I am a manhattan based family law trial and appellate lawyer. I have been practicing in the New York Family Courts and the Appellate Courts for the first and second departments, which include all the 5 boros, for over 30 years. In that time I have handled over a thousand cases in family court of all types, including custody, visitation, child support, paternity, Guardianship, child neglect, Juvenile Delinquency , and Termination of parental rights plus probably 1 or 2 other kinds of cases that i have forgotten about. I have also handled over 30 appeals in the appellate courts. I am a summa cum laude graduate of Brooklyn Law Scholk where i graduated first in the full time day class of 400 law students.

Why my Experience in Both the family Court and the appellate Courts helps me do a better job for you.

I  strongly believe that attorneys who deal with family court issues should ideally do both trial work and appellate work as these complement themselves very well. 

Because I have handled over 1000 cases in the family court, including over 500 trials, if I am doing an appeal on a case that was handled by another trial lawyer, I can often spot additional issues that the trial lawyer did not.  Having done in excess of 30 appeals of family court cases means that I have had the opportunity and time to go deeply into the law and understand at least some of the many issues in much greater depth than  yo u would normally go into as a trial lawyer.

Furthermore,  as an experienced appellate lawyer, I know very well how to  make a record that gives my client the best chance of winning on appeal.

Representative Appellate Cases:

The following are  some of the over 30  New York appellate cases that  I have handled to date. The majority of these are family court cases that were decided in the first or second departments. One was a very complicated appeal of a matrimonial case which involved issues of equitable distribution, maintenance, and counsel fees. The list does not include juvenile delinquency cases where I won the appeal and the cases were sealed and not obtainable online and I had disposed of my case files, nor several recent cases where I have submitted my brief and am awaiting a decision. 

Zacharie v. Pennicott, 249 A.D.3d 1062 (2026). Other attorneys: Richard L. Herzfeld; Liberty Aldrich; Janet Neustaetter.

Guerrero v. Santiago, 237 A.D.3d 816 (2025). Other attorneys: Lewis S. Calderon; Liberty Aldrich; Janet Neustaetter.

Jones v. Leneau, 234 A.D.3d 689 (2025). No other attorneys were listed in the decision.

Matter of Shayla G., 233 A.D.3d 682 (2024). Other attorneys: Muriel Goode-Trufant; Deborah A. Brenner; Susan Paulson; Twyla Carter; Dawne A. Mitchell; John A. Newbery; Kenneth M. Tuccillo.

Mendoza v. Riera, 232 A.D.3d 616 (2024). Other attorneys: David Laniado; Suzanne Niedzwiecki Lattime.

Matter of Aiden N.S.G., 218 A.D.3d 576 (2023). Other attorneys: Ira L. Eras; Ronna L. DeLoe.

Baez-Delgadillo v. Moya, 215 A.D.3d 829 (2023). Other attorneys: Jeffrey C. Bluth; Karen P. Simmons; Louise Feld; Janet Neustaetter.

Smith v. Bullock, 202 A.D.3d 697 (2022). Other attorneys: Tammi D. Pere; Karen P. Simmons; Janet Neustaetter; Eva D. Stein.

Matter of Je’laya J., 192 A.D.3d 1030 (2021). Other attorneys: James E. Johnson; Deborah A. Brenner; Kevin Osowski; Janet E. Sabel; Dawne A. Mitchell; Diane Pazar.

Ayar v. Akcay, 184 A.D.3d 636 (2020). Other attorney: Elliot Green.

Akcay v. Ayar, 184 A.D.3d 634 (2020). Other attorney: Elliot Green.

Miller v. Thompson, 184 A.D.3d 643 (2020). Other attorneys: Janis A. Parazzelli; Carol L. Kahn.

Irena K. v. Francesco S., 173 A.D.3d 580 (2019). Other attorneys: Beth E. Goldman; Amanda M. Beltz.

Carmen L. v. Rafael R., 163 A.D.3d 436 (2018). No other attorneys were listed in the decision.

Rankin v. Rankin, 111 A.D.3d 535 (2013). Other attorney: Lisa Zeiderman.

Solomon v. Solomon, 10 A.D.3d 584 (2004). Other attorneys: Alexander Carlin; Ingrid Gherman.

In re Venus Melody R.-W., 4 A.D.3d 182 (2004). Other attorneys: Patricia S. Colella; Ira L. Eras.

In re Raquel R., 273 A.D.2d 106 (2000). Other attorney: Elizabeth I. Freedman.

In re Christopher P., 260 A.D.2d 212 (1999). Other attorney: Elizabeth I. Freedman.

In re Robert S., 259 A.D.2d 339 (1999). Other attorney: Fay Ng.

In re Zoa B., 255 A.D.2d 273 (1998). Other attorney: Helen P. Brown.

In re Raul M., 248 A.D.2d 336 (1998). Other attorney: Helen P. Brown.

Paul W. Matthews, Esq.
Attorney at Law
90 Broad Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: (347) 461-0760
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