Joe is the Managing Partner and Founder of Russell Law, LLC. Prior to the launch of Russell Law, Joe spent twenty transformative years at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. where he was elevated to Shareholder, Chair of the Family Law Department, a Member of the Firm’s Management Committee and Managing Partner of the Red Bank office. During his tenure at Wilentz, a large and storied full-service New Jersey law firm, Joe became one of more respected family law attorneys in Monmouth County and across New Jersey. Joe channels all of the knowledge, experience and extensive time in a courtroom with the Grand Opening of RUSSELL LAW, LLC.

Joe devotes his litigation practice to matrimonial, divorce, and family law, and is a trained collaborative lawyer, divorce mediator, and arbitrator. Jeralyn represents clients with matrimonial and family law needs, including divorce litigation, mediation and arbitration, custody and parenting time issues, alimony and child support, separation and property settlement agreements, adoption and guardianship advice, domestic partnership matters under the Domestic Partnership Act, domestic violence and sexual abuse, and palimony. Through mediation and collaborative law, Jeralyn assists clients who are committed to resolving their matter without any court intervention. In the event litigation is required, Jeralyn is fully prepared, strategic, and confident in her ability to secure a favorable outcome.

Joe has spent his entire career resolving by way of settlement, and whenever necessary litigating at Trial all aspects of matrimonial, divorce and family law matters. This career devoted to family law has honed his skills in handling various issues, such as divorce, high-asset divorce, alimony, child custody/parenting time, child support, asset/liability distribution, business valuations, exempt asset protection, family trusts, domestic violence, same-sex divorce, and pre and postnuptial agreements. His advocacy has made him a regular presence in the Family Part throughout New Jersey, and he is particularly active in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Bergen, Essex, Warren, Burlington, Hunterdon and Hudson Counties. He is also an appointed member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association and serves on various committees in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties.

Joe is particularly active in Monmouth County where he lives with family, is very involved in his local community and serves on the Monmouth County Bar Association Board of Trustees and various other committees. Divorce and Family Law is truly in Joe’s DNA. His mother was a Monmouth and Ocean County Divorce Attorney for 40 years and his wife Jeanette was one of New Jersey’s preeminent Divorce Attorneys until she was sworn in as a Superior Court Judge in Monmouth County where she currently serves in the Family Part Presiding over Divorce, Post-Judgment and Domestic Violence Matters.

Joe zealously represents both women and men with the singular goal of achieving his client’s best possible outcome. Joe has substantial experience with extreme conflict, high net worth and high profile divorce matters along with a full service family law practice representing people from all walks of life. His diverse client base demonstrates the depth of his practice and includes business owners, doctors, attorneys, corporate executives, financial advisors, principles of hedge funds, professional athletes, celebrities, television/radio personalities, teachers, policeman, firemen, accountants and their spouses. Joe is always prepared to litigate at trial, but never at the expense of a client’s goals when a settlement that minimizes the financial and emotional costs provides a favorable outcome.

Joe is immersed in the practice of Family Law and all relevant issues, including divorce, alimony, child custody/parenting time, child support, distribution of assets/liabilities, business valuations, protection of exempt assets, family trusts, domestic violence, same sex marriages and prenuptial agreements.

Joe regularly appears in the Family Part throughout New Jersey and is particularly active in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Somerset, Bergen, Union, Mercer, Morris, Hunterdon, Burlington and Essex Counties. He possesses an intimate knowledge of these courts and opposing counsel. In addition to having been appointed to serve on the Family Law Executive Committee to the New Jersey State Bar Association, Joe also serves on those committees in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, as well as an Early Settlement Panelist in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties.

Joe is also certified as a R. 1:40 Qualified Mediator where he conducts both private and court appointed mediations for litigants throughout the State of New Jersey.

Joe is very involved with his local community in Monmouth County where he devotes substantial time raising money and awareness for LADACIN Network — Lifetime Assistance for Developmental and Challenging Individual Needs — a non-profit agency whose mission is to provide education, therapeutic, social, residential and support services for people with cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities in Monmouth/Ocean Counties. Joe founded and organizes an annual Polar Bear Plunge for LADACIN. Since 2009, this event has raised close to $2,000,000.00 for LADACIN. Joe also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. In 2010, Joe received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from LADACIN. In 2019, he received the Community Service Award from the Monmouth-Ocean Developmental Council at the 54th Annual Silver Gull Gala.

Since 2020, Joe has been selected for inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers list for Family Law and in its “Rising Stars” list from 2010-2019. He has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America list in the area of Family Law since 2019 and in 2026 he was named to the “Lawyer of the Year” list for Family Law Arbitration.

DISCLAIMERS:

  • Super Lawyers® (http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process_detail.html) is published by Thomson Reuters.
  • Best Lawyers in America® (https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology) is published by Best Lawyers.
  • A description of the selection processes may be accessed via the above links. The aforementioned organizations are private peer review organizations, not court-specific, public certification vehicles. No aspect of this advertisement has been submitted to or approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • In 2018, Joe served as the Editor for the award-winning New Jersey Lawyer Magazine Family Law Edition.

In the News

June 4, 2023 – NEW JERSEY LAW JOURNAL

State Court Filings Drop 20% as Judges, Lawyers Cope With COVID-19 Disruptions

Joseph J. Russell, Jr. recently spoke to the New Jersey Law Journal about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state court system, which has resulted in a decline in court filings. As a family law attorney, he also provided insights on how this has affected divorce filings in particular.

November 12, 2021 – LAW360 PULSE

NJ Family Law Attorneys See Vaccine As ‘Next Big Thing’

Joseph J. Russell, Jr. shared his insights on the impact of the pandemic on family law in a recent Law360 Pulse article. He highlighted the challenges that have emerged with regards to custody and parenting time, and predicts that the next issue that divorced parents will face is the vaccination of children.

February 1, 2021 – NEW YORK MAGAZINE/VULTURE

What Happens Next With Kellyanne and Claudia Conway’s Leaked Photo?

Joseph J. Russell, Jr. was recently interviewed by Vulture to provide his legal expertise on the ongoing family conflict involving Kellyanne Conway and her teenage daughter Claudia Conway. During the interview, he discussed the legal parameters of emancipation of a minor child in New Jersey.

Speaking Engagements

November 11, 2020 – NJICLE

Joseph J. Russell, Jr. to Present at NJICLE Webcast “Hot Tips in Family Law: Strategic Considerations in Family Law Litigation”

As part of the NJICLE webcast titled “Hot Tips in Family Law: Strategic Considerations in Family Law Litigation,” Joseph J. Russell, Jr. will be delivering a presentation titled “How to Optimize the Final ISC Before Trial.”

January 27, 2017 – NJICLE

Joseph Russell, Jr. to Present at NJICLE “2017 Family Law Symposium”

Joseph Russell, Jr. is slated to speak at the “2017 Family Law Symposium” hosted by NJICLE, which will specifically delve into the New Jersey alimony law, including its current status, pressing issues, and how it has evolved over time.

November 11, 2016 – NJICLE

Joseph Russell, Jr. to Present at NJICLE on Equitable Distribution

NJICLE’s upcoming seminar, “Hot Tips in Family Law The Top 40: New Spins on the Oldies but Goodies,” will feature a presentation by Joseph Russell, Jr. that centers on the topic of equitable distribution. During his program, Mr. Russell will specifically cover the Randazzo v. Randazzo case and its implications.

Awards & Recognition

May 3, 2019 – MONMOUTH-OCEAN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Joseph J. Russell, Jr. Receives Community Service Award from Monmouth-Ocean Development Council

On May 2, Joseph J. Russell, Jr. received the Community Service Award from the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council during their 54th Annual Silver Gull Awards Dinner. The honor was bestowed in recognition of Mr. Russell’s noteworthy community involvement and service.

May 10, 2017 – MIDDLESEX COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., Attorneys Initiated as Trustees of the Middlesex County Bar Association

Joseph Russell was initiated as a Trustee of the Middlesex County Bar Association.

April 30, 2017 – NEW JERSEY LAW JOURNAL

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., Attorneys Named New Leaders of the Bar by New Jersey Law Journal

Joseph Russell, Jr. has been named a New Leader of the Bar for 2017 by the New Jersey Law Journal.

March 22, 2017 – MIDDLESEX COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., Attorneys to Receive Middlesex County Bar Association 2017 Awards

The Middlesex County Bar Association selected Joseph Russell, Jr. to receive the 2017 Young Lawyers Award.