Emerald E. Sheay devotes her practice exclusively to family law, including domestic violence matters, divorce, alimony, child support, equitable distribution of assets, custody/parenting time, post-judgment matters, along with the drafting and negotiation of prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements. She takes an empathetic approach to lawyering and believes that zealous advocacy for her clients, along with finding creative solutions to the problems they face, comes from a client-centered approach.

Ms. Sheay graduated cum laude from Seton Hall School of Law, and was awarded the prestigious Dean’s Award upon graduation. She served as President of the Seton Hall School of Law Family Law Society and served as a student attorney in the Seton Hall School of Law Family Law Clinic. In recognition for her commitment to family law, Ms. Sheay was awarded the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Student Scholarship in 2020. Following law school, Ms. Sheay served as the judicial law clerk to the Presiding Judge of the Family Part, the Honorable Lisa F. Chrystal, in Union County.

Ms. Sheay is especially passionate about disputes involving companion animals. She has experience handling a wide variety of animal law matters, including pet custody disputes, rescue representation, disputes over family pets in divorce matters, and related issues. She has published articles on the topics of family and animal law in the Animal Law Review (“People Who Hurt Animals Don’t Stop with Animals”), New Jersey Lawyer Magazine (“Paw Prints on our Hearts: Emotional Distress Damages for Pet Loss in New Jersey”), and New Jersey Family Lawyer (“Fighting over Fido: Pet Custody Disputes in New Jersey.”) She is the current Co-Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Animal Welfare Committee. She was selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars list in 2024.

Ms. Sheay is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and the United District Court of New Jersey. She is a frequent volunteer with the pro bono family law clinic at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in Newark, New Jersey, and is an active member of the Union County Bar Association.