Top Family Lawyers Near Me in Wellesley Area

Woodacre Law Group is a boutique law practice, maintaining offices in Wellesley and Mattapoisett, concentrating in all areas of family law includting litigation.. Attorney Woodacre is a Certified Discovery and Special Master. She is also a parenting coordinator, certified mediator, specializing in elder matters, marital mediation and divorce and is a member of the American, Massachusetts, and Norfolk Bar Associations. She is a Lifetime Memnber of the Massachusetts, and Nortfolk Bar Associations. She is a Lifetime member of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.

Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW, a partner at Fields and Dennis LLP, has been consistently recognized on a national and state level for showing dedication, compassion, leadership and excellence in family law and alternative dispute resolution. She is the honored recipient of 2018 Top Women of Law award and has been distinguished as a 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyer. For the past several years, she was named a “Top Ten Attorney in Family Law in Massachusetts” and this year has again been honored as a “Top Rated Lawyer: Women Leaders in the Law.”. With her dual-degree in law and clinical social work, Attorney Shemin is distinctively well-suited to offer clients an array of dispute resolution options including mediation, collaborative law, settlement negotiations, parenting coordination, divorce consultation and coaching, guardian ad litem evaluative opinions, premarital and postnuptial agreements – and she even has a subspecialization in handling cases for those interested in working on “agreements to stay married.”

Sandy Furman has over 34 years of experience serving clients in the area of divorce and family law. Sandy is an experienced trial lawyer who can assist you in Court, but who also offers collaborative law and mediation to his clients.  He cares about the people he serves and will be a strong advocate for all of your legal needs.

Regina Snow Mandl has over 27 years of experience specializing in family law, estate planning and probate administration, and probate litigation. The focus of her career has been to strive for excellence in the delivery of personal law services to individuals and families. While fully prepared to go to court when necessary, she believes that most matters can be resolved through settlement be it through the traditional structure of negotiation with independent counsel, or a form of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or collaborative law.

Lisa has extensive experience in all aspects of domestic relations practice, including pre-nuptial agreements, custody and paternity issues, divorce, legal separation, modifications, contempt and equity actions and guardianships. Whether in negotiations or at trial, Lisa pays particular attention to accurate analysis and valuation of the myriad of assets and financial interests often at stake in a divorce, whether they are business interests, various investments, stock options, or pension and profit-sharing plans, and considers the tax consequences both of dividing assets and establishing support obligations. Lisa has developed a network of professionals with whom she works closely and who provide specialized assistance in these areas.

KIMBERLEY J. JOYCE, ESQ. established her current practice in late 2016, after being an associate with Lee & Rivers LLP (formerly Lee & Levine LLP) from early 2007 until late 2016.  Ms. Joyce is a 2002 graduate of Boston College (summa cum laude with distinction in Economics), where she was a member of the honor society Alpha Sigma Nu, and a 2005 graduate of Suffolk University Law School, where she was a recipient of the Jurisprudence Award in Professional Responsibility.  Ms. Joyce is admitted to practice in Massachusetts state courts and before the U.S. District Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.. Ms. Joyce is a member of the Family Law sections of both the Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations, and is member of the Amicus Committee of the Massachusetts Bar Association.  She is Vice Chair of the MBA’s Family Law Section Council, and past chair of that Council’s education committee.. Ms. Joyce has maintained an active role in the MBA’s continuing legal education programs, both in developing ongoing courses and authoring course materials, and also in moderating and acting as panelist in programs.  She was Program Chair of and lecturer at the MBA’s 2009 “Recent Developments in Family Law” seminar and author of the program materials.  She was a contributing author for the MBA’s 2011 and 2012 Family Law Conferences and a panelist at the 2012 Family Law Conference.  She was a moderator and dual panelist at the MBA’s 2014 Family Law Conference; a panelist at the MBA’s 2014 and 2015 programs on Critical Tax and Creative Compensation Issues and co-author of the materials for those programs; and co-chair of the 2016 and 2017 Family Law Conference committees.. Ms. Joyce has also been a contributing author for program materials of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and has authored a chapter regarding alimony in divorce practice in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Lexis/Nexis Massachusetts Family Law practice manual.. Ms. Joyce is a trained conciliator and mediator, and a volunteer in the Norfolk and Middlesex County “Lawyer for the Day” programs.  She has been recognized as a Massachusetts “Rising Star” by Boston Magazine’s and Law & Politics’ Super Lawyer publication.

Jennifer entered private practice after starting her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County where she prosecuted major felony cases in both the District and Superior Courts, and gained extensive trial experience.  During her tenure at the District Attorney’s Office, Jennifer successfully argued a case of first impression before the Supreme Judicial Court (Commonwealth v. Peace Chou) and successfully argued a case before the Appeals Court (Commonwealth v. Samosa Ruiz).   Jennifer draws upon her diverse employment experience to effectively and zealously advocate for her clients in order to achieve positive results.  Jennifer believes positive results are achieved by keeping the needs of the client and his/her family in the forefront of the case and utilizing an analytical, yet practical approach, to achieve a satisfactory result.  Jennifer is also a certified family law mediator and conciliator.   Whenever possible, she helps individuals and clients through Alternative Dispute Resolution, including, negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration.  Jennifer is an on-camera contributing legal analyst for WBZ-TV (CBS-Boston).  She provides meaningful and insightful on-camera commentary on legal cases of both national and local interest.  Jennifer has provided on-camera legal commentary on the Whitey Bulger indictments and arrest, the Clark Rockefeller trial, the Christa Worthington trial and verdict and the Kimberly Cates trial in New Hampshire.  For six years, Jennifer was honored as a Massachusetts Rising Star in Massachusetts Super Lawyers/Boston Magazine, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of lawyers. Jennifer has also been honored as a Top New England Woman Attorney.

I’ve practiced family law for the duration of legal career. I consider it my professional mission to help my clients navigate the legal process, using the tools I’ve accumulated over the last 15 years. Together, my clients and I build the framework for the next stage of their lives. I see my role as principled advocate, stalwart defender and calming presence.. I represent clients in all aspects of family law including complaints for divorce, modification and removal, complaints for civil and criminal contempt, preparation of prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and paternity proceedings. In addition to trying cases, I am a trained mediator able to assist couples with the negotiation of separation agreements. I have significant experience advising clients about the division of complex marital estates, including business valuations. I served on the Taskforce that drafted the 2017 Child Support Guidelines and am able to assist clients with the negotiation of a child support and alimony obligations. As President Elect of the Massachusetts Association of Family and Conciliator Courts, I am able to connect my clients with therapists and other experts who can advise on difficult parenting issues, or, development of a parenting plan that is tailored to meet each child’s specific needs.. In 2018, after 13 years of rewarding practice at the general practice law firm Grindle Robinson LLP, I opened Clapp Family Law, LLC, a firm dedicated entirely to the resolution of complex family law matters. Our office is located in Wellesley Massachusetts, close to Routes 95 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, and, walking distance from the Wellesley Hills Commuter Rail. I continue to assist clients who residing in Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, Worcester, Essex, and Plymouth Counties.. I received my BA from Hiram College in 2000 and my Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law in 2003. Despite selecting AU for its international law program, I found my calling in another area of the law: I graduated with a concentration in family law.. I have been recognized by my peers in Massachusetts and nationally. I am listed in the 2013 - 2020 editions of Best Lawyers in America, a respected national peer review guide. I have been recognized by my colleagues as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2010 – 2013 and as a Super Lawyer from 2014 – 2020. I am the former Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Family Law Section Council and continue to be active on this board, providing me with the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of developments within the practice of family law, and, on the forefront of advocating for clients through proposed legislation.. When I’m not working, you’ll find me traveling, gardening, cooking, or walking on the beach. I love to spend time with my family and friends. I believe in fostering connections through handwritten notes, a glass of wine the garden at golden hour, or cooking Sunday supper for all the friends who can fit around the table. I travel as often as I can. I’ve been as far away as Zimbabwe and I travel to Paris annually. And, as a Midwesterner, I never tire of going to the beach, even on cold gray days!

Heather earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island and her Juris Doctor Degree from Suffolk University Law School. During her time at Suffolk, she was a member of the Family Law Clinic and served as a Judicial Clerk to Judge Sara Taft-Carter in the Rhode Island Superior Court. Prior to becoming an Associate at Kelly Family Law, Heather was an associate attorney at The Halks Firm in Newton. Prior to that, Heather gained experience specializing in personal injury casework at the Law Office of Michael B. Walsh in Boston.

Caroline Vincent is a cum laude graduate of Boston University (2008) and a cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School (2013) where she was the recipient of the Sargent Scholarship. While at Suffolk, Caroline served as an editor of the Transnational Law Review and co-authored an article titled Liberation or Exploitation: Commercial Surrogacy and the Indian Surrogacy, 36 SUFFOLK TRANSNAT’L L. REV. 671 (2013). As part of her work on the Law Review, Caroline organized a school wide moot court competition that focused on complex issues of international law.. During law school, Caroline interned at the Suffolk Probate and Family Court and served as a student attorney in Middlesex and Suffolk counties for low-income individuals in their divorce and custody proceedings. Caroline further honed her legal research and legal writing skills as a law clerk at a small firm in Medford, focusing on family law, probate, and general litigation.. After graduating from law school, Caroline served as a Judicial Law Clerk with the Probate and Family Court from 2013-2015. While serving as a law clerk, Caroline worked closely with the justices in researching and drafting decisions related to child custody, support and asset division.. After finishing her clerkship, Caroline joined the firm of Wilchins, Cosentino and Friend, LLP. In 2016, Caroline joined the Law Offices of Sheara F. Friend.. Caroline is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Caroline’s practice focuses on all matters of domestic relations with a focus on child custody and complex asset division.

Attorney Sheryl Dennis has been practicing family law for more than 24 years. Over this time, she has helped scores of family members resolve complex legal issues with a high level of skill, professionalism and compassion.. One of the founding partners of Fields and Dennis LLP, Sheryl Dennis is one of the most sought-after Massachusetts estate planning lawyers, and a leader in family law and special needs planning. She has an expertise in working with closely held family businesses and helping to set up business succession plans and estate plans. She is a member of WealthCounsel, ElderCounsel and the Academy of Special Needs Planners.. Ms. Dennis also brings significant litigation experience to the practice. Whether it is conducting a cross-examination, giving a closing statement, or arguing motions, Ms. Dennis feels at home in the courtroom.. Her expertise has been in demand at speaking events, in the media and in education: she was a featured speaker at the annual 2007 Fall Conference of the Massachusetts Council for Family Mediation on the subject of prenuptial agreements along with partner Jonathan Fields. She was also invited to contribute a lecture on discovery issues for a prestigious legal education series.. Ms. Dennis has appeared on Boston’s highest rated radio morning show, “Matty in the Morning,” on KISS-108 FM, to discuss prenuptial agreements. In recent years, she was admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for Veteran’s Claims.. In 2015 she was quoted in the March 12th issue of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Attorney Dennis was consulted on digital legacy planning relating to a new Facebook feature that allows individuals to choose a “legacy contact” to manage their account in the event of their death. She blogs frequently and contributes to social media.

Attorney E. Steven Coren has more than 40 years of experience representing individuals and families in personal injury cases, divorce and family issues, and probate litigation. As a civil litigator, he has appeared in most courts in Massachusetts and the United States District Court in Massachusetts. He is an approved mediator for the Middlesex Probate and Family Court and was formerly a Hearing Officer for the Board of Bar Overseers (2006-2012). Attorney Coren is Chair of the firm’s Personal Injury practice group and a founding member of the firm.. Attorney Coren graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University School of Law. He is licensed to practice before the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States District Court of Massachusetts, United States First Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court of Northern California and has appeared in the courts of New Hampshire.. Representative Experience:. Winning what is thought to be the highest slip and fall jury verdict in the history of Norfolk Superior Court in the amount of 1.34 million dollars. The Judge in the case commended Attorney E. Steven Coren saying, “I’ve seen a lot of slip and fall, trip and fall cases, but I think that was about as well tried as I’ve seen, Mr. Coren. You did a very fine job for your client.” Read the transcript from the case.Successfully prevailed in a highly contested estate case involving a $1.2 million trust, a 20-acre farm, and a restaurant and the land it occupied on behalf of a client who was sued by her two brothers after her parents passed away.Obtained a $950,000 settlement in a difficult personal injury case involving a client who was injured when the wheelchair she was in pitched her onto the sidewalk. The client, who was not using the wheelchair’s seatbelt, suffered serious and permanent injuries.Winning a jury trial in a difficult invasion of privacy/emotional distress case involving a client whose psychiatric records were unlawfully accessed by her ex-husband and his sister-in-law and provided to a guardian ad litem (GAL) during a post-divorce contempt case to establish a new child visitation schedule. The GAL violated GAL standards by not first seeking written authorization from the client and further by not first informing the client that the GAL was obtaining this information and intended to disclose it in her report. The jury found the client suffered from the intentional infliction of emotional distress and awarded damages against all three defendants totaling $92,800 with interest. This case is significant as emotional distress damages typically awarded by juries are minimal. Young v. McDonough et al, Boston Municipal Court; No. 2015 01 CV 1523 (2019).Serving as appellate counsel in the case of Williams v. Vanaria, 2000 Mass. App. Div. 162 (2000), which affirmed the legal principle that a successor corporation is not liable for the debts of a preceding corporation where there are separation of identities, no transfer of assets, and separate bank accounts.Representing clients in all areas of probate law including estate and will disputes.Frequently appointed by judges of the Massachusetts Probate Courts as an administrator of troubled or contested estates.Presiding over hearings on complaints against attorneys as a Hearing Officer for the Board of Bar Overseers (2006-2012).Lecturer, Trial Practice and Procedure/Evidence, MCLE, 2014-present.Lecturer, Metrowest Legal Services, Divorce Institute, 2012-present.Attorney Coren is a founding partner of KCL and Chair of our Personal Injury and Litigation Practice Groups.Steve has extensive experience, training and presenting in the field of family law and family law mediation. His experience includes:. Negotiated a favorable settlement in a divorce case involving a client who was subjected to alleged abuse by her husband during their marriage.Negotiated a property division settlement with marital assets valued over $5 million and resolved a complicated inheritance issue.Negotiated a settlement of 70 percent of the marital home to our client due to the misconduct of her husband.Negotiated a settlement involving a $4.6 million asset division with inheritance and alimony issues.Succeeded in a divorce trial by having the Probate Court adopt our business valuation expert’s opinion of the value of a wife-owned wedding gown business worth over $300,000 where the opposing expert had zero value.Succeeded in a post-divorce termination of alimony trial due to statutory retirement and proving no circumstances warranted continuation.Successfully defended husband in 209A abuse petition trial.Successfully negotiated a settlement involving substantial income and over $4.5 million in assets and alimony where the client did not want to litigate and insisted on fairness to the spouse.Successfully defended client against attempt by opposing spouse to claim that client’s mother’s many real estate properties were actually the property of the client.Steve also has served as an expert witness in attorney negligence cases involving divorce and family law matters. He has opined on the breach of the legal duty owed to a client in a family law case, negligent settlement conduct, breach of the obligation of zealous representation, improper charging of attorney fees, failure to argue correct asset division and proper division of real estate, negligent conduct in discovery matters, failure to discover relevant information, failure to pursue the right of support for a client, failure to have witnesses testify and failure to pursue legal theories.Serving as conciliator-mediator for Middlesex and Norfolk Probate and Family Courts.Lecturer, MCLE Family Law Institute, 2015-present.Professional Experience:. Board of Governors, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, Mentoring Committee Chair, 2013 – presentMassachusetts Bar Association, Committee on Civility and Professionalism, 2019 – 2020Special Interests – Education and Scuba Diving:. Attorney Coren has combined his passion for the law with his commitment to education and his love of scuba diving.. Actively involved in the field of law-related education, Attorney Coren has helped fosters programs in schools to teach students about the law and its procedures and created opportunities for students to participate in moot court programs. His activities include:. Founding and serving as past president of the Massachusetts Association for Law-Related Education, Inc., and recipient of its Distinguished Service Award.Helping to found the Lawyer/Teacher Partnership Program within the Massachusetts Bar Association.Co-author of In Search of Justice: “Legal Education Materials for Secondary and Junior High Schools” published by the Massachusetts Bar Association and used in secondary schools throughout Massachusetts.Presenter at various law-related conferences, including American Bar Association Law-Related Education seminars, Massachusetts Bar Association Law-Related Education seminars and conferences, the Massachusetts Bar Association Law-Related Education lawyer-teacher partnership program and the Massachusetts Bar Association Law-Related Education Mock Trial program.Presiding annually as a judge for national mock trial competitions.Attorney Coren is a certified scuba instructor and award winning underwater photographer. His accomplishments include:. Author, “The Law and the Diving Professional,” published by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), and it has been sold all over the world.Representing the Bay State Council of Divers and many scuba groups and dive shops.Successfully challenging a coastal town’s right to require every scuba diver to display his or her own dive flag, although the Massachusetts state law allowed groups of divers to have to only display one flag.Speaking & Writing:. Attorney Coren frequently speaks at law related conferences, including the American Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Associations. Recent presentations include:. MCLE New England, “Family Law Trial Advocacy Workshop” (2017, 2016, 2015)MCLE New England, Practicing with Professionalism, “Managing Your Clients’ Expectations (and Your Own)” (2017)MetroWest Legal Services, “Divorce Basics Training Seminar” (2016)MCLE New England, “Introducing & Excluding Evidence at Trial” (2016)Probate and Family Court Conciliation Training for the Norfolk and Middlesex Bar Associations (2015)Awards:. 2014 and 2015 President’s Awards from the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA). The award is given annually to individuals whose commitment and dedication to MATA is extraordinary.2013 Triple Threat pro bono award from MetroWest Legal Services. The award was given for service and dedication, including Attorney Cohen’s representation of pro bono family law clients, providing attorney-of-the -day services at Middlesex probate and family Court in Marlboro, Massachusetts and serving as moderator and lecturer on the Metrowest Divorce Seminar programs.

Andrea E. DeLaney is an experienced family law attorney.  Prior to joining Fields and Dennis, LLP, she had her own practice, DeLaney Parker Law Offices, LLC, where she gained significant experience in the areas of family law and divorce, including child custody, child support, paternity, alimony and asset division.  Her experience and compassion make her an ideal choice for dealling with sensitive family law cases.. Attorney DeLaney  has a deep concern for her client's well-being which is demonstrated in her vigorous advocacy for them.  She has been designated in 2014 as a Super Lawyers® Rising Star in the practice of family law, which she earned through a demonstrated commitment to the field of family law.. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, Family Law Section, Norfolk County Bar Association, North Shore Women Lawyers' Association, and is on the membership committee of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council (MCLC).  She is also a court appointed conciliator and a volunteer with the Attorneys Representing Children (ARC) panel in Norfolk County.. Education. Attorney DeLaney received her J.D. from New England Law and her B.S. in Economics-Finance from Bentley University.. Contact Attorney Andrea E. DeLaney for a confidential consultation.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Wellesley and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Wellesley and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Wellesley and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Wellesley and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Wellesley and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Wellesley and surrounding areas.