SEIDEN FAMILY LAW - Key Persons
Christine C. Fitzgerald is certified as a Matrimonial Law Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey and has been practicing family law since 2007. Christine is admitted to practice in NJ, NY, and before the Supreme Court of the United States and U.S. District Court of New Jersey.
Christine C. Fitzgerald is a partner at Seiden Family Law, LLC. She is certified as a Matrimonial Law Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). As of May 2022, Christine is serving as the Secretary of the Family Law Executive Committee (FLEC) of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA). Christine is also on the Board of Managers for the New Jersey Chapter of the AAML.
After graduating from Seton Hall University and receiving her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School, Christine served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Thomas P. Zampino, J.S.C. (retired) of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Essex County. After her clerkship, Christine entered private practice, further honing her experience and legal skills at several prominent family law firms in Bergen, Hudson and Morris counties before joining Seiden Family Law. Christine is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and before the Supreme Court of the United States and U.S. District Court of New Jersey.
Throughout her legal career Christine has earned recognition and accolades for her superior skills and determination. From 2012-2020, Christine has been selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer Rising Star*. Most recently, Christine has been recognized as a "Best Lawyer in America" for 2021 through 2022**. In 2019, she was honored as the 2018 Family Lawyer of the Year by the Hudson County Bar Association and Hudson County Bar Foundation.
Demonstrating her commitment to the field of family law, Christine serves as an active member of the legal community of New Jersey. Since 2011, she has been a member of FLEC of the NJSBA, where she previously served as Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee and the Hudson County Liaison among being selected to serve on various other subcommittees. She is also currently the Treasurer of the Hudson County Bar Association and Co-Chair of its Family Law Committee. In addition to being involved with the Bar Associations, Christine is also a former Chair of the Supreme Court of New Jersey's District VI Ethics Committee. Christine is an Early Settlement Panelist for Bergen County. Christine was appointed by the President of the NSJBA to serve on the Ethics Diversionary Program Committee and Amicus Committee as well as the Putting Lawyer's First Task Force. Christine previously served as the General Counsel of NJSBA.
Continuing to build upon her experience and knowledge, in 2014, Christine graduated from the Family Law Trial Advocacy Program, a specialized matrimonial litigation training given by the American Bar Association's Section of Family Law and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA).
Christine's knowledge of family law have earned her frequent invitations to lecture at, moderate and present seminars by such organizations as the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Hudson County Bar Association, and the New Jersey State Bar Association and at major events like the Annual Hot Tips in Family Law, the Family Law Symposium, the Annual Family Law Retreat, and the New Jersey State Bar Association's Annual Meeting and Convention. Christine has also written numerous scholarly articles that have been featured in professional publications, most notably New Jersey Family Lawyer.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- Attorney at Law of the State
Donald Schumacher, Esq., is an Attorney at Law of the State of New Jersey at Seiden Family Law, LLC.
Donald Schumacher, Esq., is an Attorney at Law of the State of New Jersey at Seiden Family Law. Mr. Schumacher joined Seiden Family Law, LLC, in February, 2017, and he has been with the firm since it's commencement. Mr. Schumacher was admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey in 2001. Mr. Schumacher served as the Law Clerk to the Honorable James B. Convery, J.S.C., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Part, Essex County, beginning in September 2001. He then joined the firm of Weinstein Snyder Lindemann Sarno, PC, in September, 2004. He became a partner of the firm Weinstein Lindemann & Weinstein, PC, in January 2010.
Mr. Schumacher was a Barrister of the Northern New Jersey Barry I. Croland Family Law Inns of Court. He is a panelist of the Early Settlement Panels of Union, Essex, and Morris Counties. He has presented, as a speaker, a panel on New Jersey Family Part Case Information Statements. His practice has always concentrated in matters of family law.
Mr. Schumacher earned his Juris Doctor at Seton Hall University, School of Law, in 2001. While in law school, Mr. Schumacher served as a student attorney with the Center for Social Justice, Family Law Clinic, associated with the Seton Hall University, School of Law. Mr. Schumacher is a certified family mediator having been trained at the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Spring, 2018.
Melissa E. Cohen is an attorney at Seiden Family Law. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced family law for the entirety of her career at a boutique law firm in Bergen County. Melissa served as the law clerk to the Honorable Nestor F. Guzman, Superior Court of New Jersey, Presiding Judge, Chancery Division, Family Part, Passaic County, from 2001-2002.
Melissa. attended Seton Hall University where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in History and a minor in Women's Studies. She earned her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2001. While studying at Seton Hall, Melissa served as a student attorney with the Center for Social Justice, Family Law Clinic, where she gained experience in family law matters. She also served as the Managing Editor of the Seton Hall Journal of Sports Law.
Melissa participated as a Barrister in the Barry I. Croland Family Law Inns of Court. She is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association, and serves as a panelist for the Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel in Bergen County. She is regularly appointed by the court as a Guardian ad Litem.
Melissa is comfortable and confident both in the courtroom and in resolving disputes outside of the courtroom in mediation. Melissa brings to her clients her compassion combined with her years of family law experience to help them during the difficult times in their lives.
Shelby R. Arenson is an attorney at Seiden Family Law and is admitted to practice in New Jersey. Prior to joining the firm, she served as the law clerk to the Honorable Marc R. Brown, J.S.C., of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Union County.
Shelby attended American University where she graduated with degrees in Law & Society and Sociology. She then went on to attend Columbia University to pursue her Master's in Social Work. After graduating from Columbia University, she began working at the New York City Administration for Children's Services where she focused on program reform and development in an effort to improve and strengthen the services provided to New York City's children and families.
Shelby then attended New York Law School's evening division program to pursue her Juris Doctor. During her time at New York Law School, Shelby served on the executive committee of the American Bar Association's Family Law Quarterly (FLQ) and interned at several boutique family law firms. Shelby is committed to utilizing her background to bring compassion and empathy to her clients to help them successfully navigate the legal process.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Chairman Elect of Family Law Section of New Jersey State Bar Association
- Chairman of the Family Law Section
- Co - Chaired and Discussed With Captain Sully Sulklenburg of AAML, NJ Chapter, Installation of Officers Event
- First Vice Chair for Family Law Section of NJ Bar Association
- Member of the Union County
Sheryl J. Seiden is the founding partner of Seiden Family Law, LLC. She has been duly licensed to practice law in New Jersey since December 1996 and in New York since June 1997. Sheryl is a seasoned matrimonial lawyer, having practiced family law exclusively every year since January 2000.
Sheryl J. Seiden is the founding partner of Seiden Family Law, LLC in Cranford, New Jersey. She has been duly licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey since December 1996 and in the State of New York since June 1997.
Sheryl Seiden is a seasoned matrimonial lawyer, having practiced family law exclusively every year since January 2000. Sheryl has been recognized as a "Best Lawyer in America" since 2015, and has been selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer (and previously, a Rising Star) for the last several years since 2015. She has been ranked by her peers as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey and Top 50 Lawyers every year since 2018.
*Sheryl was the Chair of the Family Law Section ("FLEC") of the New Jersey State Bar Association from May 2019 to May 2020. As a former officer of FLEC, Sheryl dedicates her time to ensure that the needs and concerns of the Family Law Section are addressed. She is a past Co-Chair of the Young Lawyer Family Law Subcommittee for FLEC, and has been a member of FLEC since 2008.
She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers ("AAML") - New Jersey Chapter ("AAML"), where she has served on the Board of Managers for several years and is slated to be sworn in as the Secretary of AAML in June 2021.
In November 2014, Sheryl argued for AAML Amicus Curiae for AAML in Gnall v. Gnall before the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Sheryl has moderated and spoke on many panels for the Family Law Symposium, including topics involving Creative Support Awards, Child Support, Emancipation and Special Needs Trusts, Alimony issues, legislative issues affecting family law, and reexamining our relocation laws. She also was a speaker at the Friday Night program for the Family Law Symposium in January 2013 on the topic of Case Information Statements.
Sheryl has lectured several times on the Relocation Laws in the State of New Jersey and on Bisbing v. Bisbing, the case setting the new standard on relocation by one parent out of state with a child or children of the parties. Sheryl has experience with addressing parental alienation. She has written an article and lectured on this topic.
Sheryl also wrote and presented a seminar series entitled "How to Take A Case Through The Court System," which she presented to Young Lawyers to educate them about family law practices and procedures, and which continues to be presented throughout the State of Jersey. She has lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Union County Bar Association on "How to Effectively Prepare a Case Information Statement" and the Middlesex County Bar Association on "Parental Alienation and Relocation Issues."
Sheryl frequently lectures at the New Jersey State Bar Annual Conference. In May 2018, 2019, and 2020, she was part of the Bench Bar Panel. In years past, she spoke on the following topics: "Landmines in Negotiating and Drafting Property Settlement Agreements," custody/parenting time issues, and why equitable distribution should be equitable and not necessarily equal.
Sheryl is also a member of the Union County and Essex County Bar Associations. She has volunteered for Partners for Women and Justice and has lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education on family law issues. Sheryl was a participant in the ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Program in May 2008, which enhanced her litigation skills.
Sheryl J. Seiden was sworn in as Chair of the Family Law Section (FLS) of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA)
Sheryl Seiden co-chaired and discussed with Captain Sully Sulklenburg of AAML, NJ Chapter, installation of officers event
Sheryl will be sworn in as Secretary of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers NJ Chapter