President

Debra E. Guston
President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

Debra E. Guston is the managing partner of Guston & Guston, L.L.P., Glen Rock, NJ and Visiting Lecturer at Rutgers School of Law where she teaches Family Law. She graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, holds a M.A. from Emerson College and received her J.D. from Cardozo School of Law. Deb is also a Certified Association Executive, credentialed by the American Society of Association Executives.

Deb’s practice focuses on family formation through adoption and assisted reproduction; family protection – guardianships of elders and disabled children, Special Immigrant Juvenile custody petitions; and estate planning and administration. Deb also represents non-profit organizations in formation and governance issues.

Deb is currently completing her second term as President of the Board of Trustees of ACLU-NJ. She is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Section Executive Committee and its Adoption and Reproductive Rights Sub-Committee Chair. Deb is also past Chair and current Trustee of the LGBT Rights Section of the NJ State Bar Association. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the LGBT Family Law Institute, a joint project of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the National LGBT Bar Association that brings together attorneys experienced in LGBT family law. She is also a member of NCLR’s National Family Law Advisory Committee. Deb has also been appointed by the Bergen County, New Jersey Freeholders as a member of the County’s first LGBTQ Advisory Committee and is currently serving as the Committee’s first Chairperson.

Deb is a frequent lecturer on adoption and assisted reproductive technology issues; LGBTQ legal issues and cultural competency and family law and estate planning topics.

Deb was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education for her years of service educating her peers and has also been honored by the New Jersey State Bar Association for her work on legislative issues on behalf of the Bar and its legislative agenda. She has been honored by her alma mater, Cardozo School of Law for her work in LGBT Family Law. Deb has been voted by her peers as a Super Lawyer (2012 – 2017) and one of the TOP 50 Women Lawyers in New Jersey for 2016 and 2017.

Deb resides in her native New Jersey with her partner of 30 years, Pat and their adopted dog, Pie.

Contact Information Deb Guston , President
president@adoptionattorneys.org or call 201-447-6660