Thomas Decataldo
Thomas DeCataldo has dedicated his practice exclusively to the area of family law since his graduation from law school. Tom’s career in family law began when, out of law school, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Thomas M. McCormack J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, in Essex County. Tom handles matters across the state of New Jersey, appearing regularly in counties such as Essex, Union, Morris, Hudson, Bergen, Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. Tom’s cases often include business and financial executives, professional athletes, business owners, attorneys, and other professionals, as well as the spouses of these individuals. Tom’s clients rely upon him to provide thoughtful advice on matters impacting their best interests and the interests of their families.
Tom has successfully represented clients at trial, as well as in motions and plenary hearings. Tom has litigated high-profile and complex matters in the trial court, Appellate Division, and Supreme Court of New Jersey. He also routinely pursues alternatives to litigation, appearing regularly in mediation and arbitration. Tom has successfully represented individuals in matters involving child custody and support, spousal support, equitable distribution, appellate practice, palimony, domestic violence, business valuations, and the negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements, among many other issues. Tom is also experienced in drafting and negotiating prenuptial agreements, as well as representing clients with issues involving the enforceability of these agreements. In addition to Tom’s representation of clients, he also regularly acts as a mediator to assist family law litigants in resolving disputes outside of the Court system.
As a thought leader in the family law field, Tom is frequently called upon to lecture on a variety of family law topics to fellow colleagues, judges, and expert witnesses such as forensic accountants and custody evaluators. Tom typically lectures several times per year for organizations such as the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Justice Virginia A. Long Inn of Court, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, the Barry Croland Inn of Court, and the Essex County Bar Association. He has also lectured to numerous in-house legal departments of large businesses headquartered in New Jersey to train their staff attorneys in family law.
Tom is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s Family Law Trial Advocacy Program, an intensive program sponsored by the American Bar Association. He is also an associate editor of the New Jersey Family Lawyer, a professional publication of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Tom has also been included as a top family attorney in Essex County by Morris/Essex Health & Life magazine.
Livingston, New Jersey 07039
