About

Dara P. Goings

Dara P. Goings practices exclusively in the area of Family and Matrimonial Law, including divorce, property distribution, alimony, child support, child custody, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Dara regularly represents physicians, attorneys, accountants, business owners, corporate executives and their spouses both in the initial stages of divorce proceedings and following the entry of a divorce or custody judgment in various enforcement and modification actions.


Dara uses her knowledge of taxation, executive compensation and retirement plans to guide clients through the complexities of cash incentive awards, long-term incentive awards, performance awards, restricted stock units, stock options, pension plans, 401Ks and IRAs, in order to structure effective financial outcomes tailored to meet each client’s individual needs. Dara helps clients to achieve successful outcomes of child custody and parental access issues. With a background in Psychology, Dara also helps clients navigate mental health issues and substance abuse issues which are so often exacerbated by divorce and custody proceedings.


Dara analyzes trust instruments and works with forensic accountants to determine all sources of income available for support and distribution. Dara also works with business valuators to determine the fair value of family-owned and operated businesses, medical, legal and accounting practices, and other private companies and corporations. Dara routinely works with Trustees and Trust Counsel in connection with her drafting and review of prenuptial agreements.


Dara expands her practice into Collaborative Divorce, Divorce Mediation and Private Special Mastering allowing her to offer divorcing individuals a non-adversarial alternative for resolving divorce and other family disputes respectfully and privately.


Dara represents her clients throughout Connecticut and also offers counsel on interstate and international family and matrimonial law matters.

Dara P. Goings
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Honors and Awards

  • Super Lawyers® - Connecticut - 2021 - 2023
  • New England Super Lawyers Rising Star® - Connecticut: 2013 – 2020
  • American Institute of Family Law Attorneys™ 10 Best Family Law Attorneys - Connecticut: 2021 - 2024
  • American Institute of Family Law Attorneys™ 10 Best Under 40 - Connecticut: 2016 – 2017 
  • National Academy of Family Law Attorneys™ Top 10 Under 40: 2017
  • American Institute of Family Law Attorneys™ 10 Best Law Firms – Connecticut: 2017


Professional Activities and Memberships

  • Connecticut Women’s Council, President, 2023 - Present
  • Connecticut Women’s Council, Vice President, 2021 - 2022
  • The Connecticut Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2018 - Present
  • Connecticut Women’s Council, Board Member, 2018 – Present
  • Hartford County Bar Association, 2005 - Present
  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce, 2010 - Present
  • Collaborative Divorce Lawyers Association of Greater Hartford, 2016 - Present
  • Town of Suffield Police Commission, 2017 - 2019
  • Town of Suffield Ethics Commission, 2020 – Present


Seminars

  • The Interplay of Trusts and Divorce; Trusts and Estate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, 2015
  • An Introduction to the Practice of Family Law; Connecticut Bar Association, 2012
  • The Business of Law in Private Practice, Hartford County Bar Association, 2016
  • The Essentials of Family Law, Connecticut Bar Association, 2017

Pro Bono Activities

  • Discovery Special Master, Hartford Superior Court, Family Division
  • Connecticut Community Law Center, Mentor
  • Special Master, Middlesex Superior Court and Tolland Superior Court, Family Division
  • Mediator, Families in Transition Program, Children's Law Center of Connecticut


Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 2005
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 2006


Education

  • University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut
  • J.D. - 2005
  • Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut
  • B.A. cum laude - 2002
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Major: Psychology-Based Human Relations
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