With more than 40 years of experience, Mary Ann has cultivated a sterling reputation as a matrimonial and family law attorney. Her abilities as an advocate, mediator and trial lawyer and her honest, ethical approach to practicing law have earned her the utmost respect from both the bar and the bench. Mary Ann’s clients benefit from her ability to see solutions to a problem and craft a resolution that frequently results in settlements of the most complex issues that arise in divorce cases. Due to her reputation, Mary Ann is frequently referred cases by matrimonial attorneys, judges and even the ex-spouses of her former clients who considered her advocacy effective and professional.
Focusing on matrimonial and family law for more than 3 decades, Mary Ann has handled countless cases and reached a resolution for parties in need of a divorce or other family law matter, including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, determinations and modifications of custody, awards and modifications of child support and spousal maintenance, neglect proceedings and orders of protections.
Although settlement is always the first priority, by considering each matter along two parallel tracks, Mary Ann is always building the foundation for a strong presentation at trial if the matter cannot be resolved amicably. She has conducted many trials and hearings resulting in favorable outcomes for her clients.
As a leader in the legal community in Nassau County, Mary Ann has held many positions in local bar associations. Most recently, Mary Ann was the 2015-2016 Dean of the Nassau Academy of Law which is the arm of the Nassau County Bar Association responsible for overseeing Continuing Legal Education programming. She is a Master and the 2015-2017 President of the New York Family Law Inn of Court which is a selective group of matrimonial attorneys that focuses on raising the civility, professionalism and ethics of family law practitioners. Previously, Mary Ann was the President of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association and a delegate to the New York State Women’s Bar Association, and her work on behalf of the Women’s Bar has been awarded and honored.
In order to recharge, Mary Ann enjoys travel, cooking & reading. When she is not traveling, Mary Ann splits her time between her home here on Long Island and her lake house in the Berkshires where she and her husband of more than 40 years treasure the time they spend with their 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
Admissions
- Appellate Division of the Supreme Court
- State of New York, Second Judicial Department, May, 1981
Education
- Juris Doctor, June, 1980, St. John’s University School of Law: Graduated top 25%
- Bachelor of Science, May, 1976, Fordham University: Graduated Cum Laude
Trial Experience
- SUPREME COURT: Contempt proceedings; Custody proceedings (initial determination, change of custody, including relocation); Grounds (abandonment, cruel and inhuman, adultery); Support (initial determinations and modification proceedings); Enforcement proceedings; Equitable Distribution Issues
- FAMILY COURT: Custody and Visitation, Orders of Protection, including violation proceedings; Support Petitions, Paternity Petitions, Neglect and Abuse Petitions, Administrative Law Hearings
Professional Associations
NASSAU COUNTY WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION
- Recording Secretary: 1995-1996
- Corresponding Secretary: 1996-1997
- Treasurer: 1997-1998
- Vice-President 1998-2001
- President 2001-2002
- Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York;
- Matrimonial Committee
- Delegate 1996-2003
- Co-chair 2002-2004, 2007-2008, 2008-2009
- WBASNY Children’s Rights Committee Chair 2005-2006
NASSAU COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
- Member: Matrimonial Committee
Grievance Committee - Family Law Committee
Advisory Committee to Nassau Academy of Law
NY FAMILY LAW AMERICAN INN OF COURT
- Member and Author of Taxation for 1997 and 1998
Survey - Master as of 2009
- Secretary and Treasurer: 2011 – 2013 Term
Educational Associations
- Hofstra University:Adjunct Professor, Matrimonial Law: 1996 to 1999
- Adelphi University:Adjunct Professor, Matrimonial Law: 1987-1996
Speaking Engagements
St. John’s University School of Law
- Matrimonial Law and Child Custody Issues: October, 1998
- Preparation of a Custody Case: April, 1999
- How to Handle Basic Family Court Proceedings: March, 2003; April, 2005
- Basics of Custody Litigation: March, 2006
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
- Child Support Enforcement, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders: Equitable Distribution, 1998
- Matrimonial Practice: Ethical Considerations and Fee Collection: May, 2002
- Matrimonial Law: Pension Issues: May, 2003
- Matrimonial Law: Finding the Money: May, 2004
Nassau Academy of Law
- Family Law Update: February, 1999
- Effectively Using Psychiatric/Psychological Experts & Reports in Civil & Criminal Cases: February, 2000
- Dean’s Hour Matrimonial Preliminary Conf.: May, 2004
New York State Bar Association
- How to Litigate a Child Support Proceeding: April 2004
- Substantative Motions During a Matrimonial Case: October, 2004
- How to Handle a Custody Case: April, 2007
- How to Litigate a Child Support Proceeding: April, 2008
- Family Court Practice: April, 2009
- Women in Law Symposium: April, 2010
- The Role of the Attorney for the Child: April, 2010
- Bridging the Gap: March 2011
Hofstra University Law School
- Trial Advocacy Program: 2000-2003
Hofstra University Law School – Trial Techniques Program
- Counseling and Negotiation, January, 2006
- Counseling and Negotiation, January, 2007
- Counseling and Negotiation, January, 2009
Awards
- NCWBA Rona Seider, Esq. Award: June, 2006
- Super Lawyer 2014, 2015, 2016
- Long Island Women’s