Heidi E. Opinsky - Stamford, CT
Attorney at The Law Offices of Heidi E. Opinsky, LLC
Family Law Lawyers in Stamford, CT
236 South Lake Drive Stamford, CT 06903
Stamford Family Law Lawyer
Updated: 05/07/2026
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Prenuptial, Postnuptial and Separation Agreements
- Alimony
- Maintenance
- Child Support
- Custody
- Visitation
- Parenting Plans
- Post-Judgment Modifications
- Enforcement
- Contempt Proceedings
Attorney Information
Overview
Heidi is a Partner in the Matrimonial and Family Law Practice Group. She has over 30 years of legal experience in mediation, collaborative law and litigation, and has established a reputation as an artful negotiator and zealous courtroom advocate. Heidi represents clients in a full spectrum of family law needs, in New York and Connecticut, including prenuptial, postnuptial and separation agreements, alimony, maintenance, child support, custody, visitation, parenting plans, post-judgment modifications, enforcement and contempt proceedings. Heidi also handles matters involving grandparents' rights, civil unions, same sex marriages, domestic partnerships, parenting plans, frequently utilizing parent coordinators, and psychological expert evaluators to address high conflict parenting cases. She also advises clients with issues involving medical, life, and health-care plans, and social security benefits. Heidi's cases involve civil unions, domestic partnerships and same sex divorces. Ms. Opinsky serves as a strong advocate for domestic violence issues, including assault, spousal abuse and matters warranting the involvement of Child Protective Services.
Heidi works closely with skilled forensic accountants, tax experts, financial planners, actuaries and appraisers regarding valuation of pensions, retirement accounts, stock option plans, benefits, business valuations and valuation of professional practices. She assists in the determination of enhanced earnings and analyses involving 401(k) accounts, IRAs, deferred compensation, retirement and pension plans, stock units, stock options, restricted stock, private equity plans, stock rights, investment accounts, qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), hedge funds, license valuations (in New York), residential/commercial real property appraisals, royalties and the division of separate and marital property and its appreciation. Heidi assists clients in the division and distribution of real and personal property, including marital residences, second homes, vacation homes and investment properties, as well as hidden assets located in New York or Connecticut.
She is skilled with the effects of bankruptcy on divorce regarding the issues of non-dischargeability of support and assets in family law cases, as well as tax consequences affecting support and the distribution of assets and property during a divorce. She advises on UGMA/UTMA accounts, 529 plans and custodial accounts that may be utilized for college and post-majority support for children.
Prior to joining Jones Morrison, Heidi was a Partner in the National Law Firm Fox Rothschild LLP, and was a Partner of the Regional Law Firm McCarter & English LLP, and was the Principal to a New York City, Westchester County and Connecticut based Family Law Practice. She previously served as a Legislative Liaison for Governor William O'Neil in the State of Connecticut and Office of Policy and Management, and was a Legislative Intern for United States Congressman William R. Cotter in Washington, D.C.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- State of Connecticut Bar Association, Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2004 - 2006
- Trial Skills Participant, New York Trial Lawyers, 2000
- Participated, Preparation of Legal Treatise Related to the Aged and Mental Hygiene Law Reforms of New York, Hofstra University School of Law, 1984
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Hofstra University School of Law,
Hempstead,
New York, 1985
J.D.
-
Hofstra University School of Law,
Hempstead,
New York, 1985
-
Non Legal Education
-
St. Lawrence University, 1981
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
-
St. Lawrence University, 1981
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- Hon. Chief Justice J. Chesoni, and Magistrate Effy O’Wor, Supreme Court, Nairobi, Kenya, Legal Intern, 1980
- Congressman William R. Cotter, House Office Building, Washington D.C., Legislative Intern, 1981
- Governor William O'Neill in the State of Connecticut and Office of Policy and Management, Legislative Liaison, 1981 - 1982
- New York State Law Firm, Matrimonial Department and Connecticut, Special Counsel, 1991 - 1993
- New York State Law Firm, Special Counsel, 2002 - 2004
- Hon. Samuel G. Fredman, Supreme Court, Westchester County, Guardian Ad Litem and Special Attorney, 1999
- Fox Rothschild LLP, Partner
- McCarter & English LLP, Partner
Classes and Seminars
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Teaching Assistant, Department of Philosophy, St. Lawrence University, 1980
-
Lecturer, Nassau County Bar Association, State of New York
-
Lecturer, Domestic Relations Law Review, Westchester County Bar Association, State of New York
-
Lecturer, Litigation Committee, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Lecturer, "Getting the Best Financial Settlement for your Divorce in Connecticut", National Business Institute, 2005
-
Lecturer, "Effectively Using Experts in Family Law", National Business Institute, 2008
-
Guest Speaker, "Women in the Judiciary: An Insider Look" (With Hon. Anne C. Dranginis), Fairfield County Bar Association, State of Connecticut, 2006
-
Guest Speaker, "Luncheon with the Honorable Lynda B. Munro, Superior Court, State of Connecticut", 2008
-
Host Speaker, Luncheon with Judges Stamford/Norwalk CT Superior Court, Co-Chair Women in Law Committee, 2015 - Present
-
Host Speaker, Evolving Approaches to Addressing Domestic Violence in Connecticut, Fairfield County Bar Association, 2010 - Present
-
Lecturer, Effectively Using Experts in Family Law, National Business Institute, 2008 - Present
-
Host Speaker, Family matters, Luncheon with the Chief Administrative Judge of Family Matters for the State of Connecticut, Lynda B. Munro, 2008 - Present
- Host Speaker, Women in Robes: Judges, Gender and Justice, Hon. Donna Nelson Heller and Hon. Erika M. Tindill, Fairfield County Bar Association, 2015 - Present
Representative Cases
-
Fink v. Fink
- Citation: 582 N.Y.S.2d 726, 182 A.D.2d 669
- Court: 2d Dept.
- Year: 1992
-
Bicknell v. Bicknell
- Citation: 631 N.Y.S.2d 78
- Court: 2d Dept.
- Year: 1995
-
Faranda v. Dolan
- Citation: New York Law Journal, Front Page
- Court: November
- Year: 1997
Published Works
Articles
-
Splitsville? How to Divide Property in a Divorce, Quoted, Thomson Reuters, 2013
-
Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Breaking a Prenupt is Harder, Quoted, Thomson Reuters, 2012
-
A Question of Protection, Family Law Attorneys Seek Better Court Results From Orders, Quoted, Connecticut Law Tribune, 2009
-
Complex Divorce Cases During Difficult Economic Times, Quoted, HG Org Worldwide Legal Directories, 2009
-
Threatening Video Leads to Restraining Order, Quoted, Connecticut Law Tribune, 2009
Bar Admissions
- Connecticut, 1985
- New York, 1986
- District of Columbia, 1986
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1988
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1988
Specialties and Certifications
- Family and Matrimonial Law and Litigation, New York State Law firm, 2004
- Certified Guardian Ad Litem, Connecticut Superior Court
Other Affiliations
- Connecticut State Bar Association, 2015 - 2016 (Membership Committee)
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Fairfield County Bar Association, State of Connecticut (Committee Co-Chair, Women in Law Committee and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee)
- Stamford Connecticut Regional Bar Association
- Collaborative Divorce Attorneys of Fairfield County
- New York State Bar Association, Committee on Children and the Law
- Gotham City Networking, Inc., Fairfield Gotham Group
- Connecticut Certified Guardian Ad Litem/Attorney for Minor Child
- Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District Special Master Family Law Cases Connecticut Superior Court
- Pro Bono Honor Roll Connecticut Bar Association, 2000 - 2007
- BNI EDGE Stamford Chapter, Global Networking Group (Member)
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