The Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, represents Brooklyn families across the full range of family-law matters — divorce, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, orders of protection, and child-welfare cases. Led by George M. Gilmer, Esq., the firm brings 24 years of experience in New York’s family and matrimonial courts and represents clients in all five boroughs. The sections below explain each area and point you to the right next step.
“Mr. Gilmer represented me in 2019. He was very helpful in preparing my case, came to court with me, and in the end I got what I wanted. The most impressive part was that he was available any time I called. He is a good listener — you need a person like that when you are in distress.” — Manju C.
Read more reviews. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
If You Are in a Crisis Right Now
Some family-law problems will not wait. If a child is in danger or has been taken, you may need to file for emergency custody. If your co-parent is keeping the child from you, the options turn on whether an order already exists — explained in can my ex keep our child away without a court order. If you have been served with an order of protection, or are facing removal from your home, see order of protection defense and the exclusion hearing. These matters move on the court’s schedule, not yours, so the time to call is early.
Divorce
The firm handles both uncontested and contested divorce, from agreed cases that turn on paperwork to litigated matters involving property division, business interests, and support. Prenuptial and cohabitation agreements are part of the same practice, for couples both married and unmarried.
Child Custody and Visitation
Custody in New York is decided by the best interests of the child, judged on the totality of the circumstances rather than any single factor — the home each parent provides, each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other, stability, and, for an older child, the child’s own preference (Friederwitzer v. Friederwitzer). The firm handles legal and physical custody and parenting time, including high-conflict matters such as custody involving a high-conflict or alienating parent.
Child Support
The firm establishes, modifies, and enforces child support orders, which New York calculates under a statutory formula. One persistent misconception is that an equal parenting schedule means no support is owed; it does not. New York’s highest court has held that the formula applies even when parenting time is shared (Bast v. Rossoff), and the parent with the majority of overnights is generally the one who receives support — a point developed in the firm’s discussion of child support in joint-custody cases.
Spousal Support
Spousal maintenance is frequently contested in a divorce. The firm handles temporary maintenance during the case, post-divorce maintenance, and applications to modify an existing order when circumstances change.
Orders of Protection and Family Offenses
The firm both seeks orders of protection for clients in genuine danger and defends those served with unfounded or tactical petitions — see order of protection defense. Where an allegation of abuse or neglect brings in a child-welfare agency, that matter is handled through the firm’s ACS defense practice, which runs alongside the family-law case.
Where Your Case Is Heard
Most family-law matters — custody, support, family offenses — are heard in Family Court in the borough where you live; a divorce, by contrast, is filed in Supreme Court. If you are starting a Family Court case, the firm’s guide to filing in Brooklyn Family Court explains the steps, the service requirements, and what a first appearance involves.
Fees and Payment Plans
The firm offers free telephone consultations, transparent pricing, and payment plans, so that the cost of counsel does not stand between a family and competent representation.
Speak With a Brooklyn Family Law Attorney
If you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or any other family-law matter, contact The Gilmer Law Firm, PLLC, or call (718) 864-2011 to arrange a free consultation. The firm also handles paternity, family mediation, and related matters across all five boroughs.