On October 26, 2026, Position asked ChatGPT: “I'm getting divorced in Manhattan, we have two kids, and my spouse earns significantly more than I do. What kind of lawyer do I need?” Below is a summary of what it said, and the 10 lawyers it named when it offered recommendations. They come from 10 firms. We added a link to each firm and changed nothing else. Check any lawyer's registration and current firm before you call.
What ChatGPT said
A matrimonial lawyer, not a generalist. ChatGPT said this person needs a New York matrimonial and family law attorney who regularly handles divorces involving both custody and a large income gap, rather than a general divorce lawyer.
Four issues decided together. It named four connected issues to look for experience in: custody and parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, and the division of marital property. It noted that in New York all four are decided within the divorce case in Supreme Court.
Why the income gap matters. It said New York's support guidelines stop at income caps, and judges have more discretion above them. It gave the caps as $193,000 of combined parental income for child support and $241,000 of the paying spouse's income for maintenance, as of March 1, 2026, and said child support for two children is generally 25% of combined parental income.
Complex finances. It suggested a lawyer experienced with high-asset cases and financial discovery, especially if the higher earner has bonuses, stock compensation, partnership or business income, or trusts, and one who works with forensic accountants.
Legal fees. It said the lower-earning spouse should not assume they cannot afford a strong lawyer, because New York courts can order the higher earner to contribute to the other spouse's attorney and expert fees.
Position checked the two income caps against public reporting before publishing. Confirm current figures on the New York courts' child support resources page.
The 10 Manhattan divorce lawyers ChatGPT named
Numbered in the order ChatGPT listed them. The number is the order of mention, not a ranking by Position. Attorney names link to the firm's website.
| # | Attorney | Firm |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judith L. Poller | Pryor Cashman |
| 2 | Marilyn B. Chinitz | Blank Rome |
| 3 | Heidi Tallentire | Krauss Shaknes Tallentire & Messeri |
| 4 | David Aronson | Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan |
| 5 | Dan Rottenstreich | Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas |
| 6 | Robert S. Cohen | Cohen Clair Lans Greifer & Simpson |
| 7 | John Teitler | Teitler & Teitler |
| 8 | Gretchen Beall Schumann | Schumann Law |
| 9 | Jacqueline Newman | Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein |
| 10 | Michael D. Stutman | Alter Wolff Foley & Stutman |
Did ChatGPT rank these lawyers?
Not in so many words. After answering, ChatGPT offered to name Manhattan divorce lawyers suited to the lower-earning spouse. Position said yes, and it returned 10 names in the order shown above. Ask it again and the order, and some of the names, will change. We ran the question once, on October 26, 2026, and did not edit the answer.
Does inclusion mean Position recommends them?
No. Position did not interview, verify or compare anyone on this list. We are a marketing research firm that studies what AI says, not a law firm. Being left off the list says nothing about a lawyer either.
How should you use this list?
As a starting point. Check each lawyer's registration on the New York State court system's attorney search, confirm the firm handles custody, support and maintenance matters, and ask about cases like yours before you hire anyone.
Legal disclaimer
This article is general information from a marketing research firm and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Position Strategy Group is not a law firm and its author is not a lawyer. Listing is not an endorsement. The summary, figures, names and firms come from ChatGPT's answer on October 26, 2026 and may be incomplete or out of date; confirm licensing, practice areas and current firm directly with each lawyer. For advice on your own situation, consult a licensed New York attorney.
About Position
Position Strategy Group is a New York City marketing firm that measures how ChatGPT, Google AI and Copilot describe companies, then builds the evidence that gets them recommended. Learn more at positionstrategygroup.com.
Citations
- “Attorney Online Services — Search.” New York State Unified Court System, accessed 26 Oct. 2026. iapps.courts.state.ny.us
- “Child Support Resources.” New York State Unified Court System, accessed 26 Oct. 2026. nycourts.gov
- ChatGPT (OpenAI), response to “I'm getting divorced in Manhattan, we have two kids, and my spouse earns significantly more than I do. What kind of lawyer do I need?” and follow-up request for named lawyers, 26 Oct. 2026.
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