Cary Cheifetz

Family Law, Matrimonial

Cary B. Cheifetz is of counsel in the Family Law Practice Group at A.Y. Strauss. With decades of experience and a national reputation in family law, Cary brings a distinguished career as a trial attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and expert witness to the firm. He is widely known for his depth of knowledge, clarity of counsel, and steadfast commitment to advancing the field of family law in New Jersey and beyond.

His practice focuses on complex divorce and custody matters, high-net-worth marital dissolutions, and family law issues involving bankruptcy, professional malpractice, and jurisdictional challenges. He is frequently retained as an expert witness in cases requiring nuanced analysis and testimony. Clients and colleagues alike value his strategic mindset, professionalism, and his ability to navigate emotionally charged disputes with insight and precision.

A respected leader in the legal community, Cary has held numerous high-level positions in both state and national organizations. He currently serves as a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and has been on the faculty of the New Jersey Judicial College and the New Jersey Family Part Judges Retreat. He has long contributed to the advancement of family law through his scholarship, public speaking, and mentorship, having lectured for organizations such as the ABA, ALI, and AICPA.

Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Cary served as Special Counsel at a well-regarded regional firm, where he built a widely respected practice dedicated to matrimonial and family law, mediation and arbitration, and expert witness services. Before that, he was a founding partner of Ceconi & Cheifetz, a boutique matrimonial law firm.

Past Secretary, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation

Past Chair, Essex County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee

Past Chair, New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee

Past President, Essex County Bar Association

Past President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New Jersey Chapter

Former Adjunct Professor of Law, Seton Hall University Law School

Guest Lecturer, Rutgers University School of Law

Guest Lecturer, Kean University

Former Co-Managing Editor, New Jersey Family Lawyer

Diplomate, American College of Family Trial Attorneys

Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation

Faculty, New Jersey Judicial College

Faculty, New Jersey Family Part Judges Retreat

New Jersey Family Law (2nd Edition, Lexis-Nexis 2009), Co-Author

Valuation Strategies in Divorce (2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons)

Valuing Professional Practices and Licenses: A Guide for the Matrimonial Practitioner (2nd Edition, Prentice Hall Law & Business)

New York Law School

Juris Doctorate

George Washington University

Bachelor of Arts