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At a Glance
| Founded by | Steven Gildin (per the firm) |
| Focus | Matrimonial, family, and criminal law (per the firm) |
| Office | 61-43 186th Street, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 (Queens), with a second office at 159 W 25th Street, Suite 409, New York, NY 10001 (Manhattan) |
| Signature results | No published itemized settlement table identified |
| Distinctive edge | A client-documented case in which Gildin drafted an Objection to an initial family court decision, identifying weaknesses beyond what the client herself had recognized (see Client Voice) |
| Fee model | Free initial consultation advertised; specific rates not published |
| Known for | Contested divorce and child custody matters in Queens and Long Island courts (per the firm) |
Origin and Background
Steven Gildin has practiced New York family law for nearly 30 years, and the firm’s Fresh Meadows, Queens office was confirmed against multiple independent business listings, alongside a second Manhattan office. The firm markets itself as full-service but boutique, stating clients speak directly with an attorney rather than an intake service.
What Makes This Firm Structurally Different
Gildin & Chapman is not a firm handing cases to junior associates by default; a detailed, independently posted client review describes Gildin personally drafting an Objection to a family court’s initial decision, identifying legal weaknesses in the ruling beyond what the client had recognized on her own — a level of direct, hands-on appellate-style advocacy the review specifically credits to the named partner rather than a general “the firm.”
Practice Areas
- Contested and uncontested divorce
- Equitable distribution
- Child custody and parenting time disputes
- Child support and spousal support
- Criminal law
Track Record
Awesome Attorneys did not identify a published, itemized table of settlement or custody outcomes on the firm’s site. Past results in any matter do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
Client Voice
An independently posted client review describes Gildin’s handling of an Objection to an initial family court decision: he “didn’t just address the points of weakness” but “delved deep into the intricacies of the law to highlight all the faults within the Decision,” while also providing emotional support through what the client called “the emotional rollercoaster” of the proceeding. A separate reviewer, identified as Bushra Ghani, called Gildin “one of the best divorce lawyers in NY” for a contentious divorce and custody matter. Awesome Attorneys did not identify negative reviews for this firm as of the research date.
Beyond the Courtroom
Awesome Attorneys did not identify specific published community or pro bono activity for this firm as of the research date.
Recognition
Awesome Attorneys did not identify a Martindale-Hubbell or Super Lawyers rating for this firm on the pages reviewed. New York does not maintain a board-certification system for family law comparable to Texas’s TBLS or Arizona’s Board of Legal Specialization, so Awesome Attorneys does not apply “specialist” language to any New York family law attorney on that basis.
New York Legal Backdrop
New York permits no-fault divorce under Domestic Relations Law § 170(7) once a spouse swears the marriage has been irretrievably broken for at least six months. Marital property is divided under equitable distribution (DRL § 236(B)(5)) rather than an automatic 50/50 split, and spousal maintenance follows a statutory income-based formula (DRL § 236(B)(6)). Child support follows the Child Support Standards Act (DRL § 240(1-b); Family Court Act § 413), and custody determinations turn on the best-interest-of-the-child standard. None of this is legal advice; a specific divorce, custody, or support matter should be evaluated by a licensed New York attorney based on the actual facts involved.
Awesome Attorneys Assessment
Gildin & Chapman’s clearest differentiator is documented, personal, hands-on advocacy from its named partner, including appellate-style objection work that a client specifically credited with reversing course on a losing decision. The honest trade-off is that Awesome Attorneys could not locate an independent, itemized outcomes record or third-party peer rating to weigh against the firm’s own client-review record, and the firm’s practice spans criminal law as well as family law rather than family law exclusively. For a Queens or Long Island client facing a contested custody or divorce matter who values an attorney with a documented record of hands-on, detail-level advocacy, that combination is a reasonable basis for a shortlist.
Methodology and Sourcing
This profile was researched from the firm’s own website (nys-lawyer.com), independent business directory listings confirming office addresses, and independently posted, attributed client reviews.
Publisher Disclosure and Independence Notice
Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal directory and editorial publication. This profile was not paid for, commissioned, or reviewed by the Law Offices of Gildin & Chapman prior to publication. Awesome Attorneys does not endorse, recommend, or warrant any profiled firm, and inclusion in this directory is not a paid placement. “Awesome Attorneys” is a brand name only and does not constitute a rating or ranking claim. Facts stated are current only as of this profile’s research date.
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