Maura A. Barrett

A partner at the Poughkeepsie, New York, law firm of Ostertag O’Leary Barrett & Faulkner, Maura A. Barrett is an accomplished and compassionate family law attorney who is adept at tackling the legal issues her clients face. For 26-plus years, she has helped them with issues involving:

• Collaborative divorce, including mediation
• Child support and custody
• Property division 
• Post-decree modifications and enforcements
• Spousal maintenance
• Domestic violence

With a resolute determination to assist clients with their legal needs, Ms. Barrett doesn’t just litigate in divorce trials but is also trained as a collaborative divorce attorney and mediator. She understands that divorce is often an emotional time for any individual, and a legal process where there won’t be any room for negative emotions to grow is a process she would always recommend to her clients.

After receiving her Bachelor of Civil Law in 1991, Ms. Barrett completed her LL.B. in 1992 from the University College Cork – National University of Ireland. She went on to receive her Master of Arts from the University of Limerick in 1993. She has been authorized to practice in New York, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Having been rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell – the highest peer review rating achievable – Ms. Barrett has won numerous accolades for her exceptional professionalism and capabilities in the field of family law, including the “40 under 40” award by the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce, the Pro Bono Award by the Dutchess County Bar Association and a “Superb” rating on Avvo. 

An avid educator, Ms. Barrett holds continuing legal education seminars for the Dutchess County Bar Association and is an adjunct professor at Dutchess Community College, where she teaches topics related to criminal justice.

A long-serving member of the Dutchess County Bar Association, Ms. Barrett has taken up several leadership positions in the organization such as its president, secretary and treasurer. She also holds memberships in the New York State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the Irish American Bar Association of New York and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, just to name a few.

*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.