New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook

Purchasers of the New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook may obtain a free copy of the New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook 2020 Update Pdf Edition by submitting proof of purchase to [email protected] and obtaining a coupon code that can be used on the Consulting Services Bookstore website.

The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook, by Joel R. Brandes, a member of the New York Bar, was written for both the attorney who has never tried a matrimonial action and for the experienced litigator. It is not a treatise. It is a “how to” book for lawyers. This handbook is a companion work to his treatise, Law and the Family New York, 2d (Thomson Reuters), which contains extensive coverage of the substantive and procedural law related to matrimonial actions and family court proceedings. The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook focuses on the procedural and substantive law, as well as the law of evidence, that an attorney must have at his or her fingertips when trying a matrimonial action. It is intended to be an aid for preparing for a trial and as a reference for the procedure in offering and objecting to evidence during a trial. The book deals extensively with the testimonial and documentary evidence necessary to meet the burden of proof. There are thousands of suggested questions for the examination of witnesses at trial to establish each cause of action and requests for ancillary relief, as well as for the cross-examination of difficult witnesses.

Joel R. Brandes concentrates his practice in New York divorce and family law appeals. He also consults with and advises attorneys on complex litigated appellate and trial court matters pending in all of the New York state and federal courts.  He has drafted briefs and advised attorneys with regard to many international child abduction cases, including cases in the United States Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.  He has been recognized by the New York Appellate Division as a "noted authority and expert on New York family law and divorce.” (See Matter of Brandes,  2015 WL 4664743, 2015 N.Y. Slip Op. 81096(U) (2d Dept.,2015)).

A Book Review which appeared in the New York Law Journal appears on the New York Divorce and Family Law website. 

E-book editions of  the New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook are available at the Consulting Services Bookstore website.  

The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook, by Joel R. Brandes, is devoted solely to the trial of a New York matrimonial action. It is a courtroom reference book to be used during the trial to enable counsel to successfully handle unusual evidentiary issues that frequently arise only in matrimonial actions. It is also an encyclopedia of questions for the direct and cross-examination of the parties and witnesses. It contains thousands of questions to ask in order to establish each element of a party’s cause of action and requests for ancillary relief. The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook has one purpose - to help an attorney try a matrimonial action. Its scope is limited to that part of a matrimonial action that begins after trial preparation has been completed, and ends with the conclusion of the trial. The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook is divided into five parts. Part 1 deals with preliminary matters, how to conduct a trial and the rules of evidence. Part 2 covers obtaining a divorce, separation, or annulment with questions to establish a prima facie case. Part 3 is devoted to obtaining maintenance, child support, exclusive occupancy of the marital residence, counsel fees and other ancillary relief. Part 4 deals with equitable distribution of marital property and the determination of separate property. Part 5 contains extensive coverage of custody litigation. Each Part of the Handbook includes the relevant substantive and procedural law, and the law of evidence related to that Part, and contains suggested questions for the examination and cross-examination of the parties and their witnesses.

Joel R. Brandes, of the New York Bar, practices law in New York and lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his wife Elizabeth. He is the author of  the treatise Law and The Family New York, 2d (9 volumes), Law and the Family New York Forms 2020 Edition (5 volumes)(Thomson Reuters),  and the New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook (Bookbaby), The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook 2020 Update (Amazon) and The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook Courtroom Edition (Amazon).  His ”Law and the Family” column is a regular feature in the New York Law Journal.  The New York Matrimonial Trial Handbook  is available in Bookstores and online in the print edition at the Bookbaby Bookstore,  Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and other online book sellers.  It is also available in Kindle ebook editions and epub ebook editions for all ebook readers. He writes the annual updates to Law and the Family New York, 2d, and Law and the Family New York Forms, 2d. He wrote Digest of Equitable Distribution Cases, and Equitable Distribution Case Law, both published by the New York State Bar Association and has been a contributor to several law books. Mr Brandes has written and lectured extensively on family law and international child abduction. He has authored more than five hundred published articles that have appeared in legal journals. For many years he authored “Law and the Family,” a regular monthly column in the New York Law Journal. During that time, he co-chaired the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section.  In that capacity he moderated and participated in more than 150 seminars. He wrote a quarterly column, entitled Recent Decisions, Trends and Legislation, in the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Review. He writes and publishes Bits and Bytes, ™ a bi-monthly electronic newsletter for the New York divorce and family law bench and bar, a website, New York Divorce and Family Law ( www.nysdivorce.com), and two blogs, “New York Divorce and Family Law” (https://brandeslaw.blogspot.com/) and “A Child is Missing: The International Child Abduction Blog”( https://joelbrandes.blogspot.com/). Mr. Brandes was counsel in the landmark Court of Appeals cases of Morone v Morone, Tucker v Tucker and McSparron v McSparron, and has more than 120 reported New York trial or appellate decisions.  He earned his J.D. at Brooklyn Law School and his LL.M. at New York University.