When legal action is required to create and protect family relationships, or to resolve difficult family disputes and disagreements, it is essential that you entrust your most private matters with a compassionate and knowledgeable family law attorney. Our family law attorneys and staff serve as good listeners, confidants and advocates for our clients during their most difficult times.
For many, family law is thought to be synonymous with divorce proceedings. In reality, divorce is just a small part of family law, which covers a broad array of domestic issues including:
Adoption & Reproductive Law
Support, Custody & Visitation Orders
Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Unions
Paternity & Actions to Establish Parenthood
Domestic Violence, Restraining Orders & Safety Planning
Marital & Relationship Agreements
Adoption & Reproductive Law
While starting a family can be an immensely rewarding experience, for many individuals and couples it is also accompanied by a host of legal and bureaucratic complexities. Those who approach the process with the aid of a knowledgeable and experienced adoption and reproductive law attorney find that they are relieved of much of the delays, frustration and expense it often entails.
Whether you are contemplating an alternative reproductive arrangement, a traditional domestic or international adoption, or the co-parent adoption of a spouse or partner's child, our firm can effectively coordinate the parties, court and state agencies to ensure a seemless and efficient process.
Support, Custody, and Visitation Orders
The dissolution of a marriage or domestic relationship may just be the start of a number of complex legal and financial issues. When a relationship ends, the parties may continue to have financial and other obligations to one another and to their children for years. Our law firm routinely handles the establishment, modification, and enforcement of support, custody, and visitation orders for our clients and their children. Our attorneys and staff will work with you to achieve the best possible outcome while safeguarding your parental rights and protecting your children’s best interests.
Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Unions
Divorce proceedings usually involve intense emotions and significant expense. Our dedicated family law attorneyscan work with you throughout your divorce to minimize the emotional strain and cost normally associated with these proceedings. We handle complex contested and uncontested divorces, and we have unique experience in obtaining divorce and dissolution of civil unions on behalf of same-sex clients throughout Massachusetts.
During divorce proceedings, we will carefully review all assets and debt involved and strive to attain the largest possible distribution of marital assets for our clients. When appropriate, we will work closely with you to guarantee proper financial contribution through alimony and child support. If children are involved, we will work with you to obtain custody of your children, child support payments or help in the development of a parenting plan, if preferred.
If you and your spouse wish to work together to obtain an amicable or uncontested divorce, our law firm will work closely with you to resolve issues and reach a fair and comprehensive outcome. Many individuals prefer this method as it tends to be faster, less costly and produces a more amicable outcome.
Paternity & Actions to Establish Parenthood
Paternity lawsuits may be necessary to determine parental rights, custody or support matters when the identity of the biological father is in question. In some instances, the court will order a genetic test.
Paternity actions can be brought by a biological father to establish parental rights to a child. Paternity actions can also be brought in order to establish a biological father's legal obligation of financial support. Where a biological father does not wish to play an active role in the child’s upbringing, the law imposes a legal obligation to provide financial support to the minor.
Even where there is no biological or established legal parent-child relationship, the law may create parent-like obligations and rights if it is in the best interests of the child.
Domestic Violence, Restraining Orders, and Safety Planning
Unfortunately, domestic violence and sexual assault exist in every type of relationship and in every community. Abuse may include harassment, control, assault and physical violence, sexual abuse, and neglect. If you are experiencing physical or emotional abuse by a spouse, partner, or other individual you should contact the police and an experienced Domestic Violence, Restraining Orders, and Safety Planning lawyer who can listen to your story and inform you of your rights.
Our dedicated attorneys will work tirelessly to establish a safety plan with you and to work with law enforcement and the court system to advocate for your legal needs and your physical safety. In addition to serving private clients, our attorneys work closely with a number of pro bono organizations to provide legal representation and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Marital & Relationship Agreements |