Joel R. Brandes

Joel R. Brandes

New York Divorce and Family Law Appeals
  • Appeals & Appellate, Divorce, Family Law
  • New York
Review This Lawyer
Lawyer Rating and Reviews
Legal Knowledge
5.0/5.0
Legal Analysis
5.0/5.0
Communication Skills
5.0/5.0
Ethics and Professionalism
5.0/5.0
Ingrid Gherman
Ingrid Gherman June 28, 2019
Rating: 10 Lawyer Rating - 10 out of 10
I give Mr. Brandes the best rating based upon his superb knowledge of the law, his clear and effective writing, and speaking and his litigation skills.
Badges
Claimed Lawyer ProfileOffers Video ConferencingBlawg SearchSocial MediaResponsive Law
Biography

Joel R. Brandes, of the New York Bar, concentrates his practice in New York divorce and family law appeals. He also consults with and advises attorneys on appellate, trial court and international child abduction matters in all of the New York state and federal courts. He has been recognized by the New York Appellate Division as a "noted authority and expert on New York family law and divorce .” He is the author of the treatise Law and the Family New York 2024-2025 Edition (12 Volumes), Law and The Family New York, 2d (9 volumes), Law and the Family New York Forms 2024 Edition (5 volumes) (all Thomson Reuters), and the New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook (Bookbaby). His ”Law and the Family” column is a regular feature in the New York Law Journal. He wrote the Digest of Equitable Distribution Cases and Equitable Distribution Case Law, both published by the New York State Bar Association, and has been a contributor to several law books. Mr. Brandes has written and lectured extensively on family law and international child abduction. He has authored more than 500 published articles that have appeared in legal journals. Mr. Brandes was counsel in the landmark Court of Appeals cases of Morone v. Morone, Tucker v. Tucker, and McSparron v. McSparron, and has more than 120 reported New York trial or appellate decisions. He earned his J.D. at Brooklyn Law School and his LL.M. at New York University. He writes and publishes New York Divorce and Family Law at www.nysdivorce.com and two blogs. The United States Library of Congress has selected his blog for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the Legal Blawgs Web Archive. They consider his international child abduction blog to be an important part of this collection and the historical record. The following URL has been selected: https://joelbrandes.blogspot.com/
Part of Legal Blawgs Web Archive (265), Law Library of Congress (422,825). See https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0038333/

Practice Areas
Appeals & Appellate
Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
Divorce
Contested Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony
Family Law
Child Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
Video Conferencing
  • Google Meet
  • Skype
  • Zoom
  • Microsoft Teams
  • WebEx
  • WhatsApp
Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
New York
New York State Office of Court Administration
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Education
New York University School of Law
LL.M. (1974) | Corporation Law
New York University School of Law Logo
Brooklyn Law School
J.D. (1968)
-
Brooklyn Law School Logo
City University of New York - Queens College
B.A. (1965) | History and Political Sciience
-
Activities: Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity
Placeholder image for education.
Professional Associations
New York State Bar Association
Member
- Current
Activities: Member, Family Law Section Member, Committee on Continuing Legal Education Former Co-chair, Committee on Continuing Legal Education
Placeholder image for professional associations.
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Member
- Current
Activities: Member, Committee on Courts of Superior Jurisdiction
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Publications
Articles & Publications
"Maintenance and Spousal Support, Then and Now: Are They the Same?
New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section, Family Law Review, Vol. 53, No. 2.
Law and the Family New York, 2021-2022 Edition (12 volumes)
Thomson Reuters
Enforcement of Support Orders by Contempt of Court
New York Law Journal
Law and the Family New York Forms 2021 Edition (5 volumes)
Thomson Reuters
Subject Matter Jurisdiction of Supreme Court and Family Court
New York Law Journal
Appeals from Family Court Orders
New York Law Journal
Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel in Divorce Actions
New York Law Journal
Flat Fee Retainers in Domestic Relations Matters (written with Chris McDonough, Esq.)
New York Law Journal
Appellate Review of Non-Final Orders in Matrimonial Actions
New York Law Journal
Standards for Modification of Child Support: Did Boden Survive?”
New York Law Journal
The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook Custody Edition
Kindle Direct
Email and Ex Parte Communications, (written with Chris McDonough, Esq.)
New York Law Journal
Preserving the Right to Appeal
New York Law Journal
The New Motion Practice Rules
New York Law Journal
Trial by Combat (written with Chris McDonough, Esq.)
New York Law Journal
Efiling Primer for Matrimonial Attorneys
New York Law Journal
New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook: 2020 Update
Amazon
The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook Courtroom Edition
Amazon
Understanding the Support Magistrate Objection Process
New York Law Journal
Ethical Obligations of Lawyers as Witnesses in Matrimonial Actions (Written with Chris McDonough, Esq.)
New York Law Journal
The Demise of 'O'Brien': Student/Working Spouse Equitable Distribution
New York Law Journal
Is there a Domestic Relations Exception to Diversity Jurisdiction (Written with Hon. George B. Daniels)
New York Law Journal
Sanctions and Discipline for Frivolous Conduct in Matrimonial Actions
New York Law Journal
Limiting the Scope of Representation in Family Court Proceedings
New York Law Journal
Law and the Family New York Forms 2020 Edition (5 Volumes)
Thomson Reuters
The Resurrection of Marital Fault
New York Law Journal
Primer on the Enhanced Scrutiny in the Ethical Rules Impacting Domestic Relations Practitioners
New York Law Journal
Stare Decisis, Precedent and Dicta
New York State Bar Association Journal
Custody Rights of Non-Biological Parents
New York Law Journal
The New Motion Practice Rules
New York Law Journal
When Your Client Goes Missing,
New York Law Journal
"Navigating the Matrimonial Preliminary Conference So You Don’t Sink the Ship"
New York State Bar Association, Family Law Review
The Burden of Proof and Presumptions in Matrimonial Actions
New York Law Journal
Law and the Family New York Forms 2019 Edition (5 Volumes)
Thomson Reuters
Law and the Family New York 2d (9 Volumes)
Thomson Reuters
Law and the Family New York Forms 2d (5 Volumes)
Thomson Reuters
New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook
Bookbaby
Speaking Engagements
Co-Chair Continuing Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education Seminars, New York State
From 1982 to 2002During that time I co-chaired the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section and lectured on all aspects of matrimonial and family court practice to attorneys throughout the state.
Co-Chair Continuing Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education Seminars, New York State
New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section
From 1982 to 2002During that time I co-chaired the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section and lectured on all aspects of matrimonial and family court practice to attorneys throughout the state.
Websites & Blogs
Website
The Law Firm of Joel R. Brandes, P.C.
Blog
New York Divorce and Family Law Blog
Blog
A Child is Missing: The International Child Abduction Blog
Contact & Map
The Law Firm of Joel R. Brandes, P.C.
43 West 43rd Street
Suite 34
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: (212) 859-5079