Nassau County Mothers’ Rights Attorney

Custody, Support & Protective Orders for Nassau County Mothers

When custody, child support, spousal support, or a protective order is at stake, what happens in the first few hearings often shapes everything that follows. Law Office of Tzvi Y. Hagler, P.C. represents mothers throughout Nassau County in the full range of family law matters: contested and uncontested custody, child support determinations and modifications, spousal maintenance, divorce, orders of protection, and paternity proceedings. Our attorneys appear regularly in Nassau County Family Court and the Nassau County Supreme Court Matrimonial Center, and we build each case around the specific facts and goals of the client in front of us.

Tzvi Y. Hagler graduated from Hofstra University School of Law in 2008 and has represented clients across New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey since then. If you can’t step away from work for a daytime appointment, we offer evening and Sunday meeting times.

To speak with our Nassau County mothers’ rights lawyers, call us at (516) 514-3868 or contact us online today.

Mothers & Custody in Nassau County Courts

New York courts determine custody under the best-interests-of-the-child standard, codified in DRL 70 and FCA 651. There is no statutory maternal preference. A mother’s case depends on how clearly the record reflects her caregiving history, the stability of her household, her ability to support the child’s educational and social development, and her willingness to foster the child’s relationship with the other parent. Nassau County judges also consider the child’s expressed preference when the child is mature enough for that input to carry weight.

Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody

Two forms of custody are decided separately. Legal custody covers decision-making authority over education, healthcare, and religion. Physical custody governs where the child lives. Both can be awarded jointly or solely, and the outcomes don’t always mirror each other. Temporary orders entered early in a case carry real weight: courts tend to preserve arrangements that have kept the child’s routine stable, so early preparation matters.

How We Prepare Mothers for Custody Proceedings

A mother’s work schedule or career commitments may be raised by the opposing party as a custody factor. We address those arguments proactively rather than waiting for them to surface at a hearing. Our work on custody cases includes drafting parenting plans that reflect the child’s actual daily life and preparing clients for what judges and law guardians ask and observe in Nassau County proceedings.

Child Support & Spousal Maintenance in Nassau County

New York child support is governed by the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA), found at DRL 240 and FCA 413. The formula combines both parents’ income and applies a percentage based on the number of children: 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and 35% or more for five or more. The income subject to the formula is currently capped at $193,000 (effective March 1, 2026; the cap is updated every two years). When combined income exceeds that threshold, Nassau County courts may apply the percentage above the cap or weigh the statutory factors, including the child’s prior standard of living.

Add-Ons, Income Review & What We Examine

Basic support isn’t the whole picture. Mandatory add-ons, including childcare costs and unreimbursed medical expenses, are ordered on top of the base amount and are typically split between parents proportionally by income share. We review all income sources when preparing a child support case: wages, self-employment income, dividends, and rental income all count under the CSSA formula, and income that is understated or mischaracterized can affect the outcome.

Spousal Maintenance & Modifications

For spousal maintenance, New York uses a separate statutory formula under DRL 236B and FCA 412. Courts weigh factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, and the standard of living established during the marriage. We advocate for maintenance arrangements that reflect our client’s actual post-divorce financial circumstances, and we handle petitions to modify both child support and maintenance when a substantial change in circumstances occurs, such as a job loss or a significant change in the child’s needs.

Nassau County Courts: Where Mothers’ Rights Cases Are Heard

The two courts handle different matters. Nassau County Family Court has jurisdiction over custody, child support, paternity, and orders of protection. The Supreme Court Matrimonial Center handles divorce proceedings, including equitable distribution of marital assets. Mothers navigating a divorce that also involves contested custody or a protective order may have proceedings pending in both courts simultaneously, which requires coordinated strategy across venues.

Our attorneys have appeared in both courts and follow developments in New York State family law that affect how Nassau County judges approach contested matters. Knowing the procedural expectations of each court, including how law guardians are appointed and how forensic evaluations are ordered in Nassau County custody cases, shapes how we prepare and present a case.

Why Nassau County Mothers Choose Law Office of Tzvi Y. Hagler, P.C.

Tzvi Y. Hagler is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Kings County Bar Association, and has been representing family law clients since graduating from Hofstra University School of Law in 2008. Our firm handles the full range of matters a mother may face: custody in both Family Court and Supreme Court matrimonial proceedings, child support, spousal maintenance, divorce, orders of protection, post-judgment modifications, and paternity.

We don’t apply the same strategy to every case. The facts that matter in one custody dispute differ from those that matter in the next, and a support calculation that fits one family’s financial picture doesn’t transfer to another. Before we recommend a course of action, we understand what our client is trying to protect and what the other side is likely to argue. Evening and Sunday appointments mean clients with full-time schedules can meet with us without losing income or time away from their children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Mothers’ Rights in Nassau County?

Mothers’ rights in Nassau County include the right to seek legal and physical custody, parenting time arrangements, child custody, and spousal maintenance. Courts examine each parent’s relationship with the child and caregiving history rather than applying any presumption based on gender. In complex custody disputes, we focus on building a record that documents the mother’s role in the child’s daily life and addresses the specific factors Nassau County courts weigh under the best-interests standard.

These rights can also extend to visitation arrangements when the other parent is awarded primary physical custody, relocation requests when a mother needs to move for work or family reasons, and orders of protection when safety is a concern. Existing orders for custody and support can be modified through Nassau County Family Court upon a showing of substantial change in circumstances.

How Does Child Custody Work in Nassau County?

Child custody in Nassau County is determined by the best-interests-of-the-child standard under DRL 70 and FCA 651. Factors courts consider include each parent’s history as a caregiver, ability to meet the child’s educational, emotional, and social needs, stability of each household, and where appropriate the child’s own preference. Legal custody (decision-making) and physical custody (residence) are assessed separately and can result in joint or sole arrangements depending on the circumstances. We prepare comprehensive parenting plans and help clients present their caregiving history clearly and completely before the court.

Can Mothers Obtain Sole Custody in Nassau County?

Sole custody may be awarded when joint custody is shown to be contrary to the child’s wellbeing. Courts may grant sole custody where there is documented evidence of neglect, abuse, substance use, domestic violence, or an unsafe environment on the part of the other parent. We build sole custody cases by gathering documentation, coordinating testimony from relevant witnesses, and working with family therapists or other professionals whose input supports the legal standard the court applies. The burden is on the parent seeking sole custody to demonstrate that a joint arrangement would harm the child.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Nassau County?

Child support in Nassau County follows the CSSA formula under DRL 240 and FCA 413. Combined parental income up to the current cap (set at $193,000 effective March 1, 2026, and updated periodically after that) is multiplied by a percentage based on the number of children: 17% for one, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, 35% or more for five or more. The result is divided between parents proportionally by income share. Mandatory add-ons for childcare and unreimbursed medical expenses are ordered separately. We review all income sources, including non-wage income, to make sure the financial picture presented to the court is accurate and complete. When circumstances change, we handle modifications to address new financial realities.

Why Choose Law Office of Tzvi Y. Hagler, P.C.?

We handle every matter a mother in Nassau County is likely to face, in a single firm rather than requiring separate representation for different issues. Our attorneys appear regularly in Nassau County Family Court and the Supreme Court Matrimonial Center, and we offer evening and Sunday appointments for clients who can’t meet during standard business hours. Every case gets an individualized strategy, and we discuss each legal recommendation in detail so clients understand the reasoning and can make informed decisions at every stage.

Start with a Consultation

If you’re dealing with custody, support, divorce, or a protective order in Nassau County, Law Office of Tzvi Y. Hagler, P.C. can help you understand your options and build a strategy suited to your circumstances. We serve mothers throughout Nassau County and the broader New York region, with access to courts across New York City and Long Island.

To speak with our Nassau County mothers’ rights lawyers, call us at (516) 514-3868 or contact us online today.