Bronx Family Lawyer

What Makes Stephen Bilkis & Associates the Right Choice for Bronx Families?

Reaching out to a lawyer about a family problem can feel like a big step, especially when you are not sure what your options are. Stephen Bilkis has worked on family and matrimonial matters in Bronx County Family Court and Bronx County Supreme Court for nearly 30 years, helping clients answer those questions. The firm he leads has handled more than 10,000 family law consultations and cases combined, and its attorneys have amassed more than 300 years of legal experience.

Our attorneys can help whether you are starting a divorce, asking for custody or child support, establishing paternity, or seeking spousal support. Orders of protection, ACS cases, grandparents’ rights matters, and guardianship are also part of our practice, whether resolved through negotiation or in court.

From the first meeting, we focus on gathering what the court will need to see, such as financial records, messages, and school or medical records. When a client has related cases, like a custody petition that follows an order of protection, we coordinate the timing and strategy so progress in one does not create problems in the other. We also track down undisclosed income or assets and prepare clients for every negotiation and hearing.

Stephen Bilkis’s Honors and Legal Training

Several organizations that review and recommend attorneys have honored Stephen Bilkis. He appears on the New York Super Lawyers list, which honors no more than 5% of the state’s attorneys. Avvo rates his work Excellent, and Justia identifies him as a Top-Rated Lawyer. Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com have also highlighted his work.

Stephen attended Tulane University before completing his legal education at Touro Law School. Licensed in New York, he handles legal matters across a wide range of practice areas.

Bronx Family Law Support From Start to Finish

Each family law case touches something important, whether it is a client’s children, finances, or safety, and Stephen Bilkis & Associates treats every Bronx matter with that in mind. Clients work directly with their attorney, receive clear answers to their questions, and hear from us as their case moves forward. We help families from Riverdale and Pelham Bay to Fordham and the South Bronx.

Call 800.696.9529 to book a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Bronx family lawyers. We will talk through your situation and the outcome you want.

Family Law Cases Our Bronx Clients Bring Us

Below is an overview of the family and matrimonial issues we handle for Bronx clients. At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, each case receives a strategy matched to the client’s priorities.

Uncontested Divorce in the Bronx

When spouses agree on how to divide their property and care for their children, an uncontested divorce can be faster and less costly. Stephen Bilkis & Associates prepares the papers needed to finalize an uncontested divorce in Bronx County Supreme Court and makes sure the settlement terms protect our client. New York allows a divorce when one spouse states under oath that the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months. Before granting the divorce, the court must make sure that any issues involving property division, spousal maintenance, child support, custody, visitation, and legal and expert fees have been resolved. Even when spouses agree, small drafting errors can delay the judgment or cause problems later, so we review every document before it is filed.

Contested and High-Conflict Divorce in the Bronx

Divorce raises hard financial questions, especially when one spouse has always handled the money. Stephen Bilkis and his team litigate contested divorces in Bronx County Supreme Court, including high-conflict and high-net-worth cases. The first task is separating marital property from separate property and putting an accurate value on each asset. That might involve a co-op in Riverdale, a family-owned grocery business, or retirement savings built through a union job. Because some assets are easy to hide, we often go beyond routine discovery, drawing on years of experience to review bank records from the months before filing for large withdrawals or transfers that may signal money being moved out of reach.

Bronx Spousal Support Cases

A spouse who has moved out and stopped contributing to household bills can leave the other spouse struggling, even before anyone files for divorce. Stephen Bilkis helps clients seek spousal support in Bronx County Family Court while they are still married, as well as maintenance during and after a divorce in Supreme Court. New York uses a formula as a starting point for these awards, and the court can consider additional factors when income is high or circumstances are unusual. We gather paystubs, tax returns, and bank statements to present an accurate picture of both spouses’ finances, whether our client is seeking support or being asked to pay it.

Child Custody and Domestic Violence in the Bronx

A custody case decides where a child will live and how much time each parent will have, which can make it one of the most stressful parts of a family breakup. With more than 500 child custody cases behind it, Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps parents seek, change, and enforce custody and visitation orders in Bronx County Family Court at 900 Sheridan Avenue. The court decides custody based on the child’s best interests, looking at factors such as each parent’s involvement in the child’s life, the stability of each home, and the child’s needs. When one parent accuses the other of domestic violence and the allegations are proven, the court must also consider how that violence affects the child. We help parents present or challenge that evidence and propose safe arrangements, such as supervised exchanges, when they are needed.

Fair Child Support Orders in the Bronx

Parents who earn modest wages often worry that a support order will leave them unable to cover their own rent and bills. Stephen Bilkis helps paying and receiving parents alike make sure support is set at a fair level in Family Court. New York’s guidelines include protections for lower-income parents, and when a standard calculation would leave a paying parent below certain income thresholds, the guidelines generally call for a reduced amount. At the same time, we make sure a parent who reports little income is not hiding cash work or side jobs, so the child receives the support the law allows.

Establishing Fatherhood in the Bronx

A paternity case may begin when New York City’s child support agency seeks to establish legal parentage, particularly when a child receives public assistance. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps alleged fathers respond to these cases and helps mothers pursue paternity on their own in Family Court. The court may order genetic testing, although testing is not automatic in every case. Once paternity is established, a child support order often follows, so we prepare clients early with accurate income information and, for fathers, a plan for seeking custody or visitation.

Bronx Grandparent Visitation Rights

When a grandparent and a parent are in conflict, a judge will look closely at how that tension impacts the child before ordering visitation. Stephen Bilkis and his team work with Bronx grandparents to build a case that addresses those concerns directly. The court first decides whether the grandparent has a legal basis to seek visitation, which can come from a parent’s death or from a parent cutting off a meaningful relationship, or blocking reasonable efforts to build one. We then show how the grandparent has supported the child and propose arrangements that limit friction between the adults. For grandparents seeking custody, we gather proof that extraordinary circumstances exist, as the law requires.

Guardianship and Custody for Relatives in the Bronx

Relatives raising a child are often unsure whether to seek custody or guardianship. Stephen Bilkis helps Bronx families choose the right path and file in Family Court or Bronx County Surrogate’s Court. Both can give a caregiver authority to make important decisions for a child, but they differ in ways that matter, including how they can be changed later. In addition, a separate guardian may be needed if the child has money or property. When a parent objects to a relative’s request for custody or guardianship, the relative generally must establish extraordinary circumstances before the court considers whether the proposed arrangement serves the child’s best interests. We gather evidence addressing the applicable legal requirements and the child’s needs.

ACS Neglect Cases in the Bronx

Learning that ACS has opened a case can raise urgent questions about what the agency is looking for and what comes next. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps Bronx parents and caregivers understand the allegations against them and respond in Family Court. Under New York law, neglect generally means failing to give a child a minimum degree of care, such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, or supervision, in a way that harms the child or puts the child at risk of harm. We help clients address the specific concerns raised in their case and make sure the court has a complete and accurate picture of the family before it makes decisions about the child’s safety.

Criminal and Family Court Orders of Protection in the Bronx

Someone who has been threatened or hurt by a partner or family member may be able to seek protection in two different courts, and a person accused may face orders in both. Stephen Bilkis and his team help clients understand how orders issued in Bronx Criminal Court differ from those sought in Family Court. A criminal order is part of a criminal case, and the judge decides whether to issue it, often at the prosecutor’s request. In Family Court, the person seeking protection generally files a petition and takes part in the case as a party, as long as the relationship qualifies. We help petitioners decide which path, or combination of paths, fits their situation, and we defend respondents who must deal with both courts at once.

Request a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with Stephen Bilkis & Associates

Contact an experienced Bronx family lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates today for a free consultation. During the call, we will ask what has happened so far, whether any hearing or temporary order is already in place, and what result you are hoping for, and then lay out what can happen next. Early action matters, because some legal options are available only for a limited time.

Family court can feel impersonal, so we make a point of treating every client with respect and taking their concerns seriously. We combine that personal attention with careful legal work, preparing each case so our client is ready whether the dispute ends in a settlement or a judge’s ruling.

Contact Stephen Bilkis & Associates today for a free consultation at 800.696.9529.