Deborah E. Nelson

Deborah E. Nelson is a family law attorney at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC located in New Jersey – West Orange, Trenton and Short Hills, and New York City, New York. She works out of the West Orange office, serving clients throughout New Jersey, including Chatham, Morristown, Dover, Madison, Chester and Riverdale. Her practice area focuses on the following:

• Divorce
• Child custody and support
• Adoptions
• Fathers’ rights
• Relocations
• Child and adult guardianships
• Premarital agreements
• Domestic violence and neglect
• Enforcement of divorce judgments and appeals

A seasoned attorney with more than 35 years of experience, Ms. Nelson is skilled in alternative dispute resolution techniques. She is recognized as an accredited mediator by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals has certified her as a Collaborative Law Attorney. A firm believer in reaching amicable resolutions, she strives to maintain family bonds when dealing with sensitive family law matters. 

An Illinois Wesleyan University graduate, Ms. Nelson earned her law degree in 1985 from the Seton Hall University School of Law. In addition, she holds a specialization certification in divorce mediation from Rutgers University. Her bar admissions include the State of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The recipient of an AV Preeminent* rating through Martindale-Hubbell, Ms. Nelson is well respected in the legal community for her professionalism and ability to get results. She also holds a “Superb” rating on Avvo, along with peer endorsements and five-star client reviews. The Morris/Essex - Health & Life magazine has listed her among the Top Lawyers in Arbitration and Mediation (2020-2022) and the Morris County Bar Association has honored her with the Woman Pioneer in the Law award.

Ms. Nelson stays active in the legal circle by being a part of the Morris County Bar Association, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Worrall F. Mountain Inn of Court, the American Bar Association, the Morris County Legal Aid, the Morristown Club, and the Marie L. Garibaldi American Inn of Court. 

Playing an active role in her local community, Ms. Nelson is a blue ribbon panelist at the Early Settlement Panel program in Morris County, and she volunteers at Susan G. Komen North Jersey, an organization for breast cancer awareness and eradication. Moreover, she has written articles and spoken at seminars on various family law-related topics.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.