Thomas R. McConnell is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College where he received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude. Mr. McConnell received his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law. He was admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey and the Federal District of New Jersey. He spent his initial year after law school as a law clerk to the Honorable Ellen L. Koblitz, Presiding Judge, Family Part, Bergen County.
For more than 22 years, Mr. McConnell has handled a variety of family law-related matters, including divorce, custody and parenting time, interstate and international custody/kidnapping disputes, child support, domestic violence, pre-nuptial and mid-marital agreements, appeals, adoptions, palimony and dissolution of civil unions. His practice ranges from handling uncontested matters to litigating the most complex, high-conflict and large asset divorce cases.
Mr. McConnell also handles contested probate matters, as well as litigation matters involving employment law, discrimination, contract law and business disputes. In addition to his trial experience, he has also litigated numerous appellate matters and has been named as counsel in numerous matters that have resulted in published and unpublished decisions.
Mr. McConnell serves as a Barrister in the Barry I. Croland Family Law Inn of Court, assisting newly-admitted attorneys, is a Panelist in the Bergen County Matrimonial Early Settlement Program and a member of the Bergen County Family Law Committee. For the past 18 years, he has volunteered thousands of hours to the Bergen County Alternatives to Domestic Violence Program, representing survivors of domestic violence to obtain Final Restraining Orders and has received Commendations from the County Executive, Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Bergen County Sherriff for his volunteer work. He has lectured on family law issues.
Mr. McConnell was included on the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2009 and 2010 and New Jersey Super Lawyers in 2016-2022; he was also named by (201) Magazine as a “Best Lawyer” in the field of matrimonial and custody law. He was selected for inclusion in the New Jersey Law Journal’s “40 under 40” in 2011. He has received an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Bergen County Bar Association.
BAR ADMISSIONS
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The State of New Jersey
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The Federal District of New Jersey
EDUCATION
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B.S, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Magna Cum Laude, 1995
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J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law, 1999
PUBLISHED OPINIONS
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Shah v. Shah, 184 N.J. 125 (2005)
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Shah v. Shah, 373 N.J.Super 47 (App. Div 2004)
UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS
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Patel v. Patel, 2007 WL 1529457
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K.M. v. JPC, 2014 WL 7693836
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D.C. v. E.C. 2020 WL 2892391
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Macek v. Peisch
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Pennello v. Pennello UCCJEA Hague Appeal
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Crane v. Crane, C-174-20
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Estate of Rhoda Crane P-029
Areas of Practice
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Family and Matrimonial Law
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Divorce
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Dissolution of Domestic Partnerships/Civil Unions and Same-Sex Marriages
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Child Custody
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Visitation and Parenting Time
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Child Support
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Alimony and Palimony
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Division of Assets - Equitable Distribution
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Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements
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Emancipation
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Modification of Custody
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Modification of Child Support
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Modification, Reduction or Termination of Alimony
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Enforcement of Custody
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Enforcement of Child Support
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Enforcement of Alimony
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Paternity
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Domestic Violence Matters
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Post Divorce Matters
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Relocation out of the State of New Jersey with a child