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AMANDA S. TRIGG
Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
& International Academy of Family Lawyers
Trained by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as an Arbitrator.
Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney.
Admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York and Georgia.
www.njlawfirm.com www.amandatrigg.com
(201) 845-9600 or [email protected]
Professional Experience as Family Law Attorney
Comprehensive family law practice includes divorce, custody, spousal support,
child support, post-judgment proceedings for enforcement and modification,
protecting families in domestic violence, DCP&P and appellate representation.
Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf, LLP
Saddle Brook, New Jersey
Partner: January 2019 to present.
Lesnevich, Marzano-Lesnevich, Trigg, O’Cathain & O’Cathain, LLC
Hackensack, New Jersey and New York, New York
Member. Associate, June 2000 – 2006. Member, June 2006 – January 2019.
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Sparkill, New York
Adjunct Professor: Family Law. Fall 2003 and Fall 2004. Domestic Violence. Spring 2006.
Passaic County Legal Aid Society
Paterson, New Jersey
Staff Attorney. Represented indigent clients in domestic violence cases, child custody and support
matters, and in defense of divorce actions. Consulted with housing, public benefits and consumer
law units on hybrid cases. Responsibilities included community outreach concerning the
availability of services, presentation and improvement of pro se divorce clinic and participated in
related training seminars. Experiences included appellate and administrative work. October 1998 –
May 2000.
Rubin, Winter, Rapoport & Hall
Atlanta, Georgia
Litigation Associate. Participated in all phases of litigation, including pre-trial and trial experience,
with emphasis on domestic law. Practice encompassed divorce, adoptions, modification of child
custody and support and contempt issues, plus criminal defense and contractual disputes.
Extensive experience with appellate proceedings. November 1994 - August 1998.
Special Assistant Attorney General. Represented the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the
Department of Human Resources in negotiations and bench trials. March 1995 - August 1998.
Law Clerk. March 1994 - November 1994.
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Education
Emory University School of Law Atlanta, Georgia. Juris Doctor, May 1994
Honors and Activities: Order of Barristers. Dean's Public Service Award. Director of
Competitions, Moot Court Society 1993-94. American Jurisprudence Award for Moot Court,
Spring 1993. Dean's List, Spring 1993, Fall 1993. Lamar Inn of Court, 1993-94. President, Phi
Delta Phi 1992-93.
Brandeis University Waltham, Massachusetts. Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, May 1991
Concentration: Psychology. Minor: French Language and Literature.
Honors and Activities: Justice Louis D. Brandeis Scholar. Dean's List. Taylor Prize in the
Humanities 1989. Sectional instructor in Conversational French. Waltham Group volunteer.
Professional Memberships & Honors
Fellow, National American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2006 – present. Secretary, 2022-
2023. Previously: Chair of Membership Committee (and non-voting member of national
Executive Committee), 2021-2022. Co-Chair of Hennenhoefer Council (of Committee Chairs),
2019-2021. Co-Chair of Admissions Standards & Procedures Committee, 2017-2021. Co-Chair
of Chapter Leaders, 2017-2019. Long Range Planning Membership Task Force, 2018-2021.
Budget & Finance Committee, 2018. Co-Chair of Golf Tournament Committee, 2018. Chair of
Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2016-2017. Co-Chair of Practice & Technology
Committee, 2015-2017. Board of Governors’ At Large Representative, 2019-2021.
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers New Jersey Chapter, 2006 – present.
Officer of New Jersey Chapter, 2012-2019: President, 2017-2018. President Elect, 2016-2017;
First Vice President, 2015-2016; Second Vice President, 2014-2015; Treasurer, 2013-2014;
Secretary, 2012-2013. Board of Managers of New Jersey Chapter, 2007 – 2012 and 2019 -2022.
Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers and US Chapter. 2015-present. Counsel to the
President, US Chapter, 2022-2024. Parliamentarian, US Chapter, 2020-2022.
Executive Committee, Family Law Section of New Jersey State Bar Association, 2004 to
present. Officer, 2011 to 2017. Chair, 2015-2016; Chair Elect, 2014-2015; First Vice Chair,
2013-2014; Second Vice Chair, 2012-2013; Secretary, 2011 – 2012. Member, New Jersey State
Bar Association, Family Law Executive Committee, 2004-2011. Legislative Sub-committee: Co-
Chair 2009-2010, Chair 2008-2009, Co-Chair 2007-2008. Support Sub-committee: Chair 2010-
2011. Adoption Sub-committee: Member, 2004-2005, Co-chair, 2005-2006. Member, Young
Lawyers Section of Family Law Executive Committee. 2003-2004.
National Family Law Trial Institute, Faculty for intensive eight-day advocacy course which
advances the skills and competence of family law litigators. 2022 and, forthcoming, 2023.
“Top 100 Lawyers in New Jersey,” 2015-2022; “Top 50 Women Lawyers in New Jersey,” 2013-
2022. New Jersey Law Journal, recognized by peers, statewide in all areas of law.
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Member, New Jersey Supreme Court Family Practice Committee. 2015-2017.
Member, Matrimonial Lawyers’ Alliance of New Jersey. 2017 to present.
Amicus Curiae Contribution Award, New Jersey State Bar Association, In re: J.E.V. and D.G.V.,
226 N.J. 90 (2016).
Member, Boskey Award Committee, New Jersey State Bar Association (selects the ADR
Practitioner of the Year) 2016.
Supreme Court of New Jersey public hearing on Family Practice Committee Report, Committee
on Complementary Dispute Resolution Report, Ad Hoc Committee on Arbitration of Family
Matters Report. New Jersey State Bar Representative. May 19, 2015.
Member, Nominating Committee, New Jersey State Bar Association. 2014-2015.
“Trailblazers: Divorce, Trusts & Estates,” National Law Journal, May 2017.
Legislative Recognition Award, New Jersey State Bar Association, 2013 and 2005.
“40 Under 40,” New Jersey Law Journal, recognized as one of “40 under 40” attorneys by the
New Jersey Law Journal, statewide in all areas of law. August 8, 2009.
Member, Supreme Court of New Jersey’s Statewide Bench-Bar Liaison Committee on
Family Division Standardization. 2006 - 2008.
New Jersey Family Lawyer, Senior Editor, 2016 to present; Associate Managing Editor, 2010 –
2016; Junior Editor, 2005-2007.
Presentations and Publications
Speaker, “The Future of Family Law: What the Trends Might Tell Us.” American Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers, Pennsylvania Chapter. November 2022.
Speaker, “COVID Custody & Coparenting,” Hudson County Bar Association, May 2022.
Moderator, “Trust but Verify: Investigative Tips for Asset Tracing.” American Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers, New Jersey Chapter. January 2022.
Co-author, “Navigating the Use of Social Media by Family Law Attorneys and Our Clients,”
New Jersey Family Lawyer, Vol. 40, No. 4, January 2022.
Speaker, “The Future of Family Law,” American Bar Association Family Law Section, October
2021.
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Speaker, Family Law Certification Course,” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education,
in conjunction with the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers,
October 2021, October 2020, October 2018, Moderator – October 2017.
Moderator, What Non-Family Lawyers Want Family Lawyers to Know to Avoid, New Jersey
Institute for Continuing Legal Education, September 2021.
Speaker, 2021 Family Law Symposium, “What I wish I knew then,” New Jersey Institute for
Continuing Legal Education, January 2021.
Panelist, “Remarriage and Blended Families,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, November 2020.
Moderator, “How to Successfully Develop an International Family Law Practice,” International
Academy of Family Lawyers, November 2020.
Speaker, “Practice Development and Social Media: Ethics & Real‐Life Tips for Marketing and
Advocacy,” Barry Croland Family Law American Inn of Court, November 2020.
Co-Author, “What you see is what you get – or is it? Finding Hidden Assets.” The Value
Examiner, November/ December 2020.
Panelist, “Hot Tips in Family Law,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
February 2005, September 2006, September 2007, October 2009, October 2010, October 2011,
November 2012, November 2013 (Moderator), November 2014, November 2016, November
2018, November 2020, October 2022.
Moderator, “What is a Career Worth? Paying for the non-economic contributions and earning
potential sacrificed by the partner or co-parent who stays home,” International Academy of Family
Lawyers, May 2020.
Co-Author, “Initial Consults with Clients with Special Needs Children: The Good, The Bad, and
The Necessary,” American Bar Association, Family Advocate, Vol. 42: Issue 3, January 2020.
Speaker, 2020 Family Law Symposium, “Understanding and Using Different Trusts as Tools In
Family Law Cases,” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, January 2020.
Speaker, Alabama Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, “What you see is what
you get – or is it? Finding Hidden Assets,” December 2019.
Speaker, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, “Social Media/ Professional
Conduct,” October 2019.
Speaker, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Business Valuation Resources National
Divorce Conference, “Practice Management & Social Media” and “Hidden Assets,” May 2019.
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Speaker, Drafting Matrimonial Settlement Agreements, American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers, March 2019.
Moderator, “Pre-martial and Immune Assets,” Family Law Symposium. New Jersey Institute of
Continuing Legal Education, January 2019.
“Pleading “the 5th” in Family Law.” Co-author. New Jersey Family Lawyer, December 2018.
Court Rules Editor, The Basic Guide to New Jersey Divorce, Vol. I & II, 2017.
Speaker, “Unique Families/ Unusual Parenting Plans,” American Bar Association Family Law
Section, October 2017.
Speaker, “Which Way Do I Go? (Education and Family Law),” New Jersey Institute of
Continuing Legal Education, May 2017.
Author, “Home Sweet Home – or not? Real Estate and Family Law,” New Jersey Law Journal,
April 2017.
Moderator, “Domestic Violence,” 2017 Family Law Symposium. New Jersey Institute of
Continuing Legal Education, January 2017.
Moderator, “What every attorney should know about Family Law.” New Jersey Institute of
Continuing Legal Education, November 2016.
Chair’s Column, New Jersey Family Lawyer, Volume 36. “Parenting, Lawyering and, Perhaps,
Preventing Domestic Violence,” September 2015. “Who are the New Jersey Family Lawyers?”
October 2015. “Rethinking Co-Parenting: My Brief Experiment,” December 2015. “Time to make
a move on Relocation,” February 2016. “Love/Hate Relationship with Unpublished Opinions,”
April 2016. “Pope Francis, Saudi Arabia and Adjusting our Expectations,” June 2016.
Speaker, “LGBTQ Issues in Mediation.” New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. May
2016.
Moderator, 2016 Family Law Symposium. New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education,
January 2016.
Speaker, “Cohabitation and Alimony.” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education,
January 2016.
Moderator, “Unmasking Fraud in Matrimonial Litigation.” New Jersey Institute of Continuing
Legal Education, November 2015.
Speaker, “Take your Medicine: What you are expected to know and do to be competent” re:
electronic information. American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, November 2015.
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Speaker, “The Second Time Around: Remarriage and Second Families.” New Jersey Institute for
Continuing Legal Education, August 2015.
Speaker, “Family Law Summer Institute,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
July 2015.
Speaker, Family Law Bench/ Bar Conference, NJSBA Annual Meeting, New Jersey Institute for
Continuing Legal Education, May 2015.
Author, “Five Ways to Make Your Divorce Easier,” www.betterwaymoms, January 19, 2015.
Speaker/ Moderator, “Marketing in the 21
st
Century,” American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers, Annual Meeting, November 2014.
Panelist, “Hot Tips in Family Law,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
February 2005, September 2006, September 2007, October 2009, October 2010, October 2011,
November 2012, November 2014. Moderator: November 2013.
Speaker, “Equitable Distribution of Pensions and Retirement Plans,” National Business Institute,
November 2014.
Author, “Your Relationship to Money,” www.betterwaymoms.com, November 2014.
Author, “10 Things You Need to Know About the New Alimony Law in NJ,”
www.sterlingeducation.com, October 14, 2014.
Speaker, “New Alimony Law in New Jersey,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, September 2014.
Speaker, “Interplay of Family Law, Elder Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate,” New Jersey
Institute for Continuing Legal Education, August 2014.
Moderator, Family Law Bench/ Bar Conference, NJSBA Annual Meeting, New Jersey Institute
for Continuing Legal Education, May 2014.
Speaker, “The Best Part of the Case: Effective Utilization of a Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce” &
“Women are Great Expert Witnesses: Embracing the Differences: Gaining the Advantage,”
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers & American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants Divorce Conference, April 2014.
Moderator, “Emancipated? The Rights of Young Adults & Parents in the Wake of the Rachel
Canning Case,” Institute for Continuing Legal Education, April 2014.
Speaker, “Alimony Update,” Family Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, January 2014.
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Speaker, “Family Law Update,” National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, Advanced
Matrimonial Litigation Symposium, December 2013.
Speaker, “Executive Compensation: more than just the K-1,” American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants’ Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, November 2013.
Moderator: “Custody in the 21
st
Century,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
August and November 2013.
Moderator: “Understanding Financial Issues in Divorce,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing
Legal Education, November 2013.
Speaker: “Estate Planning Issues in Divorce,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, 15
th
Annual Trusts & Estates Forum, October 2013.
Co-author, “State v. Duprey: Say what you mean and mean what you say in domestic violence
proceedings.” New Jersey Family Lawyer, Fall 2013.
Speaker, “Executive Compensation,” National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
Annual Consultants’ Conference, June 2013.
Moderator, “Winning and Losing in Relocation Cases,” 2013 NJSBA Annual meeting in
conjunction with New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, May 2013.
“Settlement: The Client’s Prerogative.” New Jersey Family Lawyer. Vol. 33:No.2, October 2012.
Speaker, “Bankruptcy and Divorce,” Association of Divorce Financial Planners, 10
th
Annual
Conference, September 2012.
Speaker, “Financial Planning – Guiding your clients through Divorce,” New Jersey Society for
Certified Public Accountants (Bergen County Chapter), September 2012.
Speaker, “Relocation Update,” New Jersey Association for Justice Boardwalk Seminar, April
2012.
Speaker, “Business Valuation for Attorneys,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, February 2012.
Speaker, “Yours, Mine and Not Ours: Children’s College Accounts: 2012 Family Law
Symposium. New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, January 2012.
Panelist, “Domestic Violence.” 2010 NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting in conjunction with New Jersey
Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 3, 2010.
“Legal Custody in the 21
st
Century: Parents’ Rights to Make Decisions About Children’s Presence
and Participation in the Internet.” New Jersey Family Lawyer. Vol. 31:No.2, October 2010.
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“Comparing Custody and Parenting Time: U.S. Supreme Court Offers Guidance,” New Jersey
Law Journal, Supplement, June 23, 2010.
Speaker, “Updates in Family Law, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting, in
conjunction with New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, May 2010.
Panelist, 2010 NJSBA Family Law Annual Retreat. “What Judges and Lawyers Want from Each
Other.” March 11, 2010.
Moderator, “Family Law and Unemancipated Adults.” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal
Education, February 2010.
Panelist, 2010 Family Law Symposium. New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education,
January 2010.
“New state palimony measure hurts women.” The Bergen Record, Op-Ed., January 27, 2010.
Moderator, “Death After Divorce: Avoiding Custodial and Financial Pitfalls,” New Jersey State
Bar Association Annual Meeting, in conjunction with New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal
Education, May 2009.
Moderator, “Beyond the Family Part: What Matrimonial Attorneys Need to Know about
Bankruptcy, Immigration, Personal Injury, Taxation, Estate Planning and Disability Issues,” New
Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, February 2004 and December 2008.
“An Open Question: Assembly Bill 2557 and Adoption in New Jersey.” New Jersey Family
Lawyer, Vol. 28, no. 5, April 2008.
Panelist, “Custody Conversations,” New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting, May 2007.
Moderator, “Custody Basics,” New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, August,
October and December 2006.
Speaker, “Law and the Libido”, 2006 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Forum (New
Jersey Chapter), September 2006.
Speaker, “Hot Tips in Family Law (2006),” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, September 2006.
Author, “Believe the Expert,” New Jersey Law Journal, August 14, 2006.
“Increased Need for Indemnification Agreements.” New Jersey Family Lawyer, March 2006.
Speaker, Family Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, January
2006.
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Speaker, “Family Law for Paralegals,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
July 2005.
Panelist, “Evidence for Family Lawyers (2005),” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, March 2005.
“How To Succeed With The Supreme Court Of New Jersey: Commentary By Justice Zazzali.”
AAML-NJ Newsletter, Winter 2005.
Moderator, “Taxation for Family Lawyers (2004),” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal
Education, August 2004.
“The New Case Information Statement,” New Jersey Law Journal, Supplement, August 16,
2004.
Panelist, Family Law Retreat 2004, Young Lawyers’ Presentation, March 2004.
Moderator, “Beyond the Family Part: What Matrimonial Attorneys Need to Know about
Bankruptcy, Immigration, Personal Injury, Taxation, Estate Planning and Disability Issues
(2004),” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, February 2004.
Co-author, “Weishaus: Lifetyle and the legacy of Crews,” New Jersey Lawyer, September 1,
2003.
“Make the Most of Spousal Support,” New Jersey Law Journal, May 12, 2003
Speaker, “Assessing a Custody Case,” Bergen County Bar Association, Family Law Committee,
October 2002.
“Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Obtaining Proper Post-Divorce Compensation to the
Dependent Spouse Who Supports the Ascension,” New Jersey Family Lawyer, September 2002.
