Suffolk County Family Lawyer

Why Suffolk County Families Choose Stephen Bilkis & Associates for Family Law Matters

Suffolk County stretches from South Shore towns like Babylon and Bay Shore to the farms and vineyards of the North Fork, and its families’ legal problems vary just as widely. That variety is familiar to Stephen Bilkis, who has handled family law and matrimonial cases in Suffolk County Family Court and Suffolk County Supreme Court for nearly three decades. Over those years, the firm has handled more than 10,000 family law consultations and cases combined, and its attorneys now have more than 300 years of legal experience between them.

Some clients need help ending a marriage or resolving custody, visitation, child support, paternity, or spousal maintenance. Others are seeking an order of protection, facing an abuse or neglect case, pursuing guardianship, or asserting their rights as grandparents.

Each case begins with the client’s priorities. Instead of treating a case as a series of court dates, we plan for how it is likely to end, whether through a negotiated agreement or a decision at trial. When a client has more than one case pending, such as a divorce alongside a Family Court petition, we coordinate them so a step in one does not undercut the other. Along the way, we secure key evidence, look for income or assets that have not been disclosed, and make sure clients are ready for every court date and negotiation.

Honors and Education of Stephen Bilkis

Stephen Bilkis’s work has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, and other attorney directories. Super Lawyers selected him for its New York list, which includes no more than 5% of attorneys in the state. He also holds an Excellent score on Avvo and Top-Rated Lawyer status on Justia, along with honors from Expertise.com and TopLawyer.com.

A graduate of Tulane University and Touro Law School, Stephen is admitted to the New York State Bar. He handles a broad range of legal matters across New York.

Reliable Family Law Support Across Suffolk County

From Huntington and Smithtown to Riverhead and the Hamptons, Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps families across Suffolk County protect what matters most. Our attorneys bring careful preparation, practical judgment, and courtroom skill to every case.

Call 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Suffolk County family lawyer. You can expect a straightforward conversation about your situation and the choices in front of you.

Types of Family Law Cases We Handle in Suffolk County

Some clients need help with a single issue, while others are facing several at once. Stephen Bilkis & Associates can step in at any stage, whether a case is just beginning or an order already needs to be changed. The matters listed below are the core of our family and matrimonial practice.

Contested and Uncontested Divorce in Suffolk County

A divorce can bring years of shared plans to a sudden halt, leaving property, money, and parenting unresolved at once. Stephen Bilkis handles contested, uncontested, high-conflict, and high-net-worth divorces in Suffolk County Supreme Court. Much of the work centers on valuing what the couple owns, which could include a summer home on the North Fork, a seasonal business with uneven cash flow, or farmland that has grown in value. Because seasonal and cash-heavy businesses can make income easy to hide, we go beyond routine discovery, using techniques developed over years of practice, like rebuilding a business’s true earnings from supplier invoices and bank deposits across peak and off seasons.

Parenting Time and Custody in Suffolk County

When a teenager has strong feelings about where to live, a custody case can become even more emotional for everyone involved. With more than 500 child custody cases behind them, Stephen Bilkis and his team work with parents in Suffolk County Family Court, which sits in both Central Islip and Riverhead. A judge may speak privately with an older child, and while the child’s wishes matter, they are only one factor the court weighs. We help parents understand how much those wishes may count and build a case around the child’s overall well-being, including school performance and stability in each home.

Grandparents’ Visitation Rights in Suffolk County

Losing an adult son or daughter is devastating, and losing contact with that child’s children afterward can feel unbearable. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps Suffolk County grandparents seek visitation when the surviving parent limits or ends contact. When a parent has died, New York law allows grandparents to ask the court for visitation. In other situations, grandparents may qualify by showing an existing relationship with the grandchild or other circumstances that justify the court’s involvement, such as a parent blocking their efforts to build one. We show the court how the grandparent has been part of the child’s life and why continued contact serves the child’s best interests. When a parent has left a grandchild in the grandparent’s care for an extended period, we can also pursue custody, which requires proof of extraordinary circumstances.

Child Support Help in Suffolk County

Parents on both sides of a support case usually want to know the amount first. Stephen Bilkis helps parents understand how support is calculated and makes sure the order is based on accurate income. New York generally applies a percentage of the parents’ combined income after certain adjustments, ranging from 17% for one child to at least 35% for five or more children, with special rules for income above a set cap. Because support in New York can continue until age 21, we also address college costs, health insurance, and childcare so the order covers what the child actually needs.

Suffolk County Paternity Petitions

For unmarried parents, an open question about paternity can stall everything from a child support order to a father’s first visitation schedule. Stephen Bilkis and his team help mothers and fathers file paternity petitions in Suffolk County Family Court and request genetic testing when the law permits. Timing matters, because child support generally runs back to the date a support petition is filed, so we often file it alongside the paternity petition. Once paternity is established, we move directly to custody, visitation, and support.

Maintenance and Alimony in Suffolk County

When one spouse controls the household accounts, the other may worry about paying the mortgage and utilities while the divorce is still pending. Stephen Bilkis & Associates can ask the court for temporary maintenance early in the case so a client is not left without support for months. For maintenance after the divorce, we present evidence of each spouse’s income, expenses, and earning potential to pursue a fair amount or challenge an excessive request.

Divorce Mediation and Collaborative Law in Suffolk County

Spouses who still communicate reasonably well may be able to settle their divorce with less conflict and expense. Stephen Bilkis advises clients through mediation and collaborative divorce, two settlement-focused options that still end with a court-approved judgment. These approaches leave room for creative solutions, such as delaying the sale of a home until the children finish the school year. Before each session, we help our client set priorities, gather the necessary financial records, and decide which terms to accept.

Changing a Custody or Support Order in Suffolk County

Life keeps moving after a custody or support order is signed, and an arrangement that once worked may no longer fit. Stephen Bilkis & Associates helps parents ask the court to modify existing orders and enforce terms the other parent is ignoring. Support can generally be changed when circumstances have substantially changed, three years have passed, or either parent’s income has changed by 15% or more, unless the parents agreed to exclude some of those grounds. A parent seeking a reduction because of lost income must also show the loss was involuntary and that they have looked diligently for work. Custody changes require showing that circumstances have changed and that a new arrangement serves the child’s best interests. When the other parent ignores a schedule or stops paying, we file enforcement petitions.

Guardianship of a Child in Suffolk County

When a parent is struggling with addiction or another crisis, a relative or family friend often steps in to keep the child’s life on track. Stephen Bilkis helps these caregivers obtain the legal authority to make school, medical, and everyday decisions through guardianship in Suffolk County Family Court or Surrogate’s Court. Guardianship gives the caregiver that authority without permanently ending the parent’s rights, which can matter if the parent later recovers. We prepare the petition, gather proof of the care the child has been receiving, and explain the arrangement to everyone involved.

Suffolk County Orders of Protection

Being threatened, followed, or harassed by a family member or partner can be just as frightening as physical violence. Stephen Bilkis and his team assist petitioners seeking orders of protection in Suffolk County Family Court, as well as respondents named in a petition. A judge can issue an order without proof of an injury, since conduct such as threats, stalking, and harassment can be enough. Final Family Court orders generally last up to two years, or up to five years when the court finds aggravating circumstances or a violation of an existing order. We prepare our client’s testimony, organize the evidence, and cross-examine the other side at the hearing.

Suffolk County CPS Investigations

Neglect allegations can arise from situations a parent never expected to end up in court, such as a child missing too many days of school or a disagreement with doctors over medical care. Stephen Bilkis & Associates defends parents and caregivers when Suffolk County Child Protective Services investigates and when a case is filed in Family Court. At the fact-finding hearing, the agency must prove its allegations, and we challenge its evidence by cross-examining caseworkers and presenting school, medical, and other records. Throughout the case, we work to keep children safely at home and to limit court-ordered conditions to what the situation requires.

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

Contact an experienced Suffolk County family lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates today for a free consultation. Bring any court papers you have received, and be ready to talk about the history of the dispute and what you would like to happen next. From there, we will identify your options and the first steps worth taking. Early action matters, because the sooner we are involved, the more time we have to build a strong case.

Family law cases are personal, so we make sure clients understand each decision before it is made. At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, we explain the strengths and risks of each option, from accepting a settlement offer to taking an issue to trial. We also keep clients updated as new information comes in, such as financial disclosures or a report from an evaluator.

Every family’s situation is different, and our strategy adjusts as a case develops. If new evidence surfaces or the other side changes its position, we revisit the plan with our client and decide together on the best next step.

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