Debra E. Guston
866-744-3773 (Toll Free)
Deb has devoted her practice to the needs of all of New Jersey's families, both conventional and unconventional, believing that each family, no matter its composition deserves respect, compassion and legal services tailored to the specific needs of each family member. Whether creating families by adoption, protecting families through estate planning or seeking amicable solutions to protect children and adults in a break-up, Deb works closely with each client to focus on their needs. For over 20 years, Deb has worked intensely on the rights and needs of GLBT clients and has become a leader in educating the New Jersey Bar on legal issues affecting the GLBT community. Deb is a native New Jerseyan and resides in Edgewater with her partner, Pat, a program director at Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Duffy, the adopted Yorkiepoo, who greets many clients at the office.
Areas of Practice
- 35% Adoption Law
- 25% Estate Planning & Administration
- 30% Family Law
- 10% Non-Profit Administration
- Non-Profit & Tax-exempt Organization
- Gay & Lesbian Rights
- Voting Rights
- Estate Planning
- Guardianships & Conservatorships
- Living Wills
- Powers of Attorneys and Appointment
- Trusts
- Wills
- Alimony & Spousal Support
- Child Support
- Childrens' Rights
- Collaborative Law
- Custody & Visitation
- Divorce
- Domestic Violence & Neglect
- Juvenile Law
- Paternity
- Prenuptial Agreement
- Probate & Estate Administration
- Estate Administration
Litigation Percentage
- 40% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey, 1988
- District of Columbia, 1990
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2009
Education
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
- J.D. - 1988
- Law Review: Cardozo Women's Annotated Bibliography, Managing Editor, 1987 - 1988
- Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts
- M.A. - 1984
- Major: Theatre Arts: Concentration in Directing and Dramatic Literature
- Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts
- B.A. - 1981
- Honors: With Honors
- Major: Theatre Arts
Published Works
- Sexual Orientation and the Law, West Group, Vol. 1, Sec. 4.12 Dying Intestate, 1999
- New Jersey Court Rules Annotated, Lexis Nexis, Rules 5:9-5:25, 2009 and 2010, 2009
- Adoption: Private Adoption and the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children, NJ Esq, Vol. 1, #13, May 11, 2009
- Ending a Civil Union or Domestic Partnership, NJ Esq, Volume 1, Issue 5, March 16, 2009
- Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples, NJ Esq, Volume 1, Issue 4, March 9, 2009
- The State of Gay and Lesbian Adoption in New Jersey, New Jersey Lawyer, April, 2006
Representative Cases
- Copelco Capital, Inc. v. Shapiro, 331 N.J. Super. 1, 750 A. 2d 773 (N.J. Super A.D. 2000)
- Massaro v. Massaro, 2006 WL 350065 (N.J. Super.A.D. 2006)
- State v. Kenison, 248 N.J. Super 189, 590 A. 2d 708 (N.J. Super L. 1990)
- Lewis v. Harris, 188 N.J. 415 (NJ Supreme Ct 2006)
- State of NJ v. Kennison, 248 N.J. Super. 189 (NJ App Div 1990)
- Schottel v. Kutyba (N.J. App.Div 2007)
- Schottel v. Kutyba (N.J. App. Div 2010)
- Horowitz v. Horowitz (N.J. App. Div. 2005)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Fellow, 2010 - Present
- American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, Trustee, 2009 - 2011
- New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee, Member, 2008 - Present
- New Jersey State Bar Association GLBT Rights Section, Chair, 2009 - 2010
- Lesbian and Gay Law Association of Greater New York, Past President/Member, 1986 - Present
- National Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Bar Association, Member, 1990 - Present
- National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Family Law Institute, Member, 2009 - Present
- The New Jersey Family Lawyer, Associate Managing Editor, 2010 - Present
- Women Lawyers in Bergen County, Member, 2010 - Present
- Bergen County Bar Association, Member, 1988 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Law Offices of Herbert M. Guston, Esq., Associate, 1988 - 1999
