Nassau County Family Lawyer

Why hire Stephen Bilkis & Associates when facing a family law matter in Nassau County?

For many people in Nassau County, a family law case is their first time dealing with the court system, and not knowing what comes next can be as stressful as the dispute itself. Having the right guidance from the start helps, and Stephen Bilkis has spent nearly 30 years helping clients through family and matrimonial cases in Nassau County Family Court and Nassau County Supreme Court. Under his leadership, the firm has handled more than 10,000 family law consultations and cases combined, giving us the experience to anticipate challenges and prepare clients for each stage of their own case. Our attorneys also bring more than 300 years of combined legal experience to every new matter.

That experience spans every part of family law, from divorce, custody, and visitation to child support, paternity, and spousal maintenance. The experienced Nassau County family lawyers at Stephen Bilkis & Associates also handle orders of protection, abuse and neglect proceedings, guardianship, and grandparents’ rights, so clients can rely on one firm even when a new issue comes up partway through their case. For example, a custody dispute might lead to an order of protection, or a divorce might reveal income a spouse never disclosed. Because we already know the history of the case, we can adjust quickly, whether that means gathering new evidence, tracing hidden finances, or preparing for an upcoming hearing.

Awards and Credentials of Stephen Bilkis

Stephen Bilkis’s work has been recognized by several respected legal organizations. He was chosen for the New York Super Lawyers list, which includes only the top 5% of attorneys in the state. Avvo has rated him Excellent, Justia has named him a Top-Rated Lawyer, and Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com have also recognized his work.

Before entering practice, Stephen studied at Tulane University and earned his law degree from Touro Law School. He is admitted to the New York State Bar and has built a practice that spans many areas of New York law.

Dedicated Family Law Counsel in Nassau County

Many Nassau County clients call us when the pressure is building, with a hearing on the calendar, a child’s safety in question, or household money running short. At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, we bring focus and years of experience to each stage of the case. We help families across the county, from Great Neck and Garden City to Hempstead, Massapequa, and Long Beach.

To talk with an experienced Nassau County family lawyer at our firm, call 800.696.9529 and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We will listen and explain the options available to you.

Nassau County Family Law Practice Areas

Family law covers far more than divorce, and clients turn to us for help with a wide range of issues involving children, finances, and safety. Stephen Bilkis & Associates handles each of these matters from the first filing through final resolution. Below are the areas of family and matrimonial law our Nassau County family lawyers handle.

Getting a Divorce in Nassau County

Dividing a life built together can feel overwhelming, especially when the house, retirement savings, and the children’s schedule are all on the table. Stephen Bilkis handles contested, uncontested, high-conflict, and high-net-worth divorces in Nassau County Supreme Court, starting with what the client most wants to protect. Dividing property fairly requires finding everything the couple owns, which might include a home with years of built-up equity, a teacher’s or county employee’s pension, or a stake in a medical practice. Uncovering hidden assets and properly valuing complex ones can take more than routine discovery, so we rely on strategies developed over years of experience. These include tracing money moved to relatives, comparing a spouse’s lifestyle to reported income, and working with forensic accountants.

Mediation and Collaborative Divorce in Nassau County

For couples who want to resolve their divorce privately and avoid contested court proceedings, mediation and collaborative divorce offer a different path. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps clients who choose either route, whether the spouses work with a neutral mediator or each has a separate collaborative attorney. Both options can cost less and move faster than litigation while giving the spouses more control over the outcome. For our client, we prepare financial disclosures, review proposed terms, and negotiate custody, support, and property agreements that protect their interests.

Alimony and Spousal Maintenance in Nassau County

A spouse who stepped back from a career to raise children may worry about supporting a household alone, while the higher earner may fear a payment that is out of reach. Stephen Bilkis and his team handle both sides of maintenance disputes, drawing on years of high-net-worth divorce experience. That begins with an accurate picture of each spouse’s income, which can mean tracing year-end bonuses from a finance job in Manhattan, distributions from a family business, or income that never made it onto a tax return. With that evidence, we pursue the support a client needs or challenge a demand that goes too far.

Nassau County Child Custody

Every parent wants to know they will remain a steady presence in their child’s life after a separation. Stephen Bilkis & Associates has handled more than 500 child custody cases, helping parents establish, enforce, and modify custody and visitation orders in Nassau County Family Court at 101 County Seat Drive in Mineola. Many disputes come down to practical questions, such as whether a planned move to Suffolk County or another state serves the child. When a move is proposed, we examine how it would affect the child’s education and relationship with the other parent, and we build a case for or against it, often including a realistic plan for holidays, summers, and long-distance parenting time.

Child Support Cases in Nassau County

When parents separate, child support often covers more than a monthly payment, since costs like summer camp, travel sports, tutoring, and private school can add up quickly. Stephen Bilkis helps parents seek fair support and challenge requests that go beyond what the law allows. When parents earn above the state’s income cap, the court decides how much of the additional income counts toward support, so we gather evidence of the child’s needs and the family’s standard of living to argue for the right amount. We also pursue enforcement when payments fall behind and seek modifications when circumstances meet New York’s legal requirements, including qualifying changes in employment or income.

Paternity Cases in Nassau County

An unmarried father who wants a say in his child’s schooling or medical care may first need to establish legal parentage, either through a voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage or a court order. Stephen Bilkis and his team help fathers secure those rights. Parentage matters to mothers too, since a mother cannot obtain a child support order against an unmarried father until he is legally recognized as the parent. It also protects the child, who may then inherit from the father and receive benefits, such as Social Security, if he dies. We also help men who dispute paternity or believe they were wrongly identified as a child’s father, although challenging an existing acknowledgment or order can involve additional legal requirements. Depending on the circumstances, we may file a paternity petition in Nassau County Family Court, challenge an existing determination of parentage, or request DNA testing when the law permits. Once parentage is settled, we turn to the parenting schedule, child support, and health coverage that follow.

Grandparent Visitation in Nassau County

Grandparents often step in when a family is in crisis, and being shut out afterward can feel like losing a grandchild twice. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps grandparents restore contact, sometimes through negotiation that avoids court altogether. When the parents refuse, we file for visitation in Nassau County Family Court and show the judge why the grandparent should be heard and how continued contact benefits the child. Grandparents who have raised a grandchild while the parents were absent may also seek custody. To do so, they generally must first show extraordinary circumstances, such as a long period in which a parent voluntarily gave up care of the child. We gather evidence of the grandparent’s role in raising the child and show why custody would serve the child’s best interests.

Legal Guardianship in Nassau County

Parents facing a serious illness often worry most about who will care for their children if they cannot. Stephen Bilkis helps them plan ahead through standby guardianship, which allows a parent to designate a trusted person to care for a child if certain circumstances arise, such as the parent’s incapacity, serious illness, or death. We also help relatives seek guardianship in Nassau County Family Court or Nassau County Surrogate’s Court after a parent has died or can no longer provide care. For parents of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities, we help determine whether guardianship may be appropriate as the child approaches adulthood. When it is, we handle Article 17-A proceedings in Nassau County Surrogate’s Court, which can allow a parent or another qualified person to make certain personal, medical, or financial decisions for the adult child.

Getting or Fighting an Order of Protection in Nassau County

An order of protection can change daily life overnight, whether you need one to feel safe at home or have just been served with one. Stephen Bilkis and his team help petitioners request temporary orders quickly and defend respondents at every stage. A temporary order may require someone to leave the home, stay away from the children, or surrender any firearms, and violating it can lead to arrest. For petitioners, we prepare the petition and gather evidence for the hearing. For respondents, we challenge unsupported claims and seek terms that protect their time with their children.

CPS Abuse and Neglect Cases in Nassau County

Learning that a report has been made against you to the State Central Register can raise immediate fears about your children and your job. Stephen Bilkis & Associates defends parents and caregivers during Nassau County Department of Social Services investigations and any case that follows in Family Court. Early on, we advise clients before caseworker interviews and home visits and review any safety plan before they agree to it. That early guidance can help keep a misunderstanding from turning into a court case. If the agency does file a petition, we push for the child’s return home and against restrictions that aren’t warranted.

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

Whether you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, a support case, an order of protection, or another family law matter, contact an experienced Nassau County family lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. Tell us what happened, whether a court date or temporary order is pending, and what you hope to accomplish. We will review your situation and explain your next steps. Early action matters, because deadlines and scheduled hearings can limit your choices the longer you wait.

When you call, you reach a firm whose founder’s work has been widely recognized. Stephen Bilkis was selected to the New York Super Lawyers list, which honors the top 5% of attorneys in the state, and he has been rated Excellent by Avvo and named a Top-Rated Lawyer by Justia. Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com have also honored him.

From Port Washington and Manhasset to Valley Stream and Seaford, Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps families throughout Nassau County. We also help clients in Suffolk County, Westchester County, and New York City.

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