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Education
Fordham University, B.A.
Seton Hall Law School, Juris Doctor
Honors & Awards
New Jersey Super Lawyers – Rising Stars 2024
2023 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the specialty of family law: New Jersey “Best Lawyer”
Professional Associations
New Jersey Bar Association
Union County Bar Association
Morris County Bar Association
Essex County Bar Association
President of Barry Croland Family Law Inn of Court
Bar Admissions
New Jersey
New York
Contact Thomas
Tommy DeCataldo
Thomas “Tommy” DeCataldo is a partner of MELD Divorce and Family Law. Thomas has dedicated his practice exclusively to the area of family law since his graduation from law school. Tom handles matters across the state of New Jersey, appearing regularly in counties such as Essex, Union, Morris, Hudson, Bergen, Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. Tom’s cases often include business and financial executives, professional athletes, business owners, attorneys, and other professionals, as well as the spouses of these individuals. Tom’s clients rely upon him to provide thoughtful advice on matters impacting their best interests and the interests of their families.
Tom has successfully represented clients at trial, as well as in motions and plenary hearings. Tom has litigated high-profile and complex matters in the trial court, Appellate Division, and Supreme Court of New Jersey. He also routinely pursues alternatives to litigation, appearing regularly in mediation and arbitration. Tom has successfully represented individuals in matters involving child custody and support, spousal support, equitable distribution, appellate practice, palimony, domestic violence, business valuations, and the negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements, among many other issues. Tom is also experienced in drafting and negotiating prenuptial agreements, as well as representing clients with issues involving the enforceability of these agreements.
In addition to Tom’s representation of clients, he also regularly acts as a mediator to assist family law litigants in resolving disputes outside of the Court system.
Tom’s career in family law began when, out of law school, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Thomas M. McCormack J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, in Essex County.
NJSBA Family Law Retreat (2023)
NJSBA Family Law Symposium (2023)
Parenting Time Issues Involving Teenage Children (New Jersey State Bar Association, May 2022)
Ethics and Diversity in Family Law: Recognizing Cultural Differences of Our Clients and Retainer Agreements, Arbitration, and Collecting Fees (New Jersey Association for Justice, Boardwalk Seminar, April 2022)
Cultural Awareness in Family Law Cases (New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Symposium, January 2022)
Hot Tips in Family Law: Credibility and Courtesy are Key (November 2021)
NJSBA 2021 Family Law Symposium – Valuations in the time of Covid-19
NJ ICLE Winter Conference (November 2020)
Hot Tips in Family Law: Strategic Considerations in Family Law Litigation during COVID-19 & Beyond (November 2020)
Domestic Violence: Overview, Trial Strategies and Impacts of Covid-19 on Domestic Violence Issues (October 2020)
Using Mental Experts in Custody Cases (October 2020)
College Contribution Seminar (New Jersey Association for Justice, Boardwalk Seminar, August 2020)
What Family Lawyers Should Know about the CARES Act (New Jersey State Bar Association, April 2020)
Intrastate and Interstate Relocation – The Aftermath Of Bisbing, How To Shape Our Intrastate Relocations Laws, and An Aerial View Of How Other States Address Intrastate Relocation Laws (New Jersey State Bar Association, January 2020)
The Financial Aspects of Divorce in 2019 and Beyond:
Strategies for a Whole New Ballgame (New Jersey State Bar Association, November 2019)
Beyond Domestic Violence II: Cyber Harassment(New Jersey State Bar Association, November 2019)
Parental Alienation: Where Law Meets Science in 2019 (New Jersey State Bar Association ICLE, September 2019)
Financial Aspects of Divorce (New Jersey State Bar Association ICLE Summerfest, August 2019)
Pendente Lite Support Under the New Tax Law (New Jersey Association for Justice, May 2019)
Domestic Violence: From TRO to Trial (New Jersey Association for Justice, May 2019)
Opening & Closing Arguments – What to Do and How to Do It (Barry Croland Inn of Court, May 2019)
Family Law Symposium (New Jersey State Bar Association, January 2019)
Litigating an Interstate Relocation Trial Post-Bisbing (New Jersey Association for Justice Meadowlands Seminar, November 2018)
Hot Tips in Family Law (New Jersey State Bar Association, November 2018)
Cohabitation Law in a Developing Legal Landscape (Justice Virginia Long Inns of Court, June 2018)
Hot Tips in Family Law (New Jersey State Bar Association, November 2017)
Advanced Family Law (NBI, September 2017)
Child Support Guidelines and Other Child Support Issues-Dependent Parents and Older Children Still Living at Home (New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Symposium, January 2016)
How to Take a Family Part Case Through the Court System (New Jersey State Bar Association, October 2016)
Cohabitation and Alimony Payments: Understand the Laws in New Jersey (July 2016)
Family Law: Breaking Up is Hard to Do (New Jersey Association for Justice, February 2014)
