Bonnie M.S. Reiss

Bonnie M. S. Reiss

New Jersey Divorce & Family Law Attorney, Mediator and Arbitrator

Partner

Bonnie M.S. Reiss has devoted her career of more than thirty five years to solving matrimonial problems. She believes strongly that the lawyer and client must work as a team so that the client fully understands each step of the process and its significance to the outcome.

As a divorce mediator, she has been called “innovative” and her efforts deemed “extraordinary” by those she has assisted in resolving their disputes. Ms. Reiss is also a Family Law Mediator Certified by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Having raised two children, she brings her experience as a parent to provide clients with advice on how to minimize the impact of the divorce on children and to reassure clients when they are uncertain whether to attribute a child’s behavior to the divorce or normal developmental milestones.

Ms. Reiss began her career working inside the family law court system as law clerk to a presiding Family Court judge and since then has handled custody disputes, cases with closely held businesses, professional practices, abused spouses, children with special needs, same sex couples and assets titled in the names of third parties. She has been appointed by the courts as a Guardian ad Litem to represent children in contested custody cases and as a parenting coordinator to help parents make decisions in their children’s best interests.

Ms. Reiss has litigated successfully both in trial and appellate courts.  She has also used her skills as a negotiator to achieve results that serve her clients’ best interests, without court intervention. She brings her creativity and belief that meticulous preparation is the key to success to mediation, negotiation and court work.

Ms. Reiss has been recognized as a “SuperLawyer” in the annual poll by New Jersey Magazine every year since its inception in 2005, is listed in the Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers and designated as one of the “Ten Leaders” in Family Law in Monmouth County.  Selection criteria for Thompson Reuters Super Lawyers is available here.

She has achieved the highest AV peer rating in Martindale-Hubbell, which indicates that she is distinguished with the “Highest Rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.” She is also trained and Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a divorce and family law mediator and focuses much of her practice serving as a mediator and arbitrator in cases involving custody and complex financial issues.

A 1975 graduate of Rutgers University, Ms. Reiss achieved high honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  She received her J.D. from Rutgers in 1978. After serving a clerkship with the Honorable Robert L. Garrenger, Jr, the presiding judge of the Family Court in Middlesex County she worked as an assistant prosecutor until she joined a large law firm where she was a partner for more than ten years.

Committed to improving the quality of our system of justice, Ms. Reiss has served on committees of the Middlesex, Monmouth and New Jersey State Bar Associations and has been appointed to committees of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Articles that she has published include such topics as religious divorces, the discovery process and sharing of college costs. She has served as Editor in Chief of The Matrimonial Strategist and lectures to attorneys, judges and the public on issues in matrimonial law.

In her spare time, Ms. Reiss makes jewelry which she often donates to fundraising events that benefit children.