Staten Island Family Lawyer

Why Choose Stephen Bilkis & Associates for a Family Law Matter on Staten Island?

A family law case often unfolds in stages, with new questions appearing just as earlier ones seem settled. After nearly 30 years of family and matrimonial work in Richmond County Family Court and Richmond County Supreme Court, Stephen Bilkis understands how draining that can be. During those years, his firm took on more than 10,000 family law consultations and cases combined, and the firm’s attorneys collectively offer more than 300 years of legal experience.

Divorce, custody, visitation, paternity, and child support make up much of our work, along with maintenance, orders of protection, ACS cases, grandparents’ rights, and guardianship. We help families from St. George to Tottenville settle cases through negotiation when that serves them, and go to court when it does not.

At every stage, our attorneys are gathering evidence, reviewing finances, or preparing for the next court date. When a client is dealing with more than one case, such as a custody petition filed after an order of protection, we make sure the strategy in each one supports the other. We also secure evidence early, before it can be lost, and look for income or assets the other side may not have disclosed.

Accolades and Education of Stephen Bilkis

Stephen Bilkis’s accolades include a place on the New York Super Lawyers list, an honor given to only the top 5% of attorneys in the state. In addition, Avvo awards him its Excellent distinction and Justia lists him as a Top-Rated Lawyer, with Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com also honoring him.

After studying at Tulane University, Stephen went on to Touro Law School for his law degree. Today Stephen practices in many areas of New York law.

Staten Island Family Law Counsel Focused on Results

Staten Island families deserve attorneys who listen carefully, explain things clearly, and stay with them until the case is resolved. That is the standard Stephen Bilkis & Associates sets for every case, whether it involves a short negotiation or a lengthy court process.

Reach our office at 800.696.9529 to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Staten Island family lawyer. That conversation is a chance to ask questions and learn what options may be available.

Family Law Issues We Help With on Staten Island

The practice areas below cover the most common family and matrimonial issues our clients bring to us. Stephen Bilkis & Associates handles each one with attention to the details of the client’s situation.

Getting Divorced on Staten Island

Once a divorce is filed, it can feel as if every financial decision you and your spouse ever made is suddenly up for debate. Stephen Bilkis and his team see uncontested divorces through to completion and also handle contested, high-conflict, and high-net-worth cases in Richmond County Supreme Court. To protect our client’s share, we identify which assets are marital and what they are worth. For example, the marital property might include a home in Great Kills, a city pension boosted by years of overtime, or an ownership stake in a family contracting business. Locating concealed assets and pinning down the value of complex holdings sometimes calls for tactics beyond standard discovery, drawn from years of practice, such as subpoenaing loan and mortgage applications, where spouses sometimes list far more income than they report elsewhere.

Collaborative Divorce and Mediation on Staten Island

Settling a divorce without a contested trial still means making decisions that will affect your finances and family for years. Stephen Bilkis & Associates advises clients going through mediation or collaborative divorce and protects their interests along the way. A mediator stays neutral and cannot give either spouse legal advice, which is why having your own attorney review each proposal matters. In the collaborative process, our attorneys sit at the table with our client, working toward a parenting plan and financial terms that will hold up over time.

How Spousal Maintenance Works on Staten Island

Spousal maintenance can affect a family’s budget for years, so the details of an award or agreement matter. Stephen Bilkis negotiates and litigates maintenance in Richmond County Supreme Court. For agreements and judgments signed after 2018, maintenance is generally not deductible for the payer or taxable to the recipient on federal returns, which can change what a fair amount looks like. We also consider whether payments should end on a set date or remain open to modification, and we draft those terms carefully.

Staten Island Child Custody Disputes

With New Jersey just across the bridge, some Staten Island parents end up in custody disputes that cross state lines. Across more than 500 child custody cases, Stephen Bilkis & Associates has dealt with disputes over which state’s court should decide custody. In general, the child’s home state has the authority to make the initial custody decision. That is usually the state where the child lived with a parent for at least six consecutive months right before the case began, though special rules apply to infants and to families who recently moved. We act quickly to file in the appropriate court, including Richmond County Family Court when New York has jurisdiction, and to challenge custody cases improperly filed in another state.

Enforcing Custody and Visitation Orders on Staten Island

A custody order only helps if the other parent follows it, and repeated missed exchanges or blocked visits can wear on both parent and child. Stephen Bilkis helps parents enforce custody and visitation orders in Richmond County Family Court when the other parent ignores the schedule. We document each violation, from late or skipped exchanges to withheld phone contact, and file a violation petition asking the court to step in. Depending on the circumstances, the court may order make-up time, adjust the schedule, or impose other consequences on the parent who is not complying. We also defend parents accused of violating an order when the other side’s claims do not tell the whole story.

Getting Child Support on Staten Island

Many parents would rather agree on child support than leave the number to a judge. Stephen Bilkis helps parents negotiate support agreements and resolve disputes when they cannot agree. New York requires qualifying support agreements to acknowledge the state’s child support guidelines, state the amount the guidelines would produce, and explain any departure from it. Agreements that miss these requirements may be challenged or found unenforceable. We make sure our client’s agreement meets these requirements and covers expenses like health insurance and childcare, and if payments later stop, we take enforcement action.

Establishing Legal Parentage on Staten Island

Signing an Acknowledgment of Parentage at the hospital can feel like filling out a simple form, but it carries the same weight as a court order. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps parents understand what that document means and, when appropriate, challenge it in court. An adult who signs generally has 60 days to rescind it, and different rules may apply to minors. After that, it can usually be challenged only by proving fraud, duress, or a material mistake of fact, and even then the court may limit genetic testing in some situations. When no acknowledgment was signed, we help parents establish paternity through a court petition so custody and support issues can move forward.

Seeking or Defending an Order of Protection on Staten Island

Once an order of protection is in place, both sides need to understand exactly what it allows and what it forbids. Stephen Bilkis and his team help petitioners obtain and enforce orders in Richmond County Family Court and defend respondents accused of violating them. A respondent who makes contact that the order prohibits, even with good intentions, can face arrest and criminal charges. For petitioners, we document each violation, and for respondents, we explain the order’s terms in plain language so they can avoid an accidental violation.

Responding to ACS on Staten Island

An allegation that a parent’s substance use put a child at risk can bring ACS into a family’s life quickly. Stephen Bilkis defends parents facing these and other neglect or abuse allegations during ACS investigations and in Richmond County Family Court. When a parent is working on recovery, we present evidence of treatment, negative test results, and family support to show the child can safely stay home or return home. We also explore treatment-focused court options when they could help a client keep or regain custody.

Staten Island Grandparents’ Rights

When a grandchild has been living with you for months or years, you may need legal custody to protect that arrangement. Stephen Bilkis and his team pursue custody for grandparents who are already raising a grandchild. Because parents have a superior right to custody, a grandparent must first establish extraordinary circumstances, such as a long period during which a parent voluntarily gave up care and control of the child. New York law specifically recognizes separations of at least 24 continuous months, though shorter periods may also qualify. We also help grandparents seek visitation when circumstances justify the court’s involvement, gathering evidence of the relationship and why it benefits the child.

Guardianship of Children and Adults on Staten Island

Parents who name a guardian for their children in a will often assume that choice will take effect automatically. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps families carry out those wishes by seeking guardianship in Surrogate’s Court or Family Court after a parent’s death. A guardian named in a will still needs court approval, and another relative may object, so we present evidence that the appointment is in the child’s best interests. Families can also turn to us for guardianship of an adult loved one who can no longer safely manage personal or financial matters.

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

Contact an experienced Staten Island family lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates today for a free consultation. Before you call, it may help to gather any orders, notices, or letters you have received from the court or ACS. We will review where things stand, including any upcoming court dates, ask what outcome matters most to you, and explain what can be done next. Early action matters, because an order entered without your input can be difficult to change later.

We aim to answer questions promptly and in plain language, and we prepare clients before every meeting and court date so they never walk in unsure of what to expect. Whether a case settles quickly or takes months to resolve, our firm stays focused on the outcome that will best serve the client and their children.

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