Sharon Marie Faulkner

I was raised in Dutchess County and returned to New York in 2001 after practicing law in Hawaii for nine years.

My background includes family law, estate planning, consumer rights, and all facets of poverty law, and I now concentrate my practice in the areas of Matrimonial and Family Law.  I have expanded my practice to include Collaborative Divorce as an alternative to traditional litigation as I believe it is a far better way to resolve family conflict.  I am also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers so I can stay abreast of the constant changes in this area of the law.

I was previously been appointed as Attorney for the Child to represent the interest of minor children involved in custody and visitation disputes by Dutchess County Supreme Court and Family Court Justices and I received the Dutchess County Family Court’s “Law Guardian of the Year” award in 2008.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Divorce
Alimony & Spousal Support
Child Support
Custody & Visitation
Family
Collaborative Law

BAR ADMISSIONS:
Hawaii, 1992
District of Columbia, 2001
New York, 2002
U.S. District Court District of Hawaii, 1995
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2002

EDUCATION:
Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts, May, 1992 J.D.
Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, May, 1989 B.A.

HONORS AND AWARDS:
Recipient, Dutchess County Bar Association “Law Guardian of the Year” Award for 2008
BV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
Member, Hawaii State Bar Association, 1992 – Present
Member, District of Columbia Bar Association, 2001 – Present
Member, New York State Bar Association, 2002 – Present
Member, Dutchess County Bar Association, 2002 – Present
Immediate Past-President 2016-2017; President 2015-2016; President-Elect 2014-2015; Vice President 2013-2014; Secretary 2012-2013; Assistant Treasurer 2011-2012
Member, Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, 2002 – Present
Member, American Bar Association, 1992 – Present
Member, Rotary Club of Maui, Maui, Hawaii, 1994 – 2000
Rotary Club of Maui, Maui, Hawaii, 1996 – 1997 Community Service Director
Rotary Club of Poughkeepsie, Poughkeepsie, New York, 2004 – 2005 Member
Member, Maui County Bar Association, 1992 – 2001
Member, Maui County Estate Planning Council President 1995-1996
Member, Dutchess County Family Court Advisory Board, 2007 – Present
Dutchess County Bar Association Grievance Committee Member
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fellow

VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY:
Member, Vassar Brothers Hospital Foundation Board, 2017 – Present

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Kauai County Branch Lihue, Hawaii, Managing Attorney, 2000 – 2001
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Database Manager, 2000 – 2001
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Maui County Branch Wailuku, Hawaii, Managing Attorney, 1997 – 2001
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Maui Branch Wailuku, Hawaii, Staff Attorney, 1996 – 1997
The Law Office of Judith L. Neustadter Wailuku, Hawaii, Of Counsel, 1994 – 1996
Hawaii Lawyer’s Care/AmeriCorps National Service Maui, Hawaii, Attorney, 1994 – 1995
Foley Maehara Judge Nip & Chang, nka Brooks Tom & Miller Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, Associate, 1992 – 1993
Ostertag O’Leary & Barrett, Associate, 2001 – 2008

FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES:
Phi Alpha Delta