Practice areas: Family Law; view more
Licensed in New York since: 1994
Education: New York Law School
Licensed to practice in New York, Patricia Ann Fersch is the founding partner of the family law firm Fersch LLC, based in New York, New York. She focuses her practice exclusively on family and matrimonial law. Providing customer-oriented legal service of quality for about three decades, she has represented cases in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She regularly helps her clients with complex matters regarding divorce and matrimony, family court actions, marital agreements and appeals.
Ms. Fersch is a well-recognized attorney with notable successes in high-conflict divorce, child custody cases and international high-profile separations. Compassionate in nature, she has an innate skill in understanding the problems of others and giving them the confidence to do what needs to be done. Her dedicated support and legal counsel have helped numerous clients in seeking legal help for serious domestic relations issues.
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in international studies from New York University, Ms. Fersch studied law at the New York Law School. Completing her Juris Doctor in 1992, she worked with the New York Law School and the New York Supreme Court in an externship program, where she oversaw students assisting litigants representing themselves in uncontested divorces.
Ms. Fersch has received several acclaims for her merits in the field of law, including FamilyKind Service Award, the Hanna S. Cohn Pro Bono Award from the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York and the Partner in Justice Award by the Mobilization for Justice, Inc. She is appreciated by her clients for her candor and steadfast approach, and is rated 10/10 on Avvo. Ready to extend her support beyond the call of duty, she engages in a lot of pro bono representation. She also contributes to Forbes on relevant topics related to family law.
Practice areas
Family LawFocus areas
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Marital Property, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 100% Family Law
First Admitted: 1994, New York
Professional Webpage: https://pffamilylaw.com/attorneys/patricia/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member, Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
- New York Women’s Bar Association representative on the 2016 Civil Court Judicial Screening Panel
- Member, Sub-committee, Matrimonial Mediation Pilot program in New York County
- New York County Supreme Matrimonial Advisory Committee since 2018
- New York County Woman's Bar Association Matrimonial Committee
- State of New York, 1994
- New York County Lawyer's Association 2000-2001: Chairperson of the Women's Rights Committee, 2000-2001
- Southern and Eastern District of United States Federal Court, 1994
- New York State Bar Association
- Southern District of United States Federal Court, 1994
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- In the Matter of Mendez v. Hance, 1 A.D.3d 265 (App Div 1st Dept. 2003), 2003
- Ponorovskaya v. Stecklow, 45 Misc. 3d 597 (N.Y. Cty. Sup. Ct., Cooper, J. 2014)
- Vikram J. v. Anupama S., 123 A.D.3d 625 (App Div 1st Dept. 2014)
- Chu v. Lin, N.Y.L.J May 29, 2020 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty 2020)
- David S. v. Samantha G. 59 Misc.3d 960, 74 N.Y.S.3d 730 (Fam. Ct., New York County 2018)
- Weissman v. Weissman, 300 A.D.2d 261 (App Div 1st Dept. 2002), 2002
- In the Matter of Lisa W. v. Seine W., 2005 NY Slip Op 51782U (Kings Cty. Fam. Ct., Olshansky, J. 2005), 2005
- Alix A. v. Erika H., 45 A.D.3d 394 (App Div 1st Dept. 2007), 2007
- In the Matter of Gordon v. Greene, 7 A.D.3d 528 (App Div 2nd Dept. 2004), 2004
- In the Matter of Williamson v. Williamson, 255 A.D.2d 447 (App Div 2nd Dept. 1998), 1998
- In re Penny B. v. Gary S., 61 A.D.3d 589 (App Div 1st Dept. 2009), 2009
- Matter of Frankel v. Tregnaghi, 30 A.D.3d 183 (App Div 1st Dept. 2006), 2006
- In the Matter of Brackman v. Debrest, 276 A.D.2d 483 (App Div 2nd Dept. 2000), 2000
- In the Matter of Smith v. Smith et al., 668 N.Y.S.2d 336 (Kings Cty. Fam. Ct., Segal, J.F.C., 1998), 1998
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Law Guardian Training Course Family Court of the State of New York, 1991
Pro bono / Community Service
- Outstanding pro bono representation, 1995
- FamilyKind Board, Chairperson, 2021
- Volunteered at The Legal Aid Society
- Board of Directors of FamilyKind
- Co-founder and current co-chair of the NYWBA Matrimonial Pro Bono Project provides judges with an option to refer indigent litigants in contested matrimonial cases that are before the court to the Project Manager for assigned counsel. http://www.nywba.org/documents/NYWBA_MatProBonoProject_2012-05-23.pdf I was the co-founder of this project and have been the co-chair of the project since 2011 when it was relaunched. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2011
- Board of Directors of Community Word
- Attorney Volunteer, NYWBA Matrimonial Pro Bono Project 2009 - 2013
Educational Background
- New York University, B.A., 1988
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Conference on Domestic Violence, Fordham University, Panelist, 2007
- Brooklyn Law School Journal of Law and Policy, Vol. xl. 2003, Panelist, Brooklyn Law School Symposium on Domestic Violence, 2002
- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324481204578180132637628330.html?KEYWORDS=fersch, Commentary, Wall Street Journal, 2012
- I was a guest lecturer of the Honorable Laura Drager, sitting matrimonial Justice of the NY Supreme Court, NY County, and the Honorable Judith J. Gische, Justice of the Appellate Division First Department and former Justice of the Supreme Court and matrimonial part Judge, at the class they together teach at New York Law School entitled "Anatomy of a New York Divorce". I lectured about client interviews and retainers., Lecturer, New York Law School - Anatomy of a New York Divorce Class, 2011
- I was the guest lecturer for Professor Carlin Meyer's Family Law class. I lectured on the issues of the then new spousal support laws including calculation of temporary support awards., Lecturer, New York Law School - Family Law Class, 2012
Other Outstanding Achievements
- New York Law School Fellowship Screening Committee 2002-2004, 2002
- Selected to be a committee member of the New York Supreme Court Matrimonial Case Management Advisory Committee chaired by Jusice Heitler of the New York County Supreme Court, 2012 - 2013
- New York Law School Employee Advisory Group, 2007
- Speaker, "Making it in the Big Apple", New York University, 2005
- Externship Director, New York Law School/New York County Supreme Court: Uncontested Divorce clinic. Supervised students assisting pro se litigants with uncontested divorces in New York County Supreme Court, 2007
- Legal Advisor, ABC TV, "General Hospital", 2005
Honors
- Awarded the 2010 Partner in Justice Award
- Hanna S. Cohn Pro Bono Award, 2015, Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
- I was honored in March 1995 for outstanding pro bono representation, Honoree, The Legal Aid Society, 1995
- FamilyKind Service Award, 2014 - 2023, Award
- New York Super Lawyers, 2013 - 2019
- Public Interest Coalition Award, New York Law School, 2002
- Award given by not for profit legal services firm for attorneys having given their time and talent to help MFY Legal Services expand access to justice for New Yorkers who cannot afford attorneys. 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, Pro Bono Partner in Justice Award, MFY Legal Services, 2006
- Honoree, New York Law School annual Spotlight on Woman Luncheon, 2002
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2025
Additional sources of information about Patricia Ann Fersch
"Ask a Lawyer" answers provided by Patricia Ann Fersch
- Q: How will New York courts handle a person’s finances during a divorce?
A: There is mandatory disclosure and sworn statements of net worth including an itemized list of assets. - Q: How Does Relocating Affect My Custody Agreement In New York?
A: Relocating from New York is extremely difficult. In brief it is a best interest analysis. - Q: How do I get sole custody in New York?
A: Sole custody is somwhat disfavored but there may be very specific reasons as to why joint custody isn't workable. - Q: How Is Property Divided In A New York Divorce?
A: New York is an equitable distribution state-property is divided based on contribution to the property which includes home raising children and …