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Established in 2000, the Law Offices of David Bliven assists individuals and families in Westchester County and Bronx County with divorce, child custody, and other family law matters. Attorney David Bliven leverages his nearly 30 years of experience, including prosecutor work, to provide comprehensive and strategic legal counsel. He is ranked in the top 5% of Family Law attorneys in the NYC metro area, maintains a 10.0 (Superb) Avvo rating and has the highest possible rating for Legal Ability & Ethical Standards. He has been published in numerous periodicals and has authored several books, including "Navigating Your New York Divorce Case" and "Navigating Your New York Family Court Case" and "Navigating Your New York Contested Divorce Case."
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Practice Areas
29 years | 400 cases
29 years | 275 cases
29 years | 225 cases
29 years | 850 cases
We have not found any cost information for this lawyer
State: New York
Acquired: 1998
No misconduct found
Other places you can find David online.
Showing 26 - 29 of 29 reviews | Child Custody
Posted by anonymous | October 09, 2012 | Child Custody
Knowledgable and Responsive Attorney
David Bliven was incredibly helpful as I navigated the family court system. He was knowledgeable and responsive every time I out reached to him with general and specific questions about child support and custody. I felt like he took the time to get to know me so he could provide me with a tailored ...
Posted by Greg | December 02, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Great attorney who assisted with a very traumatic experience!
Met with David to deal with a child custody suit which involved the mother relocating our child across the country without my knowledge or consent. David was very helpful from the beginning, answering many of questions from the consultation on. He informed me of my rights and what courses of action c...
Posted by anonymous | December 13, 2018 | Child Custody
Not good, but I only did a consult
The advice he gave me wasn’t good. And I think he yells you what he thinks you want to hear, so you’ll hire him. I spoke to him about a custody matter and he wasn’t helpful.
As this "review" is anonymous, it should be noted that this may or may not even be a real review. There are absolutely no specifics, so it would be hard to intelligently respond. I can say in general that I'm a straight-shooter - I don't tell people what I think they want to hear just to get their business. Some people nevertheless want that kind of attorney - they have a fixation on their position & no one can tell them they're wrong. And they want to hire the attorney who will tell them they're right & the other side is evil. I'm just not that kind of attorney - nor that kind of person.
Posted by anonymous | May 28, 2015 | Child Custody
Mr Bliven was very nasty and condescending
My experience with Mr Bliven was horrible. At no time during my experience with him that I felt he was looking out for my best interest. Any inquiries made by me received a condescending response. Mr Bliven on two court appearance arrived late and didn't appear interested in my case. My case involv...
This review is a good example of an ex-client digging themselves a deep hole, then hiring a lawyer & thinking the lawyer can solve everything. First, I only represented this client for about 3 months, and at no time prior to the decision on his case (5/26/15) did he ever voice any complaint about myself or my services - implicit or otherwise. He only voiced a complaint for the first time when he lost his case. This guy not only acted as his own lawyer prior to hiring me, but also acted as his own doctor. He skipped a court date because he was "in too much pain," yet didn't bother to get a "no work/no school" letter from his Dr. which might have saved him. He also never called the Court or anyone else to say he wasn't coming to Court - just made a self-diagnoses that his pain was too great to travel. What did him in wasn't anything I did or didn't do, but the fact that it came out in the wash (after submitting our motion to dismiss) that he not only texted the other party that same day, but also wasn't in enough pain to stop visiting his children. Opps! The Judge then decided if he could send a text, he should have called the Court to request an adjournment. As for me "arriving late," most NYC Family Court Judges don't start their morning calendar until 9:30a.m. & their afternoon calendar until 2:30p.m. (unless they give the case a "time-certain"). Thus, while the time on the printed calendar may say 9:00a.m., the lawyers are not considered "late" if they arrive at 9:30a.m., since that's the time most of the cases begin to be called in. On the day in question (5/26/15), I arrived to Court just a few minutes after 9:30, but only because an accident had just occurred on the highway I was traveling on (& thus my GPS didn't read it until I arrived at the traffic jam), causing an unexpected delay. It should be noted that, in an ironic twist of the facts (though not mentioned by this ex-client), HE arrived nearly 45 minutes late - and that's 45 minutes AFTER 9:30! If he was holding himself to the same standard as he was holding me, then he would have been 1 hour, 15 minutes late to his own case (and a case he previously lost because he was defaulted). Quite obviously, however, this person would rather blame everyone else in the world for his own, self-created problems. This review should thus be viewed through that lens.
"Mr. Bliven is an excellent advocate for his clients. I would not hesitate to recommend him to a client in need. He is also an asset to the Avvo Community, providing invaluable resources to those seeking help."
"I endorse this attorney, who gives so generously to the AVVO community."
"Exceptional attorney, dedicated to client success. Highly recommended."
"I endorse this lawyer. David Bliven provides his clients with a comprehensive approach. I have had many cases with him and have found him to be well-prepared and professional in all aspects of the case."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mr. Bliven consistently provides accurate legal analysis to the online avvo community. I endorse this lawyer."
"I highly endorse Mr. Bliven. Truly exceptional and caring attorney who achieves great results in representing clients! I want all people to contact him for help."
"I endorse this lawyer. Such a wonderful spirit and is truly dedicated to clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. It should be readily apparent to anyone dealing with Attorney David Bliven that he is both highly skilled and very knowledgeable in the Matrimonial and Family Law areas. He's clearly a zealous advocate for his clients and a formidable adversary for opposing counsel."
"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. A brilliant, trustworthy and highly respected attorney in the legal community."
"I enthusiastically endorse this lawyer. He is a credit to the family law community."
"Mr. Bliven and I worked on a custody/relocation matter that required extensive pre-trial negotiation and attempts at settlement which ultimately failed despite the attorneys' best efforts. He was a thoroughly professional, courteous, and impressive adversary, without whose efforts would have had no chance of settling. I look forward to our next matter together."
"This attorney has an excellent reputation for providing the highest quality representation to clients. Experience and proven results!"
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Extremely knowledgeable attorney!"
"I endorse this lawyer. I found his answers on AVVO to be thoughtful and informative."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Great Custody Attorney. Very prepared and willing to take on any Attorney, Any Judge. Would highly recommend."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation lawyer
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Divorce and separation lawyer
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Divorce and separation lawyer
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Divorce and separation lawyer
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2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Top Attorney - NY Metro & Westchester Area, Westchester Magazine
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Certified Financial Litigator, AACFL
2018
Super Lawyers, Thompson Reuters
2018
AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
A+ Rating, Better Business Bureau
2014
Superb Rating, Avvo
2014
Top Contributor, Avvo
2013
Superb Rating, Avvo
2013
Clients' Choice, AVVO
2013
Top Contributor, AVVO
2012
Top Contributor, AVVO
2011
Attorneys for Children - Private-Pay Assignments, Appellate Division, Second Department
2007
Assigned Counsel Panel member, Westchester County Bar Association
2005
Lawyer Referral Panel, New York County Lawyers' Association
1998
SDNY & EDNY Admittance, Federal Bar Association
1997
Cum Laude, New York Law School
1997
Top 15% Class Rank, New York Law School
1993
Cum Laude, Syracuse University
2000 - Present
Attorney, Law Offices of David Bliven
1999 - 2000
Prosecuting Attorney, Nyc Administration For Children's Services
1998 - 1999
Prosecuting Attorney, New York City Corporation Counsel
1997 - 1997
Legal Intern, Lansner & Kubitscheck
1997 - 1998
Associate, Wolfson & Carroll
1996 - 1997
Tutor, New York Law School
1994 - 1994
Legal Intern, Supreme Court Of The State Of New York
1993 - 1994
Legal Intern, New York State Unified Court System
2011 - Present
Attorneys for Children Panel - WestchesterAttorney Member
2010 - Present
Bronx Bar AssociationAttorney Member
2006 - Present
New York State Bar Association, Family Law SectionAttorney Member
2006 - Present
Westchester County Bar Association, Family Law SectionAttorney Member
2005 - Present
Westchester County Bar AssociationMember
2005 - Present
National Lawyers Guild, National Police Accountability ProjectAttorney Member
Member
Member
Attorney Member
2000 - 2005
Attorneys for Children Panel - QueensAttorney Member
Won Appeal!
Adoption Appeal confirmed!
Trial Court reversed
Precedent established
Won appeal
Appeal won
Appeal won.
Appeal won
Appeal won
Custody restored!
1997
JD - Juris Doctor
1993
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2014
2014
2014
2013
Child Abuse
2005
Shaken Baby Syndrome
2022
2021
2020
2018
2018
2018
2017
English
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Top Contributor
David earned significant contribution points in 2020.
What should I do in a child support case where the respondent refuses to provide financial disclosu
21 Feb 2026
How to retain a UCCJEA lawyer to deal with a custody case split between NY and FL?
23 Feb 2026
Custodial parent enlisting in military. Do I risk permanently losing custody?
26 Jan 2026
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS IN DEVIATING FROM GUIDELINES CHILD SUPPORT?
12 Mar 2017
I lost my job - how do I modify child support?
14 Mar 2015
What are the immigration consequences for a Divorce?
26 Feb 2015