Atty. Melissa Needle
Attorney Melissa Needle is a lifetime Connecticut resident. She was born in New Haven, raised in Fairfield, and now resides in Westport with her family.
Profile Summary
About Melissa Needle at a glance
Melissa Needle is a Managing Partner based in Westport, Connecticut, practicing at Needle | Cuda. They have 36+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1990. Their practice focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, child support, and alimony. Admitted to practice in Connecticut (1990) and New York (1991). Educated at Whittier College School of Law (J.D., 1990) and Tufts University (B.A., 1987). Recognitions include Peer Reviewed. Active member of Connecticut Bar Association. Serands clients in Westport, CT and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Attorney Melissa Needle is a lifetime Connecticut resident
- She was born in New Haven, raised in Fairfield, and now resides in Westport with her family
- Attorney Needle is a third-generation attorney with deep family roots in Connecticut
- Her father, Attorney Charles Needle, was a founder of the Connecticut firm Zeldes, Needle & Cooper in 1971
- Since her admission to the Connecticut Bar in 1990, Melissa has exclusively practiced divorce and family law
- Melissa started Needle | Cuda: Divorce and Family Law in 2010
- The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys named Needle | Cuda a Connecticut Top 10 Best Firm in Client Satisfaction in 2019, 2020, and 2021
- Attorney Needle is an active litigator with an impressive track record
- Many of the cases in which Melissa appears involve high net worth divorce property division, complex business valuations, highly contested custody, and petitions for child relocation
- She is well-known in Connecticut courts as a forceful, but fair fighter
- an attorney with great integrity
- and as a worthy adversary who does not shy away from litigation if that path is the best opportunity for her client to reach an equitable solution
- Melissa understands that divorce is not just about the dissolution of marriage or stop-gap solutions but helping clients develop and negotiate a comprehensive plan for the rest of their lives
Practice Areas Explained
Melissa Needle's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Melissa Needle handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
A divorce attorney guides you through property division, spousal support, custody, and the final decree — contested or uncontested.
Melissa Needle is one of 50,487 divorce attorneys indexed nationally. Browse divorce attorneys in Connecticut →
Melissa Needle is one of 31,241 child custody attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child custody attorneys in Connecticut →
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Melissa Needle is one of 187,066 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Connecticut →
Melissa Needle is one of 24,688 child support attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child support attorneys in Connecticut →
Melissa Needle is one of 10,688 alimony attorneys indexed nationally. Browse alimony attorneys in Connecticut →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Connecticut
Practicing law in Connecticut. Legal matters in Connecticut are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Westport are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Connecticut state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Connecticut brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Connecticut courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Connecticut attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Westport or all attorneys in Connecticut.
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