Aneesah El-Amin-Jaamia

Partner

Aneesah El-Amin-Jaamia focuses her practice on domestic relations and family law. As a partner with the legal services practice group at Willig, Williams & Davidson since 2007, she focuses on guiding clients through divorce, support, custody, equitable distribution of property, adoption and domestic violence matters.

Direct and empathetic, Aneesah conveys a clear idea of what clients can expect and how their case will proceed. Clients have praised her competence, compassion and clarity. She works most frequently in Philadelphia and the five-county area as well as South Jersey.

Before joining the firm, Aneesah clerked for the Honorable Susan F. Maven, Superior Court of New Jersey.

WHAT INSPIRES ME ABOUT MY WORK

“Family law matters are incredibly impactful and emotional. Every divorce and custody dispute is different, and every client is unique. My legal representation is tailored to meet the needs of each client and his or her family. I take the time to fully inform them about the law and options available so that we can work together toward the desired outcome. I enjoy making productive steps toward resolving cases both in and out of court.”

AWAY FROM WORK

"I am a member of Urban Sketchers—a group that meets monthly in Philadelphia to capture the beauty of the city via sketches. I love to travel and have visited four continents and a number of countries, including Peru most recently."

Successfully tried Equitable Distribution cases involving complex marital assets including businesses and professional practices in additional to more traditional marital estates.
A long record of success protecting pensions and retirement assets in Divorce and Equitable Distribution cases.
Emphasizes a collaborative approach to divorce working with other professionals in areas including taxes, real estate, mental health and special needs evaluators to reach a settlement or other outcome which meets the “real-life” needs of all parties.
Has successfully both defended the validity of pre-nuptial agreements and had them invalidated pursuant to the needs of the individual client.
Often secures full or primary custody for many clients dealing with a parenting partner who has addiction or substance abuse issues, engages in risky or inappropriate behavior, attempts to alienate the child from their parent, or engaging in patterns of behavior which are detrimental to the child or children at issue.
Vast experience protecting the custodial rights of parents who work non-traditional jobs and have unique work schedules.
Experienced in successfully representing clients in cases where their children have been abused by the opposing parent with an emphasis on the emotional needs of the child.
Possesses decades of experience securing custodial rights for grandparents.
Consistently achieves favorable results in complex child custody relocation cases including recently securing an order allowing a client to relocate to Arizona and in another case, preventing the relocation of a child to a nearby New Jersey town due to the failure of the opposing party to attempt to co-parent with the client.
Secured Support Orders continuing financial support for children with special needs after they have finished school and reached age eighteen.
More than two decades of consistent success trying Protection from Abuse cases to verdict for parties seeking or defending against domestic relations restraining orders.
Worked with the U.S. Attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an abuse case against a serial online publisher of “revenge porn” to successfully prevent a professional client’s intimate media from appearing on the internet.
Success in multiple appeals of findings of indicated abuse by the Department of Human Services.
Very experienced in representing parents, same sex couples, step-parents, grandparents and third parties in child and adult adoption cases.
Works collaboratively with IVF reproductive centers in second parent adoption cases to ensure that the legal requirements are satisfied before the adoption process begins.
Secured Guardianships for clients with family members suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and other mental health challenges.
Represents families in Probate and Estate Administration from the passing of their loved on through the entire probate process.
Prevented an estranged spouse who had abandoned his wife from inheriting under her estate.
Often secures agreements in estate cases where family members are at odds and behaving in an unproductive fashion.
Successfully represented a local civic association before the Philadelphia Historic Commission in preventing a large church type building which had been used a nuisance night cub from being designated as historic in order that it could be demolished and replaced with new family homes as desired by the community.
Successfully represented the same civic association before the Zoning Board of Adjustment on many occasions preventing variances from being issued for properties to be used as sex clubs, night clubs, bars, multi-family housing and other inappropriate uses.
Successfully represented a local youth baseball organization facing the foreclosure of its clubhouse by securing the waiver of tens of thousands of dollars in overdue real estate taxes in an appeal before the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes by successfully arguing for the retroactive application of its nonprofit status.

Articles + News Coverage

Professional

Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chair, 2023
Nicholas J. Cipriani American Inn of Court, 2009 to Present
Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section, Executive Committee, February 2018 – Present
Section member, September 2007 - present

Community

Board of Directors, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Organized fundraising events and community activities to educate citizens on their civil rights in the Philadelphia chapter of a national civil rights organization committed to enhancing the understanding of Islam and American Muslims, protecting civil rights, fostering dialogue, and encouraging interfaith and community coalitions. 2004 – 2005
Founding Board Member of Philly Bookshelf, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on increasing the number of books, reading materials, and literacy opportunities available in the Philadelphia region with a focus on low income neighborhoods. 2018 – 2020

WHAT INSPIRES ME ABOUT MY WORK

AWAY FROM WORK

Education

Honors and Awards

Associations

Professional

Community

Admissions

Bar Admissions

Judicial Clerkships

Employment