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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 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | Mediation
Posted by Felix | October 08, 2025 | Mediation
David Bliven Family Attorney
I had a consultation regarding mediation that was very helpful. Mr. Bliven is very knowledgeable and approachable and I would definitely retain him once ready...hopefully in the near future. Thanks for the very informative consultation.
Posted by anonymous | July 13, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Mediation
Divorce
I retained David in August 2012, since then I tried to make things work out with my wife, moved out moved back in, to make a long story short, in October 2014 we signed a Stipulation of Discontinuance it was mailed to his office , they did not receive it, the usps must still be using horses , they re...
This former client's issues stem from a lack of communication - but not on my offices' part, as I will demonstrate. This person did indeed retain me in August, 2012 on a divorce matter. I scheduled a 4-way settlement conference at his request, and he subsequently asked that it be cancelled as he & his wife were going to marriage counseling. This was in early 2013. My office then sent him 5 letters (7/8/13, 8/21/13, 12/30/13, 1/31/14 & 2/27/14) before he replied at all. Thus, he went nearly a year in completely ignoring his own attorney's attempts to contact him. At the time, he asked us to keep his file "on hold." We did so, but then periodically contacted him to ascertain his desires. He went another 8 months with no contact back to us whatsoever. In the meanwhile, it took another 3 letters just to get any response out of him (6/5/14, 8/4/14, 10/4/14). He finally said in October, 2014 that he and his wife wanted to withdraw the divorce case. Fine. We sent him a stipulation to discontinue the case on 10/21/14. It then took another 3 attempts to contact him over the span of nearly 4 months just to get any response out of him as to why we hadn't received the signed stipulation back from him (those 3 attempts were 11/10/14, 12/4/14, 1/8/15). He claimed he had "sent the stip back a month ago" and questioned why we hadn't received it. We speculated that he may not have written our suite number on the envelope, but nevertheless asked that he send it out again. Should have been simple enough. However, not only did he not send the stip back, but he amazingly went well over another YEAR of completely ignoring our office's numerous attempts to contact him to follow-up (letters sent to him on 3/9/15, 5/8/15, 6/29/15, 8/27/15, 11/7/15, 12/29/15, 3/1/16 & 4/27/16). Interestingly, we finally received his signed stip to discontinue the case in early May, 2016 - and it was the ORIGINAL stip signed back in October, 2014. This completely undercuts this person's credibility as he implied both to our office - as well as in this Avvo posting - that he mailed out that stip in October, 2014 - when clearly he had it at his house the whole time & simply forgot to mail it! Nevertheless, the person sent it back to us, never said anything to us that he did NOT want us to file it with the Court - so we did so. Indeed, we then sent him a closing letter dated 6/6/16, noting his case was withdrawn and the stip had been filed with the Court. He never replied to that letter saying anything like "oh, hey, I didn't want you to do that." Just a couple of days ago, this person contacted my office questioning why we received his stip back "a year and a half" after he mailed it to us. He never stated in this most recent correspondence that he hadn't wanted me to file the stip. He only subsequently questioned why I hadn't contacted his mediator after I received his stip to discontinue the case. Even this concern of his is belied by my letter to him, dated 5/3/16, in which I stated I would "await her contact" if she needed anything from me. Neither he - nor the mediator - ever followed up with me. As such, I believe I've clearly demonstrated this person's present troubles (if any) stem from an inability to effectively communicate. But rather than seeing it this way and attempting to improve himself in this regard, he sees fit to try blaming others from his self-created problems. This review should be seen thru those lenses - and compared to the many, many other people who are very pleased with my services.
"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."
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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