New Jersey Family Law Attorney

Rebekah E. Heilman is a New Jersey family law attorney at Petrelli Previtera, LLC, serving clients across New Jersey in divorce, custody, and complex family law matters. With nearly two decades of legal experience, she brings a deep understanding of the court system, informed by her work as an appellate attorney, public defender, and court administrator. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and strategic legal thinking, Rebekah helps clients navigate the complexities of family law with clarity and confidence.

With a career rooted in public service, Rebekah has dedicated her work to making the legal system more accessible and effective. She has represented clients in high-stakes family law cases, fought for parental rights in child welfare proceedings, and successfully overturned unjust rulings in appellate courts. With experience in trial and appellate litigation, as well as working within the court system, Rebekah brings a well-rounded perspective to family law cases. This background allows her to anticipate potential legal challenges, craft strong legal arguments, and develop strategic approaches that help clients navigate both litigation and settlement negotiations effectively.

How Rebekah Helps Clients

Rebekah believes that a well-informed client is an empowered client. She takes the time to explain legal processes in a way that makes sense, ensuring that clients understand not just what is happening in their case, but why it is happening. She provides practical guidance and strategic insights that help clients make informed decisions about their future.

Her years of experience in appellate litigation has shaped her approach to trial work, allowing her to anticipate legal missteps that could impact a case. She is known for her meticulous case preparation, persuasive legal writing, and ability to build strong arguments that stand up to scrutiny. “I see the mistakes that other lawyers and even judges make,” she explains. “That insight helps me advocate effectively for my clients and avoid unnecessary legal pitfalls.”

Rebekah is also an accomplished negotiator. As an adjunct professor at Kean University, she teaches Negotiation Strategies and Conflict Resolution, equipping future professionals with the tools to navigate high-stakes disputes. She applies these skills to her legal practice, helping clients achieve favorable settlements while ensuring their interests are protected. Her experience in mediation and strategic case positioning enables her to offer clients creative solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Community Involvement & Personal Background

Born and raised in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Rebekah has lived in New Jersey since attending law school. She currently resides in Monmouth County, where she is active in her community.

Rebekah cares about the needs of families and their ability to maintain stability even in the most difficult of times. She works to serve the community in Monmouth County by serving on the Board of and volunteering for Freehold Area Open Door, non-profit with a food pantry that serves more than 5,000 families a month and provides rental and utility assistance; free tutoring and scholarships; and other advocacy services.

She has also played a key role in legal education initiatives, earning multiple national awards from the American Bar Association for her work in developing legal education programs for students.

Schedule a Consultation with Rebekah

Rebekah Heilman is currently accepting new clients across New Jersey. Whether you need guidance in a divorce, custody dispute, or complex family law matter, she is ready to provide strategic, solution-oriented representation. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a resolution that works for you.

Education & Bar Admissions

• Rutgers University School of Law – Newark, Juris Doctor
• Chatham College, B.A., cum laude
• Rutgers University, Center for Effective School Practices

Bar Admissions & Certifications

• New Jersey Bar
• New York Bar
• United States District Court, District of New Jersey
• Certified Civil Mediator, NJAPM
• Member, Middlesex County Bar Association

Awards & Recognition
Rebekah Heilman has been recognized for her contributions to legal education, public access to justice, and advocacy in family law matters. Below are some of her notable honors:

• American Bar Association Law Day Awards (4-time recipient) – Awarded by the American Bar Association for excellence in public legal education initiatives. These awards recognize outstanding programs that educate the public on legal principles, civic responsibilities, and the role of the judiciary. Selection is based on program impact, creativity, and effectiveness in engaging the community.
• New Jersey State Bar Foundation Grant Recipient – Recognized for securing funding to support legal outreach and educational initiatives. Grants are awarded based on demonstrated need, the proposed program’s potential impact, and its alignment with the Foundation’s mission of expanding access to legal education and services.
• Court Ombudsman Recognition – Awarded for her efforts in improving access to justice through self-help legal services and initiatives designed to make the legal system more navigable for self-represented litigants. This recognition is given to individuals who have demonstrated leadership in court accessibility programs.

Disclaimer: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. For more information on the selection processes for these awards, please visit the awarding organizations’ websites.

Notable Cases Include:

• Custody & Parental Rights Appeal: Successfully argued that improper legal standards were applied in a custody ruling, leading to a reversal in the Appellate Division.

• Child Welfare Appeal: Overturned a termination of parental rights decision by demonstrating procedural errors and evidentiary missteps.

• Judicial Misapplication of Law: Secured a reversal where a trial judge failed to consider key statutory factors in a child support determination.

• Emergency Relief & Due Process Violations: Won a rare interlocutory appeal by proving a client was denied due process in an emergency custody hearing.

• Creative Legal Strategy in Family Law Appeals: Applied principles from tort law to challenge a family court decision, resulting in a favorable ruling that reshaped the case’s outcome.

• New Jersey Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. H.F.: Successfully secured a reversal of Judgment of Guardianship terminating a father’s parental rights where father’s requests to care for his daughter were ignored and the court felt that the child was better off with her foster parents because the father worked as a union pipefitter and would have to put her in daycare. The Appellate Division remanded the matter to the trial court for a rehearing of Prongs 1, 2, and 4 of the best interests due to DYFS’ failure to meet its burden of proof.

• N.J. Dep’t of Children and Families, Div. of Youth and Family Servs. v. Y.Z.: The Supreme Court entered an order granting certification and summarily remanding the case to the trial court for reconsideration because of the minor-child’s disrupted adoption plan. The Court also ordered that the remanded appeal be consolidated with an already pending appeal based on DYFS’ failure to prove prong three by clear and convincing evidence.

• New Jersey Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. L.W.: Successfully defeated efforts to hold a mother in New Jersey after the trial court determined that there was no reason, under Title 30, to maintain continued supervision of the mother indefinitely. In this matter the mother had never been found to have abused or neglected her medically fragile child or any of her other children.

• New Jersey Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. J.B:Successfully secured a reversal of an abuse and neglect finding against a mother where her children’s uncorroborated hearsay statements regarding how they came to possess marijuana. The case outlined a rule for the admission of uncorroborated hearsay by children.

• In re R.S.:Secured a reversal of a Title 9 finding of abuse neglect against a mother accused of causing her daughter irreparable harm because the child was in the home, being cared for her father, when she attempted to commit suicide. The Appellate Division reversed based on the trial court’s reliance on previously excluded hearsay and the child had been asleep when the incident occurred.

• N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. J.M.H. (In re E.M.S.): Secured reversal of an Order which determined a father had abused or neglected his child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21c(4)(b). Because the record lacked substantial credible evidence that defendant’s conduct constituted gross negligence or recklessness the court reversed.

• In Re: D.Z. : Successfully secured a reversal of a Judgment of Guardianship terminating a mother’s parental rights. The Appellate Division remanded the matter to the trial court for rehearing of Prong 4 of the best interests test.

• N.J. Div. of Child Protection and Permanency v. A.S. and D.P., IMO J.S.: Secured an Order affirming a child’s placement with relative caregivers against a father’s wishes. The court determined that the father’s tacit consent and lack of involvement created circumstances that caused the relatives to become the child’s psychological parents.

• DCPP v. L.T. and S.M., IMO R.L.A.T.: Secured an Order for Remand for re-hearing from the New Jersey Supreme Court in a Title 30 termination of parental rights matter because DCPP failed to follow the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and placed the minor-children with non-relative caregivers without exploring the possibility of placing the children with members of their tribal community.