Replay: The Child Custody Symposium
Date: Nov 22, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $225.00
Non-Member Price: $275.00
Section Price: $213.00
Areas of Law: Family
Earn up to 6.7 credits! (More Information)
Featured Speaker
Moderator
- Rita M. Aquilio, Esq.
- Treasurer, NJSBA Family Law Section
Lawrence Law - Cheryl E. Connors, Esq.
- Tonneman & Connors, LLC, Little Silver
- Robert A. Epstein, Esq.
- Manzi Epstein Lomurro & DeCataldo, LLC, West Orange
- Jeffrey Fiorello, Esq.
- Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann Knopf LLP, Saddle Brook
- Christine Fitzgerald, Esq.
- Chair, NJSBA Family Law Section
SeidenFreed, LLC, Cranford - Cassie Murphy, Esq.
- Law Offices of Paone, Zaleski & Murphy, Red Bank
- Jenna Shapiro, Esq.
- Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader, P.C., Lawrenceville
Presenters
- Hon. Daniel H. Brown, P.J.F.P.
- Presiding Judge of the Family Part, Middlesex County
- Hon. Natalie R. Capano, J.S.C.
- Superior Court of NJ - Bergen County
- Hon. Hany A. Mawla, P.J.A.D.
- Appellate Division, Part C
- Hon. Jodi L. Rosenberg, J.S.C.
- Superior Court Judge
Family Division, Essex County - Alexandra Coglianese, Esq.
- Bremer Buckner, LLC, Hackensack
- John F. DeBartolo, Esq.
- Law Office of Timothy F. McGoughran LLC, Ocean
- Thomas DeCataldo, Jr., Esq.
- Manzi Epstein Lomurro & DeCataldo, LLC, West Orange
- Carmen M. Diaz, Esq.
- Certified By the Supreme Court of New Jersey As a Matrimonial Attorney
Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost, Botwinick, Nunn & Musmanno, PC - Dr. Danielle Forshee, PsyD., LCSW
- Dr. Danielle Forshee, LLC, Red Bank
- Alexandra M. Freed, Esq.
- SeidenFreed, LLC, Pennington
- Derek M. Freed, Esq.
- SeidenFreed, LLC, Pennington
- Holly M. Friedland, Esq.
- Jacobs Berger LLC, Morristown
- Kimberly Greenfield, Esq.
- Partner, Musulin Groves & Greenfield, Mount Holly
- Stephanie F. Hagan, Esq.
- Hagan, Weisberg & Nunn, LLC, Cedar Knolls
- Jeff J. Horn, Esq.
- Horn Law Group, LLC, Toms River
- Marisa Lepore Hovanec, Esq.
- Hovanec & Divito, LLC, Westfield
- Jeralyn L. Lawrence, Esq.
- Past President, New Jersey State Bar Association
Lawrence Law, LLC, Watchung - Demetra A. Maurice, Esq.
- Certified By the Supreme Court of New Jersey As a Criminal Trial Attorney
McGivney, Kluger, Clark & Intoccia, PC - Shireen B. Meistrich, LCSW
- Collaborative Divorce Coach, Fair Lawn
- Lauren A. Miceli, Esq.
- Manzi Epstein Lomurro & DeCataldo, LLC, East Brunswick
- Megan S. Murray, Esq.
- The Family Law Offices of Megan S. Murray, Holmdel
- Matheu D. Nunn, Esq.
- Certified By the Supreme Court of New Jersey As a Matrimonial Law Attorney
Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost, Botwinick, Nunn & Musmanno, P.C. - Andrew J. Rhein, Esq.
- Manzi Epstein Lomurro & DeCataldo, LLC, West Orange
- Brian M. Schwartz, Esq.
- Szaferman Lakind Blumstein & Blader, P.C., Lawrence Township
- Lauren Sharp, Esq.
- Haber Silver Russoniello & Dunn, Florham Park
- Dr. Mark Singer
- West Essex Psychology Center, Livingston
- Mark H. Sobel, Esq.
- Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis, Iselin
- Megha R. Thakkar, Esq.
- Thakkar Family Law, LLC, Piscataway
Presented in cooperation with the NJSBA Family Law Section
Join us for a full-day symposium addressing New Jersey's amended child custody statute and its practical impact on your practice. Led by the NJSBA Family Law Section Executive Committee's officers, this program brings together five panels of experienced family law practitioners, mental health professionals, and judges to unpack the amendments and explore how they're reshaping custody determinations across the state.
Panelists will examine the statute's key changes, discuss emerging issues and areas of disagreement in interpretation, and offer practical guidance on how attorneys should approach these cases going forward — from initial filings through trial and post-judgment matters.
Whether you litigate custody disputes regularly or only occasionally, this symposium will equip you with the knowledge and strategies you need to effectively represent your clients under the new law.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from the judges and professionals shaping how these amendments are applied in practice.
Program Agenda:
9 a.m. | Introduction
9:05 a.m. | Child’s voice
- Moderators: Cheryl E. Connors, Esq. and Jeffrey Fiorello, Esq.
- Panelists: Holly M. Friedland, Esq.; Thomas DeCataldo, Esq.; Lauren Sharp, Esq. and Demetra A. Maurice, Esq.
10 a.m. | Safety as a threshold issue
- Moderators: Jenna Shapiro, Esq. and Christine Fitzgerald, Esq.
- Panelists: Hon. Natalie R. Capano, J.S.C.; Alexandra M. Freed, Esq.; Andrew J. Rhein, Esq.; Megha R. Thakkar, Esq. and John F. DeBartolo, Esq.
11 a.m. | Mental health panel
- Dr. Danielle Forshee, PsyD., LCSWModerator: Jeffrey Fiorello, Esq.
- Panelists: Shireen B. Meistrich, LCSW; Dr. Mark Singer and Alexandra Coglianese, Esq.
1 p.m. | Appellate case and arguments
- Moderators: Cassie Murphy, Esq. and Jeffrey Fiorello, Esq.
- Panelists: Hon. Hany A. Mawla, P.J.A.D.; Matheu D. Nunn, Esq.; Brian M. Schwartz, Esq. and Mark H. Sobel, Esq.
2 p.m. | Practical tips for dealing with the statute
- Moderators: Robert A. Epstein, Esq. and Christine Fitzgerald, Esq.
- Panelists: Hon. Daniel H. Brown, P.J.F.P.; Derek M. Freed, Esq.; Marisa Lepore Hovanec, Esq.; Carmen M. Diaz, Esq. and Stephanie F. Hagan, Esq.
3 p.m. | Constitutional issues/retroactivity/legislative intent/dual roles
- Moderators: Rita M. Aquilio, Esq. and Christine Fitzgerald, Esq.
- Panelists: Hon. Jodi L. Rosenberg, J.S.C.; Lauren A. Miceli, Esq.; Kimberly Greenfield, Esq.; Jeralyn L. Lawrence, Esq. and Megan S. Murray, Esq.
4 p.m. | Adjourn
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