supreme Court. In addition to her divorce and family law practice, Shari has an extensive background in criminal defense as a former Senior Staff Trial Counsel with the Criminal Defense Division, Bronx County. She...

Peter Tilem’s legal career started in September of 1991 as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, where he was assigned to the prosecution and investigation of hundreds, if not thousands, of criminal cases—including violent crimes, white collar crimes and homicides.

Since founding Tilem & Associates, PC, Mr. Tilem has continued to litigate in both state and federal courts and has continued his representation of clients involved in high-profile cases. Mr. Tilem appears regularly in the newspaper and on television concerning his representation in such cases and as a legal commentator. He is...

I am attorney serving clients throughout the Hudson Valley in Kingston, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Greene and Columbia counties in family law, divorce and traffic ticket cases. I provide close personal attention and legal insight into the immediate challenges, and long-term consequences of your situation.My unrelenting advocacy on your behalf is intended to build a sound strategy to safeguard your relationship with your children, and advance your personal and financial goals.

Dennis R. Vetrano, Jr., a divorce and criminal defense lawyer in Duchess County, is the founder of the Law Office of Dennis R. Vetrano, Jr., LLC. At the firm, Attorney Vetrano offers those with family law concerns thorough and understanding legal representation. With 17 years of legal experience, he carries an ability to make a competent judgment of whether a client’s case should be negotiated or tried in the court of law. As a skilled negotiator and courtroom litigator, he can advocate for client interests’ in both contexts. Attorney Vetrano knows every divorce is unique, and his firm works...

For over 25 years, I, Stephen Riebling, have dedicated myself to defending the rights and interests of numerous clients across the Federal, State, and Local Courts of New York and Connecticut. I am recognized for my effective legal strategies and representation as a Westchester criminal defense lawyer and family law attorney. My work in criminal law and family law has led to my inclusion in several prestigious lists of top attorneys in Westchester County, New York. These recognitions include: - Super Lawyers Magazine and SuperLawyers.com - The New York Times (Top Attorney in the New York Metro Area) - Avvo’s Client Choice (Criminal Law) -...

Mary F. Kelly, a founding member of Kelly & Knaplund, has practiced family law in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, and New York counties since 1978. Her achievements in the legal community include service as a charter member of the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, which has advocated for court reform in the family law arena since 1988, and she has been a member of the Ninth Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee since 1994. A leader throughout her career, Ms. Kelly has served as President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New...

Jonna Spilbor is the founding attorney at Jonna Spilbor Law. An experienced trial lawyer, she has served as a contributing attorney and legal analyst for the Fox News Channel and has lent her voice to various publications, such as Variety Magazine, The New York Times, CNN, and others. Jonna also hosts and co-hosts several radio shows in the Poughkeepsie area. She is one of only a few members of the elite National College for DUI Defense and has handled hundreds of DUI and criminal cases. Her firm assists clients with criminal defense, family law, estate planning, personal injury, and more.

As a former Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County, Andrew gained valuable experience while handling countless felony and misdemeanor cases. While an Assistant District Attorney he prosecuted a variety of criminal cases including murder, drug sale & possession, assault, DWI, theft and many others. Also, while a prosecutor he coordinated various investigations with state and local law enforcement, developing relationships he still maintains today. Now as a criminal defense attorney Andrew has defended all types of criminal investigations and offenses including complex white collar crimes, million dollar thefts, grand and petit larcenies, assault, drug offenses, sex offenses, DWI/DUI,...

Mediator and attorney with extensive experience in prenuptial, separation, divorce, custody, visitation, alimony, elder, business, estate and other family law and adult family issues. Serving mediation clients in Westchester, Putnam & Dutchess Counties in New York and Fairfield, New Haven & Litchfield Counties in Connecticut. Disputes are stressful, and it’s important to make sure you’re comfortable with whatever resolution process you choose. During our 30 minute free consultation, I can answer any questions you might have and let you get a sense of what it would be like to work together.

Licensed in New York and New Jersey, Kevin Abessi is a heavily credentialed attorney with a background that is tailored to handle the challenges of family and business. As a client-facing professional with deep academic and professional exposures to finance and investment, Kevin and Abessi Law are well-equipped to handle the sort of financial and business matters that are often at play with matters pertaining to divorce, spousal/child support, contract negotiation, estate planning, and so much more. Abessi Law understands that facilitating legal services is about more than just lawyering, which is why it endeavors to be just as well...

"When representing clients, I am consciously aware of the stress associated with any type of litigation. I try to reduce that stress by being available on a nearly 24/7 basis to answer questions and head off potential problems. I pride myself on prompt return of telephone calls, and I am also sensitive to the importance of the cost considerations of effective representation." My work focuses on all aspects & types of Family Law including High Net-Worth/High Income Divorce, Child Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Child Relocation, Alimony/Spousal Support/Spousal Maintenance, Property...

Cindy N. Brown practices in the areas of criminal defense, civil litigation, family law, and landlord/tenant, defending the interests of the everyday man. While she feels strongly about the work that she does for all her clients, she is especially passionate about fathers, and their ability to maintain meaningful relationships with their children after divorce or failed relationships. All too often, the end of romantic relationships result in diminished contact with children through no fault of the fathers, and once the matter has made its way into the Family Court system, many fathers feel as though the odds are stacked...

I advocate for clients who want to take charge of their lives and resolve conflict using a common sense approach. During my more than 20 years of practice, I have handled hundreds of matrimonial and family law matters. While I have extensive litigation experience, I now focus my practice on mediation and collaborative law because most of my clients fell strongly that they want to stay out of court. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of clients going through stressful family transitions. I help mothers and fathers in developing parenting plans that are practical and that...

Ephraim Jacob (‘E.J.”) Fink has been litigating in the Connecticut and New York Courts since 2000. After representing hundreds of carriers and their policy holders as well as corporations, product manufacturers and healthcare facilities from negligence and contract claims, EJ practiced at a boutique in the areas of personal injury, family law/divorce, estate and trust litigation. EJ graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in journalism and thereafter obtained his JD at New England Law-Boston where his dean’s list grade average earned him an associate editor position on the New England Journal on Criminal...

Manuel Portela Manuel@portelalaw.com Law School: The Washington College of Law at American University, Degree: JD 1990 Undergraduate School: Fordham University, 1986 Foreign Language: Spanish Manuel Portela Esq. is the founding partner of The Portela Law Firm, P.C. He specializes in Criminal Defense, Immigration, Family Law and Personal Injury. After graduating from Fordham University and American University Washington College of Law, Mr. Portela accepted an appointment as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney‘s Office in New York. During his tenure as an Assistant District Attorney, he received extensive training and instruction in the Criminal Court...

Experienced and dedicated matrimonial Attorney. I will fight aggressively for your family. Call me today! Kim M. Rayner has over 30 years of experience as a matrimonial lawyer. As such, she has extensive litigation skills, developed through trials regarding custody, maintenance, child support, and equitable distribution. Ms. Rayner’s experience is shown through her ability to form a trusting and enduring relationship with her clients. She zealously advocates for her client in and out of the courtroom, and is an effective negotiator. Ms. Rayner always implements the best possible strategy in order to best suit her client’s needs and...

An experienced litigator, Christine Klein handles family law issues with sensitivity and understanding. Our practice focuses on your family's legal needs. Whether starting a new one by adopting a child or trying to protect the family you have in a custody or divorce proceeding, we'll work with you to help safeguard your family. We work with traditional families as well as with the LGBT community, and single individuals, taking care of your special family's legal needs.

Jonathan M. Victor, Esq. set up the Law Office of Jonathan Victor PLLC in 2012 and expanded to Connecticut in 2014. He is your Mahopac lawyer and New Fairfield lawyer happy to help with divorce law, real estate law, estates, wills trusts and elder law, and more.