Divorce · New York
Top Divorce Lawyers in New York
Divorces in New York are filed in the Supreme Court of the county where either spouse lives, even though the Family Court handles many related custody and support questions. New York is an equitable distribution state, which means marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily equally. The lawyers below are ranked on verified licences, years spent in matrimonial practice, specialization and sourced reputation.
- Updated 13 Oct 2026
- Ranking v1.0.0
- How we rank
- lawyers considered
- 68
- 41 verified licences
- 60%
- average years in practice
- 12
The ranking
Score out of 100- 1
- 2
- 3
Ruth Morgan
VerifiedSenior Associate
Linden & Marlow LLP36 yrs in practice4.8(10)DivorceEmploymentImmigration+1 more - 4
Diego A. Castellano
VerifiedPrincipal Lawyer
Ashby Law Group18 yrs in practice3.6(24)DivorceImmigration - 5
Felix Whitaker
VerifiedManaging Partner
Kensington & Thorne LLP17 yrs in practice4.5(15)DivorceBusinessFamilySpeaks English, Urdu
- 6
- 7
Fatima Vance
Out of dateManaging Partner
Hale & Fairfax LLP17 yrs in practice3.9(20)DivorceReal Estate - 8
Daniel Moreau
VerifiedPartner
Redfern Law Group30 yrs in practiceDivorcePersonal InjurySpeaks English, French
- 9
Helena S. Ortega
VerifiedAssociate
Kensington Law Group28 yrs in practice4.2(3)DivorceChild CustodyFamily - 10
Noah Sullivan
VerifiedAssociate
Prescott & Vance LLP14 yrs in practiceDivorceCriminal DefenseSpeaks English, Urdu
- 11
Maria M. Patel
VerifiedPrincipal Lawyer
Kensington & Thorne LLP29 yrs in practice3.3(2)DivorceSpeaks English, Spanish
- 12
- 13
- 14
Hannah Duarte
VerifiedAssociate
Rowe & Quill LLP25 yrs in practice3.4(24)DivorceBusinessChild Custody+2 moreSpeaks English, Korean
- 15
Patrick M. Lindqvist
VerifiedPrincipal Lawyer
Wyatt Law Group10 yrs in practice3.9(11)DivorceEmploymentSpeaks English, Urdu
- 16
- 17
Tomasz J. Zielinski
VerifiedOf Counsel
Linden & Marlow LLP15 yrs in practice4.8(4)DivorceEstate Planning - 18
Adaeze E. Ellison
VerifiedOf Counsel
Hale & Fairfax LLP7 yrs in practice4.1(19)DivorceSpeaks English, Tagalog
- 19
- 20
- 21
Olivia Delgado
Out of dateSenior Associate
Vance & Granger LLP30 yrs in practice4.8(25)FamilyBusinessDivorce+1 more - 22
- 23
Patrick Ramirez
VerifiedFounding Attorney
Prescott & Hale LLP15 yrs in practice4.7(17)ImmigrationDivorceEmploymentSpeaks English, Vietnamese
- 24
Tomasz Weller
VerifiedSenior Associate
Prescott & Hale LLP32 yrs in practice3.8(11)BusinessDivorceImmigration+1 more - 25
Sofia Holloway
VerifiedSenior Associate
Prescott & Calder LLP37 yrs in practiceChild CustodyDivorceEmploymentSpeaks English, Korean
How we rank
Each lawyer gets nine component scores from 0 to 100. The bar shows how many of the 100 available points each component contributed. Weights are fixed for every lawyer in this list and published in full; payment plays no part.
Expertise50%
- Credentials20%
- Relevant experience15%
- Specialization15%
Standing35%
- Verified reputation15%
- Professional recognition10%
- Relevant track record10%
Service & data15%
- Client experience5%
- Profile & data quality5%
- Data freshness5%
New York legal resources
- New York State Bar Association
Statewide bar association; lawyer referral and public resources.
- New York City Bar Association
Legal referral service and free legal clinics.
- New York State Unified Court System
Court information, forms and the attorney registration search.
Choosing a divorce lawyer
Look for someone who regularly appears in the family courts where your case will be heard, and ask how they approach negotiation versus litigation. Ask for a written fee agreement and an estimate of total cost, not only the hourly rate. If your finances are complex (a business, pensions, property abroad), ask whether the lawyer works with forensic accountants or valuers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?
Not always. Many jurisdictions allow people to file uncontested divorces themselves, but a lawyer can review the settlement so that property, pension and support terms are complete and enforceable.
How are divorce lawyers usually paid?
Most charge by the hour against an upfront retainer. Some offer fixed fees for uncontested matters. Contingency fees are generally not permitted in divorce cases.
What should I bring to a first consultation?
A summary of assets and debts, recent tax returns, any existing agreements (such as a prenuptial agreement) and a list of questions about timing, cost and strategy.