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State research · New Mexico

Child-centered divorce and custody lawyers in New Mexico.

Three lawyers whose public records show meaningful child-focused work, substantial family-law depth, professional stature, and a useful first-party online presence.

Research reviewedAugust 17, 2026
01Editorial score92/100

Albuquerque · New Mexico

Randy W. Powers Jr.

Powers Family Law

Powers takes the top New Mexico position because the most important child-centered claim—guardian-ad-litem service—is supported by both his site and an official State Bar family-law section roster. His all-family-law practice covers divorce, custody, support, guardianship, modifications, settlement facilitation, arbitration, and litigation, and reported specialist certification adds technical credibility. The online presence is clear enough for a consumer to assess services and make contact, though it offers less philosophy and scholarship than some competitors. The official GAL document is dated 2023 and is not proof of current good standing or present appointment availability. KIDD1Divorce should therefore verify license, discipline, specialist certification, and current GAL status directly before publication, while describing the selection as an editorial assessment rather than an endorsement.

Why the children-first signal is real

Powers' first-party materials identify court-appointed guardian-ad-litem work, and the State Bar of New Mexico's official family-law section GAL list includes him as accepting appointments. That is direct, externally corroborated child-representation evidence.

Divorce and custody depth

The firm describes an all-family-law practice covering divorce, custody, child support, guardianship, modification, settlement facilitation, arbitration, and contested proceedings.

Professional stature

His biography reports New Mexico board certification as a family-law specialist, neutral work, and court appointments; the official State Bar GAL list provides additional professional-role corroboration.

Children 30/30Case depth 24/25Stature 18/20Online presence 0/15License confidence 0/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: The State Bar family-law section's official GAL list corroborates Powers' professional activity, but it is dated December 2023 and is not a current license or discipline result. Verify both through the official bar and disciplinary searches.

The official GAL roster is dated December 2023 and needs current confirmation.A stable individual current-status and discipline result was not captured.

02Editorial score91/100

Albuquerque · New Mexico

Roberta S. Batley

Batley Riley Family Law, P.A.

Batley offers the strongest overall professional stature in the New Mexico pool. Her profile combines high-conflict custody and complex divorce work with decades of mediation, long-term collaborative practice, trial credentials, national professional leadership, and participation in IAALS' Honoring Families initiative. That evidence supports a lawyer who understands both rigorous advocacy and the value of processes designed to reduce unnecessary family harm. She ranks second because Powers has clearer, officially corroborated direct child-representation evidence through the GAL roster. Batley's site is highly informative and allows meaningful consumer assessment, but most credentials remain first-party claims and her former specialist status should not be presented as current. Official license, discipline, neutral-role, and availability checks are required before publication or any stronger description of her present practice.

Why the children-first signal is real

Batley's biography documents high-conflict custody work, collaborative practice since 2001, mediation since 1993, and service on IAALS' Honoring Families advisory group. These show sustained attention to family-system design and proportionate dispute resolution.

Divorce and custody depth

Her profile describes extensive work in high-conflict custody, complex divorce, litigation, mediation, settlement facilitation, and collaborative cases, with decades of family-law neutral experience.

Professional stature

The biography reports AAML and IAFL fellowship, Diplomate status in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, former family specialist certification, ABA family-law leadership, teaching, and national reform advisory work.

Children 26/30Case depth 25/25Stature 20/20Online presence 0/15License confidence 0/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: A stable individual New Mexico license or discipline result was not captured. Verify current status and any public discipline through the official State Bar and Disciplinary Board searches before publication.

Her biography describes former family-law specialist certification; do not imply that certification is current without official confirmation.Direct current license and discipline records were not captured.

03Editorial score89/100

Albuquerque · New Mexico

Jennifer deGraauw

Tailored Divorce Guidance, LLC

deGraauw earns the third New Mexico position for combining meaningful divorce experience with unusually strong collaborative-law institution building. Her profile reports leadership of the state's collaborative group, co-authorship of the New Mexico Collaborative Law Act, service on the Supreme Court's domestic-relations rules committee, and recognized work in mediation, collaborative law, and family law. Those activities show more than a marketing preference for settlement; they indicate sustained investment in structured alternatives to damaging litigation. She ranks below Powers and Batley because the reviewed sources do not document a direct GAL, parenting-coordinator, or child-development role, and her overall tenure is shorter. The site is strong and highly usable, but all current credentials, licensing, discipline, and availability need official and direct confirmation before publication.

Why the children-first signal is real

deGraauw's biography documents collaborative-law and mediation practice, former leadership of New Mexico's collaborative group, and co-authorship of the New Mexico Collaborative Law Act. The evidence supports a durable, lower-conflict process orientation relevant to families with children.

Divorce and custody depth

Her profile reports more than seventeen years in divorce and family law across litigation, mediation, and collaborative practice, plus service on the New Mexico Supreme Court Domestic Relations Rules Committee.

Professional stature

First-party materials report collaborative-group presidency, legislative co-authorship, Supreme Court rules-committee service, and Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year recognition in mediation, collaborative law, and family law.

Children 25/30Case depth 24/25Stature 20/20Online presence 0/15License confidence 0/10
Visit attorney profile ↗Custody practiceContact the firm
Verification note and limitations

Status note: A stable individual New Mexico license or discipline result was not captured. Verify current status and public discipline through the official State Bar and Disciplinary Board searches before publication.

The child-centered case is based primarily on collaborative and mediation leadership rather than direct child representation.Current license, discipline, committee service, and recognitions require confirmation.

Before you hire anyone

A shortlist is the beginning of diligence, not the end.

Kids First Divorce is an independent editorial publication. We do not represent you, refer you to counsel, certify any lawyer, or predict any result. Selection is based on publicly available information reviewed as of the date shown.

Confirm the lawyer’s current license and disciplinary history with the official state authority. Interview the lawyer about conflicts, fees, availability, geographic coverage, relevant experience, strategy, and whether their approach fits your family’s actual facts.

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