Mineola is where Nassau County family law actually happens. Divorces are filed with the County Clerk here, heard at the Matrimonial Center on the third floor of the Family & Matrimonial Court Complex on County Seat Drive, and Family Court sits two floors below in the same building. Our newest office puts Nassau County divorce and family law representation in the same village as every courtroom your case could touch.
Attorneys Chris Palermo and Riley Perry bring more than 30 years of combined family law experience, and one of them personally handles your case from the first conversation to the final order. The Mineola office at [street address] anchors our Nassau practice, minutes from the County Seat Drive courts, and serves families from Garden City, Westbury, New Hyde Park, and across the county’s center.
Most cases settle, and we work toward the settlement that protects your money and your children before litigation is on the table. When court is unavoidable, it is minutes away, and so are we. Consultations are free: call (516) 712-6703 or use the form below, and you will typically hear back within 24 hours.
Free ConsultationDivorce at the Matrimonial Center
A Nassau divorce begins at the County Clerk and ends with a judgment signed in the Matrimonial Center, and everything in between runs through Mineola. New York’s no-fault ground means either spouse can file once the marriage has broken down for at least six months, with no misconduct to prove.
What shapes the case is agreement. An uncontested divorce with settled terms is usually decided on the papers, no courtroom required, while a contested case moves through financial disclosure, conferences, and, when necessary, trial. We handle both, and we prepare every case as if it will be tried, because that preparation is what produces good settlements.
Divorce RepresentationFamily Court, Two Floors Down
Custody, parenting time, child support, paternity, and family offense cases start with a petition in Nassau Family Court, on the first and second floors of the same County Seat Drive complex, and unlike Supreme Court there is no filing fee. Either parent can start a case whether or not a divorce is ever filed.
Support matters are heard by support magistrates working from both parents’ sworn financial disclosure, while custody and family offense petitions go before a judge, and Family Court can issue a temporary order of protection the same day a petition is filed. We file petitions, defend against them, and handle the objections when a magistrate’s order gets the numbers wrong.
Custody RepresentationNassau Representation From the County Seat
The Mineola office opened to give Nassau families what Suffolk families have had for years: an attorney nearby who actually handles the case. Chris Palermo brings more than 20 years in family law, Riley Perry is a partner in the same work, and together they carry more than 30 years of combined experience into Nassau’s courtrooms.
Working in the county seat is a practical advantage. Calendars, clerks, conferences, and filings are all local, which means fewer delays waiting on someone to make the trip and faster reactions when a case moves suddenly. When something needs to be filed or argued today, today is possible.
More than 100 Long Island clients have left the firm five-star Google reviews, and the pattern repeats: calls returned, usually within 24 hours, plain answers, and an attorney who knew the file. Consultations are free.
Divorce and Property Division
We handle divorce at every level of conflict, from uncontested divorces decided on the papers to contested cases over equitable distribution, where fair does not automatically mean equal and separate property stays separate. Mediation is available for couples who want to write the terms together.
Custody and Support
Child custody and parenting time turn on one standard, the best interests of the child, with no preference for mothers or fathers, and we represent both, including dedicated father’s rights and mother’s rights work. Child support and spousal support follow statutory formulas, and the real fight is usually over how income is determined.
Protection and Parental Rights
When safety is at stake, Family Court can issue a temporary order of protection the same day a petition is filed, and we move fast on both sides of those cases. We also represent parents in CPS investigations, establish paternity, and guide families through adoption.
Answers for Long Island families
Why is my Nassau County divorce heard in Mineola?
Because the county's matrimonial courts are here. The divorce is filed with the Nassau County Clerk, and the case is heard at the Matrimonial Center on the third floor of the Family & Matrimonial Court Complex at 101 County Seat Drive. Uncontested divorces are usually decided on the papers without either spouse appearing.
Which courts sit in Mineola?
All of Nassau's family courts, in one building. Only the Supreme Court can grant a divorce, through the Matrimonial Center on the complex's third floor, while custody, support, paternity, and orders of protection outside of a divorce are filed in Family Court on the first and second floors. Some families have matters on both.
How much does a divorce cost?
Court fees total $335: $210 for the index number, $95 for the Request for Judicial Intervention, and $30 for the Note of Issue. Attorney fees depend on how contested the case becomes, and in contested cases New York presumes the less-monied spouse should receive a counsel fee award. We quote the retainer at your free consultation.
How long does a divorce take?
An uncontested divorce is usually completed within a few months of filing, driven mostly by court processing time. Contested cases commonly run a year or more, and the number of disputed issues matters more than anything else. Settling even one issue early shortens the whole case.
How is child custody decided?
Judges apply the best interests of the child: caregiving history, home stability, work schedules, any history of domestic violence, and the child's wishes in light of age and maturity. Neither parent gets a head start because of gender. Learn more on our child custody page.
How is child support calculated in New York?
A set percentage of combined parental income: 17 percent for one child, 25 for two, 29 for three, 31 for four, and at least 35 for five or more, applied to income up to $193,000 as of March 1, 2026. Health insurance, child care, and certain educational costs are added on top. Our child support page covers the details.
Can I get spousal support?
Possibly. New York calculates maintenance with a statutory formula applied to the paying spouse's income up to $241,000 as of March 1, 2026, with duration guided by the length of the marriage. Read more on our spousal support page.
Can I meet you at the Mineola office before deciding anything?
Yes, that is what the free consultation is for. You will sit down with Chris or Riley, walk through your situation, and leave knowing where you stand on property, custody, and support, with no obligation to go further. Call (516) 712-6703 to schedule.
