Elizabeth A. Vaz

As a young child, Elizabeth Vaz witnessed the pain of my own parents’ divorce. The bitter and often violent behavior that came into our home during this time left an unforgettable mark on her, as did the aftermath of custody fights, visitation schedules, lack of child support, etc.

As an adult, I took that painful experience and turned it into a strength and into my life’s mission; to prevent this from happening to other families. There are options.

As an attorney, I dedicate my services to assisting individuals who are going through family issues or divorce, to do so in a respectful and dignified way. Not one that will leave you, your spouse or your children with feelings of despair, confusion and uncertainty in the future.

While it is my job to protect you and your rights, my main focus will always be on helping you to make the best decisions for you and your family. I do not advocate litigation because it is costly, both emotionally and financially, and there is never a winner. Never. I encourage all of my clients to consider alternative ways to end a marriage or settle a family dispute; be it mediation, settlement talks, or Collaborative Divorce.

Although pursuing these processes can be difficult and even painful, they will help you explore options you didn’t know existed and will not leave you emotionally and financially bankrupt, the way litigation often does.

I am a lifelong Long Islander, growing up mainly on the east end, of the island. I raised my children here, graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a degree in psychology and got my law degree from Hofstra University School of Law.

I received my specialized Collaborative divorce training from the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and completed an intensive mediation training through Hofstra University. For the past 19 years, I have worked with developmentally disabled women in assisting them with independent living, I serve as a mentor to young aspiring professionals through the Moxxie Mentoring Foundation and I often volunteer my time advocating for women’s issues.

I am a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association, serving on the Alternative Dispute Committee, The National Association of Divorce Professionals and Suffolk County Women’s Business Coalition Enterprise. I am committed to my family, my community and every single one of my clients.