Elena Jaffe Tastensen began her legal career in 1998 as an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney's Office in Manhattan under Robert Morgenthau. At the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Elena prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including robberies, burglaries, assaults, domestic violence offenses, grand larceny, and DWI and drug offenses. After serving as an Assistant District Attorney for four years, she relocated to the Capital District. She served as an attorney for the New York State Consumer Protection Board in Albany, before opening her private practice in Saratoga Springs in 2004.
Since 2004, Elena has devoted her practice exclusively to the representation of men and women in family and criminal matters. She has represented mothers and fathers in Family Courts across the Capital District in matters involving custody, visitation, paternity, abuse and neglect, orders of protection, child support, and spousal support. She has also represented husbands and wives in divorce actions in Supreme Courts across the region, including the issues of equitable distribution of marital property, sales of residences, and division of assets. For more information on representation in a family law or divorce matter, click here.
While she continues to handle certain casesin court, Elena strongly believes that the collaborative approach to matrimonial cases, as well as divorce and family mediation, results in better outcomes for clients and their families as they work through this time of transition in their lives. After litigating matrimonial and family cases for years, she was thrilled to participate in the formation of the Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District in 2008 and is a founding member of the organization. Elena is also a member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation and the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. For more information on family and divorce mediation, click here. For more information on collaborative divorce, click here.
In addition to serving as a family and divorce mediator, and representing clients in family and matrimonial matters, Elena continues to represent individuals charged with crimes in all courts, including misdemeanors, felonies, DWI, drug cases, and traffic offenses. For more information on representation in a criminal or traffic matter, click here.
Elena is currently a member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, Academy of Professional Family Mediators, Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District, Saratoga County Bar Association, Adirondack Women's Bar Association, New York State Defenders Association, and New York State Bar Association Family Law Section. Elena was appointed to the Executive Board of the Saratoga County Bar Association in June 2012, and is a Past President of the organization. Elena lives in the Saratoga Springs area with her husband, three children, two dogs, pet snake William Snakespeare, and several fish.
Recommendations
- I hired Elena as my legal counsel for my separation and divorce. She was extremely professional, helpful and responsive. She gave me a great sense of relief by preparing me for the process and guiding me through it, step by step. Her office and staff were efficient and organized and made a diffic...
- Elena was my divorce attorney, and I will turn to her again, without hesitation! She is very professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate. She addressed all my concerns with a positive outcome, as well as laid to rest any fears or anxiety regarding custody issues. She was very direct and honest...
- If you are looking for mediation, look no further! Elena, was heavily knowledgeable with the laws and regulations regarding our situation. She made all options so clear and simple we were able to come to an agreement on our first visit. Thank you so much, Elena!
- Elena was my divorce lawyer. She helped me with custody of my kids when no other lawyer could help me. Not only was I able to keep sole custody of my kids but I now am getting child support which I couldn't get with other legal help. Highly recommend her.
- I was very impressed with Elena's knowledge and professionalism. Elena encouraged mediation in order to forgo the costly expense of litigation and was invaluable in helping me set forth a divorce agreement that both parties could live with.
- Ms. Tastensen has been tremendously helpful in her expeditious and professional way of handling my legal seperation. Our initial meeting was very informative and the end results after filing the separation agreement with the court exceeded my expectations. In addition to being very professional, ...
- working with ms. tastensen during my divorce was a very positive experience. she was always professional, patient, and willing to explain and clarify any aspects of the process about which i had questions. her responses, whether by email or phone, were always timely.i strongly recommend working w...
- She had 7 misdemeanor charges reduced to a single violation, and had a restraining order lifted, before I even had a chance to shake her hand! She handled my criminal charges expeditiously, hyper-professionally, and thoroughly. In court, she was confident and reassuring. Her presence reduced shee...
- I worked with Elena for over a year on multiple cases involving my divorce and child custody matters. She was efficient, knowledgable, and comprehensive at all times. She successfully guided me through situations that seemed impossible at the time. Over the past few years, I have continued to see...
- Elena helped us through mediation. We could not have asked for someone better! She was very knowledgeable and we appreciated everything she did for us!
- Ms. Tastensen has been very helpful in settling my recent divorce. She always made herself available to answer my questions regardless of how silly they were at times. She kept focused on the task of resolving all issues as quickly and efficiently as possible. When her name has come up in Network...
- I strongly recommend Elena Jaffe Tastensen to anyone in need of a professional, knowledgeable, helpful and considerate attorney. Ms. Tastensen had amazing communication skills (able to communicate in laymen terms to me what was going on at all times) and was extremely timely in returning calls/em...
- I have highly recommended Ms. Tastensen already to several friends and acquaintances. I found her to be a very knowledgeable, kind and considerate woman. She was extremely generous with her time, immediate in her correspondence and understanding in my emotional turmoil. She was patient and worked...
- I HIGHLY recommend Elena. She is easy to work with, detailed and professional. I have referred her many times and will continue too.
- Elena really made me feel supported in a really vulnerable and scary situation. If you don't even know where to start, she is where you turn!
- I highly recommend this attorney to anyone who is interested in working with a collaborative attorney toward a civil, thoughtful divorce. Elena is considerate and will offer suggestions and guide her clients through the divorce process and child custody issues with integrity, compassion and fairn...