Staten Island Family Lawyer

Family Law Attorney Serving Staten Island, NY

Family law matters on Staten Island often involve closely connected families and communities, which adds a layer of complexity to divorce, custody, and support proceedings. Having a family lawyer who handles these matters with discretion and a focus on practical outcomes helps protect both your legal rights and your family relationships.

Agarunov Law Firm provides family law services for Staten Island clients, including divorce and separation, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal maintenance, property division, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Our Financial District office is accessible from Staten Island via the Staten Island Ferry and the SIR to our Financial District office. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your family law needs.

Family Law Services for Staten Island Clients

Divorce and Separation

Staten Island divorces frequently involve the family home, which is often the most significant marital asset. Determining whether to sell, buy out, or transfer the property requires careful legal and financial analysis. We represent clients in contested and uncontested divorces, handling equitable distribution of marital property, support negotiations, and settlement agreements. When litigation is necessary, we advocate aggressively in court. When settlement is possible, we negotiate efficiently to minimize cost and conflict.

Child Custody and Visitation

Staten Island custody arrangements often involve parents who remain in the same community, which creates both opportunities for cooperative parenting and challenges when proximity leads to conflict. We represent parents in custody negotiations and proceedings, working to establish arrangements that serve the child's best interests while protecting your parental rights. We handle both initial custody determinations and modifications of existing orders.

Child Support

Staten Island parents need support determinations that accurately capture both parties' income and the costs associated with the children's needs. New York calculates child support using a statutory formula based on parental income, with adjustments for healthcare, childcare, and educational expenses. We ensure that support calculations are accurate, that all income sources are properly disclosed, and that the final order reflects the statutory requirements. We also handle modifications when circumstances change.

Spousal Maintenance

Staten Island maintenance calculations consider the length of the marriage, each spouse's income, and the cost of maintaining a household on the island. Spousal maintenance in New York considers factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, age, health, and contributions to the marriage. We negotiate maintenance terms that are fair and sustainable, whether you are the paying or receiving spouse.

Equitable Distribution

Staten Island equitable distribution cases typically center on the family home, retirement accounts, and any business interests built during the marriage. New York is an equitable distribution state, meaning marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily equally. This includes real property, retirement accounts, business interests, investment accounts, and other assets acquired during the marriage. We work to identify all marital assets, obtain accurate valuations, and negotiate a distribution that protects your financial interests.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

Staten Island couples, particularly those with family businesses or inherited property, use prenuptial agreements to protect these assets while establishing fair financial terms for the marriage. We draft agreements that are thorough, transparent, and designed to be enforceable under New York law. Both parties should have independent legal counsel, and full financial disclosure is required.

What Staten Island Families Should Know About Family Law

Staten Island family law cases are handled in Richmond County Supreme Court and Richmond County Family Court. The relatively smaller scale of the Staten Island court system can sometimes result in faster processing compared to other boroughs, though timelines vary by case complexity.

Staten Island's housing market, which includes a higher proportion of single-family homes compared to other boroughs, creates specific issues in divorce cases. Determining the value of the marital home, deciding whether to sell or transfer, and addressing mortgage obligations are central to most Staten Island divorce settlements.

Staten Island families should be aware that New York's child support guidelines apply a formula to combined parental income up to a statutory cap, with the court having discretion above that amount. Ensuring accurate income disclosure from both parties is essential to a fair support calculation.

Why Staten Island Clients Choose Agarunov Law Firm

Agarunov Law Firm provides family law services for Staten Island clients facing divorce, custody, support, and prenuptial matters.

• Experienced in both contested and uncontested divorce proceedings
• Strong advocacy for custody and support arrangements that protect your interests
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreement drafting and negotiation
• Accessible from Staten Island via Staten Island Ferry and the SIR to our Financial District office
• Licensed in both New York and New Jersey

How Our Family Law Process Works

• Step 1: Consultation. We discuss your situation, your goals, and the legal options available to you. This consultation is free.
• Step 2: Strategy. We develop a legal strategy based on your priorities, whether that is pursuing settlement, preparing for litigation, or a combination of both.
• Step 3: Filing and Negotiation. We file the necessary papers, engage in discovery and disclosure, and negotiate with the other side to resolve as many issues as possible.
• Step 4: Resolution. We finalize the agreement through settlement or, if necessary, present your case at trial. Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcome efficiently.