Seymour (Sy) Chase

Practice Areas:  Family Law, Zoning, Board Certified Family Law Mediator

Seymour (Sy) Chase is a trial lawyer recognized by the profession and the public as a distinguished divorce lawyer. Sy served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War as a training squadron officer. Upon his honorable discharge in 1954 he was hired by Macy’s New York as a talent coordinator for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and then as its first branch store public relations director in Flatbush. Sy attended New York Law School in its evening division for 36 straight months while managing a paint and wallpaper store during the day.  As required by Supreme Court Rules, upon graduation from Law School he served a required nine-month attorney’s clerkship. Upon admission to the Bar, he was an associate with a Hudson County plaintiff’s negligence firm where he began to try contested jury and non-jury matters throughout the State.  In 1960 Sy started his own practice in Hackensack, renting office space in the building he ultimately purchased and still occupies. Sy became involved with Bar activities from the day he became a lawyer and rose through the ranks to become President of the Bergen County Bar Association, Secretary currently of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Chair of the General Council of the New Jersey State Bar Association. His early involvement in politics led to his appointment to numerous municipal and county positions, serving as Municipal Attorney, Board Attorney, Prosecutor and Municipal Judge. Prior to the 1971 Divorce Reform Act, Sy had, in addition to civil and criminal trial experience, Sy developed a sizeable case load of divorce and family law matters. Thereafter, he began to concentrate more and more of his time and talent in this ever-expanding highly specialized field of law.  Today Seymour Chase is recognized as a favored lecturer and writer on cutting edge developments in Family Law in New Jersey. On recognition of his experience and knowledge, Governor Christine Todd Whitman recently nominated him to serve as the first divorce lawyer member of the State’s Parent’s Education Program Advisory Committee. Family Law and Zoning Law may not have much in common, however Sy’s unique background, history and experience provide the perfect combination. As he says, "I help people go on with their lives and help property get new lives." While his trial calendar today is filled with the larger marital estates and more complex issues and is regularly called upon to negotiate and draft pre-marriage agreements; Sy’s most rewarding moments are when he is chosen, as is often the case, to represent or advise fellow attorneys in their own divorce matters.

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