Mary Frances Kelly - NY Lawyer

Mary Frances Kelly, one of the founding partners of Kelly & Knaplund, has been practicing family law in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, and New York counties since 1978. Her accomplishments in the legal field include serving as an original member of the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children, which has been advocating for court reform in family law since 1988. She has also been a part of the Ninth Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee since 1994. A trailblazer in her profession, Ms. Kelly has held the position of President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (1987-1988) and President of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association (1981-1982). Appointed by Presiding Justice Mangano, she chaired the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District of the State of New York (1998-2000) and co-chaired the WBASNY Matrimonial Committee (1991-1992). With over a decade of membership in the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, a group dedicated to utilizing alternative dispute resolution and collaborative practices in divorce and family law cases, Ms. Kelly has undergone extensive training in this approach and actively engages in ongoing education and conflict resolution practice. Proficient in mediation as well, Mary Frances Kelly has exemplified exceptional legal expertise as a collaborative divorce attorney and family law practitioner for more than three decades. Her practice today reflects a blend of public service, traditional litigation proficiency, and modern dispute resolution strategies.