Mara Bernstein
Top rated Family Law attorney in Boca Raton, Florida
The Law Offices of Mara Bernstein, P.A.
Practice areas: Family Law; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 2012
Education: Brooklyn Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 Call today:
561-934-4090
The Law Offices of Mara Bernstein, P.A.
3010 N Military TrlSuite 210
Boca Raton, FL 33431 Visit website
Mara’s practice focuses exclusively on Private, out of Court divorce ( pre-suit negotiation and Collaborative Divorce); Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, divorce consulting, pre-divorce divorce strategic planning and consulting.
Mara began her career in 1988 as a divorce litigation attorney with a preeminent New York City divorce law firm, representing clients in high-asset divorce and child custody matters after attaining her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her law degree from Brooklyn Law School.
After years of witnessing the emotional and financial devastation divorce litigation had on her clients and their families, Mara now provides her clients with private, productive and efficient out of court alternatives to expensive, prolonged, and often destructive divorce litigation.
Mara understands that divorce and family law matters are not “one size fits all.” For this reason, Mara assesses her clients’ needs, objectives, and goals and clearly lays out a strategy and legal approach designed to create the best results possible while minimizing the negative impacts of divorce. In addition to her years as a seasoned divorce litigator, Mara is an Accredited Collaborative Divorce attorney, member of The Elite Collaborative Divorce Training team and a Florida Supreme Court Certified divorce mediator. She is also a guardian ad litem representing the rights of children in high-conflict divorce cases. She is a recipient of the Palm Beach County Community Impact Advocacy Award, Palm Beach and Boca Raton Top Lawyers for several consecutive years and has an “Excellent” rating on Avvo.
Her clients describe her as “very accessible,” and an “advocate who gets results without unnecessary fees and drama.” Opposing counsel describe Mara as “respected and unwavering and relentless in pursuit of her clients’ interests”.
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
· Divorce
· Presuit Divorce Negotiations
· Collaborative Divorce
· Child Custody
· Child Support
· Spousal Support
· Postnuptial Agreements
· Prenuptial Agreements
· Post-divorce Issues
· Equitable Distribution
· Separation Agreements
· Marital Property Distribution
· Divorce Mediation
· Marital Property Settlements
· Marital Agreements
· Divorce Strategic Planning and Consulting
Practice areas
Family LawFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Father's Rights, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 100% Family Law
First Admitted: 1989, New York
Professional Webpage: https://marabernsteindivorce.com/about/
Bar / Professional Activity
- The Florida Bar, Family Law Section
- The New York State Bar, Family Law Section
- South Palm Beach County Bar Association, Family law Section
- Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Broward County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution section, Family Law Section
- South Palm Beach County Bar Association: Mental Health and Divorce Law
- The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, Mediation and Collaborative Law Committee Member
- Broward County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution section, Family Law Section
- South County Bar Association: Family Law Section
- My Collaborative Team Member
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- South Palm Beach County Bar Association
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- I have not been engaged in litigation practice for the past 5 years. Instead, I provide my clients with out of court options to resolve family and marital issues and disputes., 2018
Videos
- Food For Thought: Navigating Divorce, 2023
- 5 Fresh Tips: Realizing That Divorce Can Be Your Opportunity to Create Your Next Best Chapter
- 8 Things You Need To Know Before Filing for Divorce With Mara Bernstein
- What To Know Before Getting Divorced
- What to Know Before You Go: Advice for the Early Stages of Divorce with Mara Bernstein
- Divorcing Collaboratively: The Process Starts With You
- Navigating Divorce: Options, Insights, and Empowerment with Divorce Attorney Mara Bernstein
- Your Divorce Options Explained: Insights from Family Attorney Mara Bernstein
- The Divorce Depot Podcast | A Different Divorce | Dr. Elinor Robin & Mara Bernstein, Esq.
- Finding the Money: Divorce Different, 2023
Representative Clients
- Representing professionals, business owners, spouses, and several public figures in out of court high asset and private divorces; Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements.
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Accredited Collaborative Divorce Attorney- requirements for accreditation include a minimum number of completed Collaborative Divorce cases, minimum number of continuing education credits as well as recommendations from members of the Collaborative Divorce community., 2021
- Trained Guardian Ad Litem, 2020
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, 2022
Pro bono / Community Service
- Free Arts NYC: Founding member, 1996
- Impact 100 Palm Beach County: Member, 2020
- Faulk Center: Former Board member, 2018
- Sophia Grace Fund: Founding member, 2002
Honors
- Palm Beach Illustrated Top lawyers 2024, .
- Boca Raton Observer Top Lawyers 2024, 2023, 2022, .
- Top Marital and Family Lawyer, 2023 Boca Raton Observer, Selected as A Top Family Law Attorney, Boca Raton Observer, 2023
- “Excellent” rating on Avvo
- Faulk Center Community Advocacy and Service Award, Community Advocacy and Service Award, The Faulk Center for Counseling, 2018
Educational Background
- Cornell University, B.A., 1985
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Elite Collaborative Training Group: Principal and Trainer
- Palm Beach County Community Impact Advocacy Award
- “Before the Split: Pre-Divorce Tips for a Smoother Divorce”: A Better Divorce Podcast
- "Divorcing Different”: Find the Money Podcast
- "Navigating Divorce”: Food for Thought Podcast
- “Divorce Is Difficult. It Doesn’t Have to Be Devastating”: Unpolished Therapy Podcast
- “Everything you Need to Know About Divorce and Children”: Fresh Story Podcast
- South Palm Beach County Collaborative Law Professionals: “Collaborative Practice and the Law”
- Florida Paralegals Association: Continuing Education, Collaborative Divorce Law
- Florida Psychological Association: Continuing Education, Options in Divorce
- Faulk Center for Counseling: Collaborative Law Seminar
- Purpose was to address mental health issues in the Family Law context including forensic evaluations of parties, appointment of Social Investigators and Guardian Ad Litems and ethical consideration when working with clients who present with mental health issues, Presenter, Mental Health and Family law, South Palm Beach Bar Association, Legal Community, 2022
- Webinar presentation for the South Palm Beach County Bar Association along with Forensic Psychologist on the myths of the Collaborative Process. Purpose was to educate and engage legal professionals on this out of court resolution process, Speaker, Top 10 Collaborative Law Myths, South Palm Beach County Bar Association: Presented by the ADR Committee, Legal Community, 2022
- Seminar designed to educate Paralegals on processes and required documents and financial disclosure for the Collaborative Divorce Process, Presenter, Collaborative Practice for Paralegals, Paralegal Association of Florida, Palm Beach Chapter, 2020
- Introduction to Collaborative Divorce for psychologists with the goal of educating so that in turn, psychologists can educate their clients regarding divorce options, Presenter, Collaborative Divorce Introduction for Psychologists, Florida Psychological Association, Psychologists, 2016
- Trainer for Introductory required Collaborative Divorce Practice., Trainer, Introduction to Collaborative Divorce Process, Legal, 2023
- Presenter on how the Collaborative Process can be used in "life planning" cases such as Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements and Trust and Estates matters, Presenter, Life Planning and the Collaborative Process, Florida Association of Collaborative Professionals, Legal, 2021
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Excellent lawyer professional and cares”
“Mara specializes in alternative dispute resolution divorce. She is excellent at seeing all points of view and coming up with out of the box resolutions.”
Office location for Mara Bernstein
3010 N Military Trl
Suite 210
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-934-4090
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026
