Principal office · Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
New York, NY 10022
Mon – Fri · 9:00 – 6:00
By appointment only.
Your free consultation is by video or phone.
About the Manhattan officeIn re: Your family’s futureFamily Court · Supreme Court · S.D.N.Y.Est. 1993 · New York, N.Y.
New York family law attorney · Queens & ManhattanWhen your family’sfuture is on the line,experience isn’t optional.
For 33 years David Schnall has represented families in every New York City Family Court and in Supreme Court: powerful, effective family law representation at an affordable price.
Free virtual consultation · By video or phone · Confidential
4.9out of 5 on Avvo, from 58 client reviews.
4× Clients’ Choice
Absolutely so happy with his services. Communication was great from the start.David Schnall had my back! I highly recommend Attorney Schnall.”
Client review · Google
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
33
Years of family law
N.Y. Bar 1993 · S.D.N.Y. 1994
1,000+
Clients represented
Family law only
4.9
Rating on Avvo
58 client reviews
4×
Avvo Clients’ Choice
2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2023
NYU
School of Law
J.D. 1991 · B.A. in Finance and Accounting
Every
NYC Family Court
Plus NYS Supreme & S.D.N.Y.
Courts: Queens Family Court, Kings County Family Court, New York County Family Court, Bronx Family Court, Richmond County Family Court, NYS Supreme Court, U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y..
§ 01The Record
33
Years of family law
Admitted to the New York Bar on February 1, 1993, and to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1994. 1,000+ clients represented.
He has argued from every seat in Family Court.
David Schnall has handled family cases from four different seats, so he understands how judges think, how to gain custody (decision-making) and parenting time, how to maximize child support awards and minimize support obligations, how to obtain an equitable distribution of marital assets, how ACS builds a case, and how to defend or prosecute your family offense (order of protection) case.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
- 01
Attorney for the City of New York
Child-welfare litigationHe litigated child-welfare cases for the City. He is fully versed in ACS proceedings and child protection investigations, and knows how the agency builds its case.
- 02
Public defender, NYC Family Court
2002–2012Ten years at the defense table in New York City Family Court.
- 03
Court-appointed counsel for children
10+ yearsMore than a decade as the lawyer the court assigns to the child. He knows what a judge listens for when a child’s future is decided.
- 04
Private family-law advocate
33 years1,000+ clients in every NYC Family Court, in New York State Supreme Court and in federal court (the Southern District of New York). This is the seat he takes for you.
- 05
A background in finance and accounting
B.A., University of FloridaMuch of child support and divorce turns on the numbers: income, imputation, support calculations, asset division. He brings a degree in finance and accounting to that side of your case.
§ 02Practice areas
Every matter of the family, argued to the fullest.
Family law is all he does. Every matter is prepared as if it will be tried, because a case that’s ready for trial negotiates from strength.
Custody and visitation cases for mothers, fathers and grandparents. For more than ten years David Schnall was the lawyer the court appointed for the child, so he knows what the court weighs when it decides a child’s best interests.
- Custody and visitation petitions
- Grandparents’ visitation
- Modification and relocation
- Enforcement and violation petitions
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Modification
- Relocation
In New York a divorce is filed in Supreme Court, while most other family matters are heard in Family Court. David Schnall has represented clients in both, and his background in finance and accounting goes into how your case is valued and argued from the first filing.
- Contested and uncontested divorce
- Division of marital assets
- Spousal maintenance
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Contested
- Uncontested
- Maintenance
- Agreements
Support is decided on the numbers. With a background in finance and accounting, David Schnall builds the financial record (income, imputation, add-on expenses) that supports the right amount, whether you receive support or pay it.
- Establishing child support
- Modifying an existing order
- Enforcing an order and collecting arrears
- Add-on expenses: health care, child care, education
- Establish
- Modify
- Enforce
Family offense cases move quickly, and what is said at the first appearance matters. Whether you need an order of protection or you have been served with a petition, the firm prepares your side of the record from day one.
- Family offense petitions
- Temporary and final orders of protection
- Defending against a petition
- Where protection meets custody
- Family Offense
- Seeking
- Defending
New York custody law gives neither parent an automatic advantage. Several client reviews single out David Schnall’s work for fathers in custody cases: he builds the record the court decides on.
- Custody and visitation for fathers
- Paternity
- Relocation cases
- Modifying an existing order
- Custody
- Visitation
- Paternity
As a former attorney for the City of New York in child-welfare litigation, David Schnall is fully versed in ACS proceedings and child protection investigations. He knows how the agency builds its case, and how to answer it.
- ACS and child protective investigations
- Neglect and abuse proceedings (Article 10)
- Defending against termination of parental rights
- Reunification with your children
- ACS
- Article 10
- Reunification
When relatives petition to take control of a capable parent’s life, the defense has to be immediate and firm. The firm defends wrongful guardianship petitions, in court, for families protecting an elderly parent.
- Defending wrongful guardianship petitions
- Contesting claims of incapacity
- Elder abuse concerns
- Article 81 guardianship proceedings
- Article 81
- Capacity
- Elder Abuse
§ 03Your free consultation
Before you decide anything, you’ll know four things.
Your first consultation with David Schnall is free and virtual, by video or phone, so you can start from anywhere. It’s an honest assessment, not a sales pitch, and you leave it knowing:
- 01
How to achieve your goals
What you want out of this, and the realistic way to get there.
- 02
How your case will unfold
Which court, which steps, and what happens first.
- 03
How long it will take
A straight answer on the timeline.
- 04
The estimated costs
What each path is likely to cost, before you commit to anything.
Free virtual consultation · By video or phone · Confidential
Affordable by design. Payment plans, sliding-scale fees, and pay-as-you-go in some cases. Ask about them in your free consultation.
§ 04The Attorney
§ Attorney of recordFamily law only
David
Schnall, Esq.
Attorney at law · Sole practitioner
- Education
- J.D., New York University School of Law1991
- B.A. in Finance and Accounting, University of Florida1987
- Admission
- New York · Appellate Division, First Judicial DepartmentFeb 1, 1993
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York1994
- Memberships
- New York State Bar Association
- New York County Lawyers’ Association
- Recognition
- Avvo Clients’ Choice Award2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2023
Jamaica · Manhattan
Every side of the bench. One advocate for you.
David Schnall earned his J.D. at New York University School of Law in 1991, after a B.A. in finance and accounting at the University of Florida. He was admitted to the New York Bar on February 1, 1993, and to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1994. Thirty-three years on, family law is the only law he practices.
He has represented 1,000+ clients in the Family Courts of Queens, Kings, New York, Bronx and Richmond counties, in New York State Supreme Court and in federal court in the Southern District of New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York County Lawyers’ Association.
His approach is blunt. You hear the truth about your case, including when a fight isn’t worth what it would cost.
The record, in dates
- 1987
B.A., Finance and Accounting
University of Florida.
- 1991
J.D., NYU Law
New York University School of Law.
- 1993
Admitted to the New York Bar
February 1, 1993, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. His family law practice begins.
- 1994
Admitted to federal court
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- 2002–2012
Public defender, NYC Family Court
Ten years representing clients in Family Court.
- 10+ years
Court-appointed counsel for children
The lawyer the court assigns to the child, and to adults, in Family Court.
- 4×
Avvo Clients’ Choice Award
Awarded in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
- Today
33 years, 1,000+ clients
Every NYC Family Court, New York State Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
§ 05The Method
A courtroom philosophy, thirty-three years in the making.
The motto isn’t branding. It’s operating procedure: every case is optimized before it’s presented, so the outcome can be maximized.
01 / 03
Optimize
Documents, finances, timelines and testimony are organized before anything is filed, because in family court, cases are won in the preparation.
02 / 03
Present
Every appearance is argued from a prepared position, in whichever court your matter calls for. The goal is a presentation the court finds credible and the other side has to take seriously.
03 / 03
Maximize
The best outcome at an honest cost. When settling serves you, settle on strong terms. When it doesn’t, try the case, prepared.
“Optimize your presentation. Maximize your possibilities.”
§ 06Client reviews
Entered into evidence.
What clients wrote, quoted exactly as they wrote it.
4.9
On Avvo
58 client reviews
4×
Clients’ Choice
Avvo · 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023
Mr. Schnall is dangerously professional and has a mind like a steel trap. Very good at turning the heat up when necessary to turn the tables. Well worth the investment for sure!
Rated 5 out of 5.
If I could give Attorney David Schnall 10 stars on this review I would. He's cut throat like a vulture. He cares, he goes above and beyond. He is professional and responsive. He is knowledgable and knows his stuff when it comes to the law. He will not let people of lawlessness step all over your rights. He's very affordable, … He is blunt, and straightforward and will tell you like it is. …
Rated 5 out of 5.
… As a father himself, he knew how important my case was to me. He was dilligent and had great follow-up. … Recommend him to everyone and anyone.
Rated 5 out of 5.
… He has won every single motion my ex husband has tried to throw at me! Every single one! He is beyond fairly priced and his confidence is what wins ! I highly highly recommend him!
Rated 5 out of 5.
… We were dealing with overwhelming emotions and stress concerning elder abuse and fighting against a guardianship petition submitted by family members who attempted to wrongfully strip away the rights of a fully capacitated elderly parent by falsely accusing her of being incompetent. David not only walked us through the process but also provided strong fierce defense in the courtroom. …
Rated 5 out of 5.
He saved a single mom from wasting thousands of dollars. He was the only attorney I called that listened then gave me honest & transparent advice about what I should do. If I need to circle back again, I will be hiring him. Nonetheless, I will definitely be referring everyone I know to him.
Reviews are quoted exactly as clients wrote them (“…” marks a shortened passage) and reflect individual experiences. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Read more client reviews§ 07Jurisdiction
Five boroughs. Every Family Court.
David Schnall has represented clients in the Family Court of every New York City borough, in the matrimonial parts of New York State Supreme Court, and in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- 01Family Court
Queens County Family Court
Queens - 02Family Court
Kings County Family Court
Brooklyn - 03Family Court
New York County Family Court
Manhattan - 04Family Court
Bronx County Family Court
The Bronx - 05Family Court
Richmond County Family Court
Staten Island - 06Divorce
New York State Supreme Court
Matrimonial parts - 07Federal
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Federal · Admitted 1994
Serving Queens · Kings · New York · Bronx · Richmond · Nassau counties
The courthouse is the office’s second address.
§ 08Offices
Manhattan & Queens, on the record.
New York, NY 10022
Office · Queens
Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica, NY 11432
Mon – Fri · 9:00 – 6:00
By appointment only.
Your free consultation is by video or phone.
About the Queens officeOffice hours
Mon
9:00 – 6:00
Tue
9:00 – 6:00
Wed
9:00 – 6:00
Thu
9:00 – 6:00
Fri
9:00 – 6:00
Sat
Closed
Sun
Closed
§ 09Straight answers
Before you file, read this.
The questions clients ask first, answered the way they would be in the consultation: plainly.
Your first consultation is free, and in it you get the estimated costs of each path (negotiating, motions, trial) before you commit to anything. The firm’s model is powerful, effective representation at an affordable price: payment plans, sliding-scale fees, and pay-as-you-go in some cases. David Schnall will tell you plainly when a fight isn’t worth what it would cost.
No. The free consultation is virtual, by video or phone, so you can start from wherever you are: call (212) 371-2407, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or send the form. The Manhattan and Queens offices are by appointment only.
Usually Family Court, unless it’s a divorce. In New York a divorce must be filed in Supreme Court. Custody, visitation, child support, orders of protection and child welfare cases are usually heard in Family Court, although Supreme Court can decide custody and support too, especially as part of a divorce. David Schnall has represented clients in both courts, including the Family Court in every New York City borough.
No. New York custody law gives neither parent an automatic advantage: the court decides what is in the child’s best interests. David Schnall represents mothers, fathers and grandparents, and his decade-plus as court-appointed counsel for children means he knows what the court looks for.
Read more about custodyTalk to a family lawyer as early as you can, because what happens during an investigation can shape the case that follows. David Schnall is a former attorney for the City of New York in child-welfare litigation and is fully versed in ACS proceedings and child protection investigations.
Often, yes. New York law lets a parent ask the court to modify a support order in certain situations, for example after a substantial change in circumstances. Whether yours qualifies depends on your order and your facts; the consultation will tell you, with the numbers worked through by someone with a background in finance and accounting.
No. Calling, emailing or sending the website form does not create an attorney-client relationship, and information you send before the firm agrees to represent you may not be privileged or confidential.
§ 10Free consultation
Begin the record.
What you’ll learn in your free consultation
- 01How to achieve your goals
- 02How your case will unfold
- 03How long it will take
- 04The estimated costs
An honest assessment, not a sales pitch.
Free consultations are virtual, by video or phone: start from anywhere.Same-day response from the firm