Founded in 1962, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers was formed to improve the practice of law in the complex, and often highly charged, area of divorce and family law.

The Academy’s mission, for over 40 years, remains:

"To encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the cause of matrimonial law to the end that the welfare of the family and society be preserved."

This mission continues to fulfill a central need in America’s continually evolving family and societal norms.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is recognized as the pre-eminent family law bar association in America, with more than 1,500 Certified Fellows. Our New York chapter, founded in 1965, has more than 150 Fellows.

Certified Fellows must demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards, and are admitted after thorough peer evaluation and passage of rigorous testing designed to ensure expert knowledge of substantive family law. As such, Academy Fellows are recognized by the judiciary, their colleagues and the public at large as leading practitioners in the field.

The Academy’s national organization, and its thirty- three state chapters, conduct local, statewide and national seminars and programs to advance the knowledge of family law and improve the practice of matrimonial law in each locality.

Academy Fellows regularly appear as the attorneys in leading cases that interpret or advance the law and routinely volunteer their time and expertise to develop family law legislation in many states and in the United States Congress.

Fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers represents the recognition of professional achievement in family law and a commitment to the highest standards of practice and ethics in the field.

For information about our chapter please contact Allan E. Mayefsky, President, at mayefsky@samsllp.com

Information about membership may be obtained from the National Academy’s web site at http://www.aaml.org