New York Divorce and Family Law Attorneys

Carl F. Wand, Esq.

Carl F. Wand, Esq. graduated from Queens College of the City University with a B.A. in 1967 and from New York Law School with his Juris Doctorate in 1971 where he was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Wand is admitted to practice law in New York, as well as the United States Supreme Court, and the Federal District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts.

With over thirty-eight (38) years of experience, Mr. Wand has acquired the highest level of expertise and knowledge in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law. He has handled all aspects of matrimonial and family law matters, and is well known and regarded in the Long Island arena. In addition, Carl F. Wand is acknowledged as one of a select few attorneys who pioneered divorce mediation on Long Island in the early 1990s, and his mediation expertise is unparalleled.

Mr. Wand is a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Family Law Committee, as well as the Suffolk County Bar Association and its Matrimonial and Family Law Committee. With Dr. Eric R. Lutker, Ph.D., Mr. Wand co-authored "You Can Do It Yourself Divorce, The Steps To A Successful Divorce" (1993). Mr. Wand is also a former Arbitrator in Small Claims District Court in Suffolk County, and former Director of Legal Services for the Mediation Center in Suffolk County.

Mr. Wand also represents clients in the areas of corporate law and civil litigation.

Chad M. Powers, Esq.

Chad M. Powers, Esq. graduated from the University of Buffalo (S.U.N.Y.) with a B.A. in 1993 and from the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 1996. Mr. Powers was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in 1997.

Mr. Powers has practiced almost exclusively in the field of Family and Matrimonial Law and has handled all phases of trial litigation, settlement and appellate work. He has represented clients in numerous venues throughout the New York metropolitan area, including Suffolk County, Nassau County, Queens County, Kings County, New York County, Bronx County, Westchester County and Rockland County.

Mr. Powers has and continues to devote great effort toward developing and maintaining a high level of competence in all aspects of Family and Matrimonial Law. Mr. Powers has also, under the tutelage of Carl F. Wand, become an experienced mediator and offers services in this regard as well.

Mr. Powers is a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Family Law Committee, as well as the Suffolk County Bar Association and its Matrimonial and Family Law Committee.

Jennifer H. Goody, Esq.

In January 2008, Jennifer H. Goody, Esq. joined Wand & Powers, LLP, as an associate. Mr. Wand and Mr. Powers were so impressed with her dedication to the office and to its clients, that in what can only be described as “lightning speed”, in August 2009, they named Ms. Goody as a partner, and the firm name changed to Wand, Powers & Goody, LLP.

Ms. Goody is originally from Bellmore, New York. After high school, she matriculated at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, where she received her A.B. Thereafter, she returned to Long Island and attended Hofstra University School of Law and graduated in 1997 with her Juris Doctor. She was admitted to the New York Bar, Second Department, in 1998 and the New Jersey Bar in 1999.

Ms. Goody was admitted to practice in the State of New York, Second Department, in April 1998, and in the State of New Jersey in April 1999. Prior to practicing in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law, she practiced in a variety of areas since her graduation from law school including zoning law and workman’s compensation. Ms. Goody has practiced in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law since 2004, almost exclusively, working on all phases, from pendente lite applications to post-judgment applications to appeals.

Ms. Goody is a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Family Law Committee, the Nassau County Bar Association and its Matrimonial Law Committee, and the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association. Ms. Goody joined the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association in 2004, and became co-chair of the Matrimonial Law Committee that year. She continued as co-chair of the matrimonial law Committee until September 2009, at which time she became the liaison between the committee and the Board of Directors of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association. In addition, in 2005, she was elected to the position of Corresponding Secretary which she maintained for two years, and in 2007, was elected as the Recording Secretary, which position she also maintained for two years. In 2009, Ms. Goody was elected to one of the three Vice-President positions of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association. In 2010, Ms. Goody will become a Director on the Board of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association.

In 2008, Ms. Goody joined the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association and the Matrimonial Committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association.

Ms. Goody’s practice focuses approximately 85% on the family law and matrimonial fields, with the balance of her practice in estate and trust litigation and civil litigation.

Sheryl D. King Richards

Sheryl D. King Richards is the newest addition to the Wand, Powers & Goody, LLP, family. In 1992, she received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Kansas State University. She also served as a social work intern at a private psychiatric facility. She attended the University of Kansas and earned a Master of Social Work Degree in 1994. While earning her Master Degree, she served as a social work intern counseling children who were adjudicated as delinquents and as a school social worker providing therapy to children.

Ms. Richards attended Widener University and earned a Juris Doctor in 1997. Later that year she was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar. In 1998, Ms. Richards was admitted to the Pennsylvania State Bar, and in 2005, to the New York State Bar.

Ms. Richards served as a judicial law secretary to the Honorable Marvin E. Schlosser, Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Division for a one year term. She assisted the judge by reviewing pleadings and preparing judicial decisions. She also mediated family court matters including custody and parenting time issues.

Thereafter, Ms. Richards was engaged in the private practice of law and in 1999, she earned a LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University. She has practiced in the area of Matrimonial and Family law for 13 years, during which time she also served for several years as a Matrimonial Early Settlement Panelist making recommendations to help resolve divorce matters. Ms. Richards is presently a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association.

Ms. Richards utilizes her past social work education and experience to provide clients with an empathetic understanding of their marital difficulties and to help them cope with the divorce process. Her advanced law degree in taxation assists her in analyzing the financial aspects of each case and making recommendations. In the event an equitable resolution cannot be reached, she has experience successfully litigating matrimonial matters.