Joseph P. Petito

Joseph P. Petito is an experienced trial attorney who focuses his practice in the areas of criminal law, DWI/DWAI, family law, and personal injury law. His practice of family law includes the following areas and excludes matrimonial law.

• Child Custody and Visitation
• Child Support
• Adoptions
• Paternity
• Guardianships
• Domestic Violence and Protective Orders
• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
• Foster Care and Child Welfare
• Surrogacy and Reproductive Rights

Joseph P. Petito has successfully represented hundreds of clients in open Court. He conducted numerous trials and hearings in County, Supreme, and Family courts. In addition to his vigorous representation at the trial level, Mr. Petito has also been successful on the appellate level. One of his appeals was published on the first page of the prestigious New York Law Journal.

Mr. Petito formerly worked as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Dutchess County District Attorney’s office in both the vehicular and major crimes bureaus, where he handled serious felony cases from inception through hearings and trial. Mr. Petito’s caseload included major gun, drug, and violence related criminal matters. Mr. Petito also handled pistol permit revocations and is well versed in the Second Amendment and New York State firearms legislation.

Mr. Petito is a former judge who served on the Town of Hyde Park bench for eight years. He presided over thousands of cases, issuing hundreds of decisions, both written and from the bench. None of his decisions have ever been overturned on appeal. Before taking the bench, Joseph was a member of the Town of Hyde Park board and a fire commissioner.

After graduating Cum Laude from the Thomas Cooley Law School, Mr. Petito became an associate attorney for the Law Office of Bruce A. Petito. Soon after, he partnered with his father and created Petito & Petito, LLP. While a partner at Petito & Petito, Mr. Petito practiced several areas of law, including personal injury, criminal law, family law, and matrimonial law. Mr. Petito was also an Attorney for the Child, representing children of all ages in various Dutchess County Family Court proceedings.

Mr. Petito is included on Hudson Valley Magazine’s list of 2026 Top Lawyers.

Professional Memberships

• Dutchess County Bar Association
• Dutchess County 18-b Panel, Former Member
• Dutchess County Attorney for Children Panel, Former Member