Deana Balahtsis

Five stars is NOT enough!!!! Working with Deana during one of the most difficult chapters of my life made all the difference — and I mean that with every ounce of conviction I have. From the very first conversation, she brought a rare and powerful combination of strength, clarity, and compassion tha...t immediately put me at ease. I chose Deana because I needed someone truly tough in my corner — especially after everything I had already been through — and she did not just deliver, she exceeded every expectation I had. She fought for me like I was family. My case was incredibly sensitive and complex, involving multiple layers and outside agencies, and Deana and her team advocated for me and my children with a level of dedication, care, and professionalism that I will never forget. Because of her work, I was able to reclaim my peace, my safety, and a clear path forward. That is not something I take lightly. Her entire staff is exceptional. Merilda, another attorney on her team, was absolutely fantastic, and her paralegal was equally responsive, organized, and deeply supportive throughout the entire process. This is a team that works seamlessly together and genuinely cares about the people they represent — you feel it from day one. Deana and her practice are thorough in a way that is truly rare. She is deeply knowledgeable, stays ahead of every development, and leaves absolutely nothing to chance — changes in the law, case strategy, shifting dynamics — nothing slips through the cracks. Ever. She is sharp, strategic, and relentless when it comes to protecting her clients, yet always thoughtful and measured in every decision she makes. Deana is a shark in the best possible sense of the word: efficient, direct, and extraordinarily effective — while still being completely respectful of your time, your emotions, and your resources. Navigating a high-conflict custody situation is one of the most overwhelming and emotionally draining experiences a person can go through. Deana guided me through every step with steady confidence, unwavering control, and genuine support. She made sure I understood exactly what was happening at every turn, anticipated challenges before they ever arose, and consistently positioned me for the best possible outcome. What truly sets Deana apart is her ability to be both formidable and deeply respected at the same time. She advocates fiercely while maintaining a strong, credible, and commanding presence with everyone involved in the process. She is clearly highly regarded in the courtroom — and more importantly, she genuinely cares. I felt it in the way she listened, the way she prepared, and the way she showed up for me every single time. As I move into this next chapter of my life, I feel stronger, safer, and incredibly grateful to have had Deana by my side. I would not hesitate for even a single second to recommend her. If you are going through something similar — or simply need a fierce, brilliant, and battle-tested SHARK in your corner — she is exactly who you need. Do not walk. Run.

Deana Balahtsis and her team handled my divorce and custody battle and I would recommend her without second thought. Deana is a very bright and passionate lawyer who will fight for you like it’s her own personal matter . Deana worked tirelessly and even took calls with me at 11 at night , on weekends... and her vacation , to accommodate my unconventional work schedule . She is very smart, efficient and her heart is in the right place . She showed up for me in every crazy turn of events in the rollercoaster ride that was my divorce . Definitely hire her !

There are simply no words to describe how committed and dedicated Deana is once she is working with you on your case but I will try: During the last 10 years I had to turn to the services of divorce and family law attorneys and they were OK, however, possibly and in part of them being only OK - broug...ht me into the worse nightmare a parent can only imagine/face in summer of 2019. ACS opened a Child Abuse case against me as “if” I was abusing my daughter, because the child and my ex-wife claimed so, just that - they claimed so. In summer 2019, I met Deana and she agreed to work on my case, Deana told me the outcome of the case in our first meeting - she never backed away from what she said on that first meeting. Deana said that we must be patient and persistent and not give up/fight and we would prevail and obtain custody of my child - this was exactly the outcome of the case. COVID 19 did not help the situation, however, Deana worked as hard and as diligently on this case as possible. She answered all the needs of the case whether it was weekends, nights, vacations - sometimes the case/situation was changing by the minutes and Deana guided me step/step of what should be happening. We went into a full Trial on an abuse case and prevailed - I was awarded sole custody of my daughter as Deana was able to demonstrate parental alienation was the driver behind the claims that my daughter was making. Deana was able to prove to the court that my daughter was emotionally/psychologically abused by the other parents who encouraged and supported her to make false claims about me in the first place. Parental alienation is a very complicated and subtle phenomena and proving this phenomenon at court and especially against ACS take a whole different skill set and expert attorney – It take someone as talented/ committed / experienced as Deana Balahtsis. Hire her, listen to her and work with her hand in hand you will reach your goals, set realistic goals or Deana will be the person to help such goals. Hopefully, no one of my friends/ family needs a Divorce or matrimonial attorney – but if they do – I will only recommend Deana. She most definitely saved our family. I am forever thankful to her. Thank you!

Deana will fight for you and your kids. She is always available to talk to you about anything you need about your divorce. She always has a strategy, and she is very resourceful. For me nobody could have done more than Deana did. My family is very grateful for everything she did for us. With Deana on... your side, you sleep at night, and you feel comfortable that she will take care of everything for you. She will fight for the big things as well the little things with the same passion. Passion is what makes her different from other lawyers. She cares and you can see it in her eyes and you can hear it in her voice. Deana has a big heart that is "available" to everyone. She knows how to win and never gives up.

A week after hiring Deana, I was forced to flee my apartment in a panicked state after an ugly altercation with my ex, with a 5 month old baby at the height of Covid back in 2020. Deana was my first call and she walked me step by step to what I needed to do. With my family abroad, I was completely al...one in the city , a new mother and scared of what would happen. Deana’s emotional and legal support saved me from a very toxic and hostile situation. My ex was unreasonable every step of the way and his control and fear he had instilled in me for years was hard to shake off, and without Deana I likely would’ve gone back to him as I was so afraid. Thank GOD I didn’t because I could not be happier now and most importantly, I have a happy toddler who will not grow up in a toxic environment. She kept giving me hope of a better future and made me feel like it would all Be ok. And she was right. She gave me HOPE. She was the fighter I needed when I had nothing left in me to give. She handled my case with confidence and professionalism and she treated me like family. My case took much longer than anticipated or hoped mainly due to my ex’s unreasonable offers, but eventually we settled the case and I was very happy with the outcome. Deana’s (and Merilda’s) care and attention to my case did not go unnoticed and I’m forever grateful for hiring her. She is there whenever you have a question and she will Walk you through the options and give you her best legal advice but also listen to your thoughts. What’s best about Deana is that she is a straight shooter and she will tell You if what you are asking is unreasonable. She’ll put you in place when needed and will ease your mind when you’re feeling worried. If you need a soldier to fight on your behalf, Deana’s your best choice.