Section 1: Experience & Competence
Does the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC handle family law matters like mine?
Yes. The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC handles divorce and family law matters alongside its criminal defense and immigration practices. Edwin Drantivy practices matrimonial and family law and holds Avvo Top Contributor recognition in Matrimonial law, per his bio. Michael Elkin was named to the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 Under 40, per his bio. The combined practice matters when a family case overlaps with an order of protection, a criminal charge, or an immigration issue, because all of it is handled under one roof.
Does the firm negotiate and litigate in family court?
Yes. The firm handles family matters through negotiation and, when needed, litigation in New York courts. Edwin Drantivy represents clients in matrimonial and family law matters and takes only the cases he believes in. Family cases frequently overlap with domestic violence allegations, and the firm’s criminal defense attorneys have won multiple dismissals in domestic violence matters, so clients facing both a family dispute and a related charge have attorneys on both fronts. The firm also handles administrative matters, including a case where the court declared that an indicated ACS report would not stand in the way of the client’s future employment or adoption.
Has the firm handled serious or high-stakes family matters before?
Yes. In one hotly contested divorce, the father had the mother arrested on weak allegations and she briefly lost custody early in the case; the firm ultimately won her physical custody of the children. Where domestic violence allegations threaten custody, the firm’s attorneys have secured multiple dismissals in domestic violence matters. A divorce or custody case involving a non-citizen spouse raises status questions, which the firm’s immigration department handles in-house. Ryan Forbes served as judicial intern to the Hon. Richard Rivera, a Supervising Family Court Judge, giving the firm experience from inside a family court chambers.
Can the attorneys explain my options clearly?
Yes. Divorce and custody decisions affect children, finances, and housing for years, and clients need to understand each option before they commit. The firm’s attorneys explain how custody, support, and property division work in New York and what each path means in practice. A client in a family court case wrote in a Google review that Michael Elkin and his team were “professional, attentive, responsive, and very easy to work with.” Strategy is reviewed through the firm’s 12-Attorney Roundtable, so clients hear options shaped by multiple attorneys, including how a family matter affects any related criminal or immigration issue.
Section 2: Trust & Transparency
What will this cost?
Cost depends on whether the matter is contested. An uncontested divorce with an agreement in place requires far less work than a contested custody dispute or a divorce involving business assets, and the fee reflects that. The consultation is where the attorney reviews the situation, explains the likely path, and gives a direct fee answer. Ask what the fee covers and what would increase it, such as a trial, expert witnesses, or forensic evaluations, before you sign.
Are there payment plans available?
Yes. The firm offers payment plans and financing options. A divorce often strains household finances at the same moment legal fees arrive, and the attorney explains how fees are structured and what arrangements are available. In New York divorces, a court can direct the higher-earning spouse to contribute to the other spouse’s legal fees, and the attorney will explain whether that applies to your case.
What happens after I hire the firm?
The work starts with the facts and the documents: finances, property, children’s schedules, and any existing orders. From there, the attorney identifies whether the matter can be negotiated or needs court intervention, and files or responds accordingly. If an order of protection or a criminal charge is involved, the firm’s criminal defense attorneys, who have secured multiple domestic violence dismissals, coordinate with the family law side so one case does not damage the other.
Will the firm be honest with me about my chances?
Yes. Edwin Drantivy takes only the cases he believes in, which means clients hear an honest assessment before the firm commits to the matter. Family court judges weigh specific factors, and an attorney who sets realistic expectations about custody, support, and asset division helps clients make decisions they will not regret. Clients hear what is achievable, what is not, and why, before they agree to a settlement or go before a judge.
Section 3: Strategy & Results
What can be done for my situation?
The options depend on whether the parties can agree. Negotiated settlements and mediation resolve many divorces and custody disputes without a trial, and contested matters go before a judge. The firm handles both, and has obtained a Final Judgment of Divorce even after a husband fled the state and disappeared. Where an order of protection or domestic violence allegation is part of the dispute, the firm’s criminal defense attorneys address it directly; Helena Stranger has secured multiple dismissals in domestic violence matters. Where a spouse’s immigration status is involved, the firm’s immigration department advises on the overlap.
Can I get a fair custody arrangement or settlement?
Yes. The firm’s family law results include physical custody awarded to a mother in a hotly contested divorce, a favorable divorce settlement after years of negotiation with a husband who initially refused to pay any child support, and a favorable child support award even though the child’s father never appeared in court or produced proof of income. When a domestic violence allegation threatens custody, the firm’s criminal defense team has secured multiple dismissals in domestic violence matters. Michael Elkin, recognized by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, holds both a J.D. and an M.B.A., per his bio, an asset in cases with complex marital finances. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Can I avoid losing custody or an unfair support order?
Often, yes. Custody is rarely all-or-nothing, and options include shared custody, structured parenting schedules, and arrangements that preserve the parent-child relationship. Child support in New York follows the Child Support Standards Act formula, so an unfair order usually traces back to income figures that can be challenged. When a criminal allegation is driving the custody fight, resolving it favorably changes the family case, and the firm’s domestic violence dismissals show that work in practice. Orders of protection against the firm’s clients have been resolved in as few as two court appearances, with no admission of guilt or findings of fact.
What factors affect the outcome of my family law matter?
New York courts decide custody based on the best interests of the child, weighing each parent’s caregiving history, stability, the child’s needs, and any history of domestic violence. Child support is calculated under the Child Support Standards Act, and marital property is divided under equitable distribution. The firm brings direct family court perspective to these factors: Ryan Forbes served as judicial intern to a Supervising Family Court Judge, and Scott Migden served as Staff Editor of the law journal Family Court Review, per his bio.
Section 4: Client Experience
Will I be judged, or will my situation be taken seriously?
Your situation will be taken seriously, without judgment. Divorce, custody disputes, and domestic violence allegations carry stigma, and people often delay calling a lawyer because they feel embarrassed. The firm’s attorneys work with families in crisis across family, criminal, and immigration law. Joseph Caldarera represents crime victims and their families as well as the accused, which gives the firm perspective on both sides of a domestic conflict. Clients are treated as parents and partners trying to protect what matters most.
“I felt confident in the legal services I received in the stretch leading up to and during my time in court and as a result I felt calm and settled during this difficult situation I found myself navigating.”
How involved will I need to be in my matter?
It depends on the matter, and your attorney will tell you exactly what is needed. Divorce requires financial disclosure, including tax returns, bank statements, and records of property and debts. Custody matters require the client’s input on parenting schedules and the child’s needs, and sometimes participation in evaluations. The attorney handles the filings, negotiations, and court appearances, and tells the client in advance when their participation matters most.
The firm responds to every client inquiry within one business day, and right away for emergency matters. Questions about reaching your attorney, case updates, and confidentiality are answered on the firm’s main Q&A page.
