Less Court.
Less Cost.
Less Pain.

A New York divorce cannot be finalized until every open issue is resolved — the division of marital property and debt, spousal support, and arrangements for your children. When you and your spouse cannot settle these matters yourselves, the divorce becomes contested and a Supreme Court judge decides them for you. In a contested divorce, the skill and courtroom reputation of your NYC divorce lawyer directly shape the outcome.

At Kleyman Law Firm, our contested divorce attorneys are known in New York's Supreme and Family Courts for thorough preparation and disciplined advocacy. We pursue settlement wherever it serves you, and we are fully prepared to try your case when it does not.

Knowing When to Settle and When to Fight

The strongest contested divorce lawyers know that strategy is everything — choosing the right stance at the right moment. We help you decide when a negotiated agreement protects your interests and when your rights are better protected at trial. Every case and every client is different, and we tailor our approach to the specific facts and goals of yours. Where possible, we open a dialogue with your spouse and their attorney to resolve outstanding issues through negotiation, presenting practical options on each point so both sides can reach agreement without prolonged litigation.

Resolution First

Conflict is easy to find in any family law matter and easy to inflame — but escalating it rarely moves people through the legal process. It traps them in a dispute that only grows harder to resolve over time. As a resolution-focused NYC divorce lawyer, Val Kleyman starts from a different place: less court, less cost, less pain.

There are many ways to approach a divorce or family law problem, and we never push you down a single path. We work with you to choose the strategy that fits your circumstances — because in divorce and family law, the right strategy is most of the battle. Whenever it serves your interests, we contact your spouse or their attorney first to negotiate, mapping out every option on each issue so an agreement can be reached without unnecessary litigation.

A Less Adversarial Path

Litigation can be stressful, slow, and expensive. Mediation is often the opposite — faster, less costly, and far less acrimonious, while leaving you in control of the decisions that matter most. Our experienced New York divorce attorneys can help you explore pre-suit mediation as a calmer, more affordable route to separation and divorce.

A good New York divorce lawyer will always explain mediation before anything else. It is natural for spouses to put on the boxing gloves and treat divorce as a fight — but stepping back from the conflict to examine the real issues and possible resolutions can settle a case quickly and at a fraction of the cost of drawn-out litigation. Our NYC divorce attorneys handle both voluntary, pre-suit mediation and court-ordered mediation in contested cases.

More than half of our mediation clients are couples who want to resolve their divorce amicably without litigating against one another. We keep the conversation focused and guide you through even the most difficult sticking points.

Mediation in Contested and Custody Cases

In contested divorce and custody matters, New York courts routinely direct the parties to attempt mediation before trial. We help clients make the most of court-ordered mediation, frequently reaching an out-of-court settlement in cases that began as bitter disputes. Whether your mediation is voluntary or mandatory, an experienced divorce lawyer at your side helps you set realistic goals and choose a sound settlement position.

Val Kleyman has been recognized among New York's top divorce attorneys, including selection to Super Lawyers Rising Stars and "10 Best" honors in family law. He has practiced family law exclusively since the start of his career, and the firm's reputation rests on its results rather than its self-description.

Client Satisfaction at the Center

Our NYC family law and divorce attorneys put client satisfaction first, and that focus has earned recognition from attorney-rating organizations — including a "10 Best Family Lawyers in New York" client-satisfaction ranking and strong ratings on Avvo. We measure our work by the outcomes and the experience we deliver to the people we represent.

Peer Recognition

Val Kleyman has been named among the best divorce attorneys in New York City by Super Lawyers and the National Advocates, and is highly rated by his peers across the matrimonial and family law bar. When alternatives fail, the surest way to protect your rights is in the courtroom — and our litigation team prepares every case to be tried and won.

A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is a contract between spouses that limits exposure to the courts and reduces the financial and emotional risk of a future divorce. Without a marital agreement, the division of your assets is left to New York's equitable-distribution laws and prior case precedent — which may not reflect what either spouse would have chosen. A well-drafted prenup or postnup lets you decide these questions in advance, with certainty.

Our NYC prenuptial agreement lawyers have extensive experience negotiating and drafting marital contracts, and we follow developments in New York law closely to ensure each agreement is enforceable and will hold up in court. Prenups are never one-size-fits-all; we craft each one around the couple's specific assets, goals, and circumstances.

Protecting Your Future Across NYC

Protecting your present and future assets from the uncertainties of divorce is worth doing carefully. Our Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island divorce attorneys take the time to tailor every agreement to the client's situation, and we help clients open the often-difficult conversation about a prenup with premarital guidance. You should leave the process feeling confident and protected.

Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, and All NYC Boroughs

From our offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, we represent clients throughout New York City — including Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. Choosing a divorce lawyer who actually practices in the court where your case will be heard matters: local knowledge of the Supreme and Family Courts, the judges, and opposing counsel is a real advantage.

We have in-depth experience in the matrimonial and family parts of the courts across all five boroughs, and a strong reputation among fellow practitioners for our preparation, work ethic, and courtroom ability.

Committed to the Community

Our attorneys support local New York communities by offering free consultations and affordable representation to families facing difficult financial circumstances. When you choose Kleyman Law Firm, you choose a divorce lawyer who is both a dedicated advocate for clients and an active member of the community.

Our NYC divorce attorneys handle the most complex and high-conflict family law matters — including complicated division of property and assets, contested child custody, disputed alimony and child support, and the division of pensions and retirement accounts. We prepare every case thoroughly and are ready to go to trial when necessary to protect your rights, drawing on a team of legal and financial experts to build the strongest possible case.

Built for the Courtroom

When a case cannot settle, you need a divorce lawyer who not only prepares meticulous documents but can present a persuasive argument before a Supreme or Family Court judge. Our attorneys are well known in New York's matrimonial courts for their strong presence and oral advocacy.

The Strength of a Team

Unlike a solo practitioner, our firm puts an entire team of professionals behind your case, with the resources and experience to deliver results. Because no two family matters are alike, the key to success is choosing the right strategy for your situation — and we work with you to build the approach that fits your needs and protects your family.

A high-net-worth divorce demands a divorce lawyer who understands how to approach substantial and complex estates. These cases often involve significant personal and business assets — a luxury primary residence, second and third homes, closely held businesses, investment portfolios, pensions, and an affluent lifestyle — all of which must be valued and addressed correctly. Our New York divorce attorneys have proven experience resolving and litigating high-net-worth divorce matters.

Resources That Make the Difference

Complex divorce litigation favors the attorney with resources. We work with forensic accountants, business and real estate appraisers, and investigators to value assets accurately and build a solid case. A divorce lawyer with the right financial background and professional network can properly address every element of property division and support — protecting what you have built.

Val Kleyman is the founder of Kleyman Law Firm in New York City and devotes his practice exclusively to family law. He has practiced since 2005 and has guided more than 1,000 clients through divorce and family law matters, helping them make well-informed decisions that affect their families for years to come.

"The Wall Street Divorce Lawyer"

With extensive experience in high-net-worth divorce and complex property division — investment portfolios, real estate, foreign assets, and other sophisticated financial issues — Mr. Kleyman has earned the moniker "The Wall Street Divorce Lawyer." His clients have included high-profile entertainers, Grammy-winning musicians, Wall Street executives, and professional athletes, and he has also volunteered his time pro bono for those in need in his community.

Recognition and Credentials

Mr. Kleyman has been honored with a Top 100 Lawyers for Divorce and Family Law ranking from the National Advocates, a Top 10 Family Attorneys in New York designation from the American Institute of Family Attorneys, and a Top 40 Under 40 selection from the American Society of Legal Advocates. A frequent legal commentator on local and national news, he also lectures on divorce and family law and has served on the legal faculty at Marino Legal Academy. He earned his B.S. in neuroscience and psychology from Syracuse University and his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School, and is admitted in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

How We Begin

Divorce is an emotional process, driven by human nature as much as by law. Our role is to make sure the right decisions are made at the right time — with clear judgment and deep knowledge of the law — so you reach the other side safely, with your children and your assets protected. We start by telling our clients the truth: about their case, the decisions ahead, the law, and the road in front of them. It is not always comfortable, but it is the foundation of a successful attorney-client relationship.