Ellen Honored by the Bar

Rockland County New York Divorce Lawyer

As a highly regarded and respected New York matrimonial attorney, Ellen B. Holtzman knows that divorce is often one of the most difficult experiences in the life of a man or woman, especially if a child custody dispute is involved. Based in Rockland County, New York, Ellen has dedicated her practice to divorce and family law for more than 30 years. Her wealth of experience and legal knowledge can't make your divorce painless, but her personal approach and the wisdom gained through experience can certainly make the process less difficult. Ellen is aware of the many stresses and strains faced by people going through a divorce, so she and her staff make a concerted effort to return calls promptly and keep clients updated on the status of their cases. Further assisting in this effort, Ellen's staff is always available to help clients in preparing their financial statements and any other documentation required by the courts that is a necessary part of the process.

A Statewide Reputation in Family Law

Known and respected statewide, matrimonial attorney Ellen Holtzman is a Past President of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, the largest women's bar in the United States. Her cases range from relatively straightforward divorces to complex interstate child custody cases, major asset distribution matters, relocation actions, late-life divorces, grandparents' rights, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Contested and Uncontested Divorces

Ellen's reputation for obtaining her clients' desired results brings people from all walks of life to her offices. Many professionals, including doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners, and well-known authors and entertainers have sought Ellen's help in protecting their rights and assets. Ellen also represents many salaried clients such as teachers, police officers, and others whose financial situations are different, but no less important to their futures.

A Successful New York Trial Lawyer on Your Side

Every case that comes to Ellen's office has one thing in common: it receives the unwavering attention of Ellen and her extremely competent team. Ellen takes the time to understand all of her client's goals and concerns. If necessary, she engages leading consultants, including mental health experts to address child custody issues and appraisers and forensic accountants to analyze the financial status of the parties and to identify any assets that may be hidden. As a matrimonial litigator, Ellen B. Holtzman is admired for her record of success in the courtroom.

Role as a Divorce Arbitrator

Sometimes couples and their attorneys who are unable to negotiate all or part of a divorce or property settlement decide to take their dispute to a private arbitrator rather than a judge. The parties agree in advance to comply with the private arbitrator's decision, which will be made according to the same laws and factors that the trial judge would be required to weigh and consider. The couple's respective attorneys then designate a third party, an attorney with deep knowledge and experience in matrimonial and family law and the ability to listen with a fair and open mind, exactly as a judge would, to the testimony presented by both parties. Of course, the most important qualities that each party's attorney expects in the arbitrator are sound judgment and absolute judicial impartiality. There are good reasons for preferring divorce arbitration to a divorce trial. The process is private, unlike the courts, which are open to the public. Any evidence, including financial documents and documentation prepared by professionals, such as reports by forensic accountants or child therapists, is not available to anyone outside the process. The evidence is seen by the parties involved and their attorneys only. Unlike a court case, arbitrations do not continue for months or years, so the process is much shorter. Ellen B. Holtzman is an experienced matrimonial arbitrator. In her role as a private arbitrator, Ellen has resolved a number of complex divorces. The matrimonial and family law attorneys who have called on her to arbitrate their cases respect Ellen's stature in the legal community as well as her extensive knowledge of matrimonial law, her wisdom, and her ability to reach a fair and neutral decision after hearing all of the evidence.

Service to the Profession and the People of New York

In addition to her thriving family law practice, Ellen has served as Director of Legal Education for the Washington Square Institute, an innovative interdisciplinary Family Law and Family Forensics Training Program for attorneys, judges, and mental health professionals. She recently moderated a distinguished panel of international experts on the issues of relocation, parental alienation, and parental child abduction. She is a sought-after speaker on all aspects of child custody and "the best interest of the child," the standard upon which all child custody determinations are made. Ellen is also actively involved in advancing her profession. To help the Center for Safety and Change, a Rockland County non-profit organization that serves victims and survivors of domestic violence, she mentors new attorneys in representing those harmed by abuse in matrimonial actions. In recognition of her many years of mentoring young lawyers, Ellen was recently honored by the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York with the prestigious Betty Weinberg Ellerin Mentor Award. Respected as a giant in the profession, the Hon. Weinberg Ellerin is hugely admired as a groundbreaking pioneer who's held important "firsts" and "onlys" and gained tremendous respect in the New York State judicial and legal communities. Ellen B. Holtzman also serves the people of New York as a Commissioner on the New York State Legislative Ethics Commission.

Responsive Personal Attention

Ellen Holtzman's clients speak of her compassion and the courtesy and respect with which she and her staff treat them. Whether representing them in the courtroom or at the negotiating table, clients say Ellen never has to raise her voice to get them what they want. That is because Ellen B. Holtzman is a strong and successful negotiator and, when necessary, a highly skilled and effective litigator. Ellen and Meryl are also trained and experienced in the area of Collaborative Divorce Law. Collaborative Divorce Law is an innovative and increasingly popular and cost-effective way of getting divorced through negotiation and compromise. At the Law Office of Ellen B. Holtzman, Ellen and her very knowledgeable associate Christina are also available to review and consult with clients who have chosen mediation. Ellen and her associates are also frequently called on to write, review, and advise regarding pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.

Get The Facts You Need

Whether you are just beginning to think about divorce or have definitely made up your mind, or if you have any question about divorce law issues, you should get the facts you need to know for your particular situation. If you need information or advice about other legal areas, such as child custody, property division, child support, prenuptial agreements, or post nuptial agreements, you can consult Ellen Holtzman with confidence. To set up a confidential consultation, call the Law Office of Ellen B. Holtzman at (845) 627-0127.