Family matters are deeply personal, and the legal decisions you make can shape your family, finances, and future for years to come. Whether you are planning ahead, considering divorce, facing a child custody or support issue, or looking for a more private way to resolve a dispute, experienced legal guidance can make a difficult process more manageable. At Ligris, our Massachusetts family law attorneys combine strategic advice, practical problem-solving, and personal attention to help clients move forward with confidence. We represent individuals and families in Boston and throughout Massachusetts in divorce and a full range of family law matters.
Plan for What Comes Next
Some of the best family law planning happens before a dispute ever arises. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can establish clear expectations, protect premarital assets, inherited wealth, and family business interests, and provide greater certainty for both spouses. We also guide clients through adoption and guardianship matters, helping families put the right legal framework in place for the future.
Navigate Divorce with Clarity
Divorce brings legal, financial, and personal decisions that can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once. Our role is to help you understand what matters, identify priorities, and develop a strategy that reflects both your immediate needs and long-term goals.
We advise on property and asset division, alimony, child custody and parenting plans, child support, and separation agreements. When a divorce involves a closely held business, high-value or hard-to-value assets, inherited wealth, complex compensation, relocation, or other sophisticated financial issues, our family law team brings the experience and focus those matters demand.
Protect Your Children and Your Role as a Parent
In any family law matter involving children, the focus should be on creating a workable arrangement that serves their best interests and provides stability moving forward. We help parents navigate legal and physical custody, parenting schedules, child support, relocation, and post-divorce modifications while protecting their parental rights and keeping the long-term needs of the family in view. Custody disputes can become emotional quickly, and we bring a steady, strategic approach designed to reduce unnecessary conflict where possible and advocate decisively when needed.
Resolve Family Disputes Strategically
Not every family law matter belongs in a courtroom. Mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution can give families more control over the process, reduce uncertainty, and create practical solutions without a trial. When an agreement is possible, we work to resolve disputes efficiently while protecting your long-term interests.
When litigation is necessary, our attorneys are prepared to advocate for you in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. We help you understand your options, evaluate potential outcomes, and make informed decisions at every stage.
Our Family Law practice advises on:
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Protecting generational wealth, inherited assets, premarital property, and family business interests
- Divorce, separation, and post-divorce modifications
- High-asset and complex divorce
- Property and asset division, including closely held business interests and business valuations
- Alimony and spousal support
- Child custody, parenting plans, and relocation
- Child support
- Adoption and guardianship
- Domestic violence matters
- Mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution
Why Ligris for Family Law?
Family law requires more than knowledge of statutes and court procedure. It requires judgment, preparation, and the ability to understand what matters most to each client. Our team brings deep experience across negotiation, litigation, mediation, conciliation, and complex financial matters. It includes a retired First Justice of the Bristol Division of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, a former Judicial Law Clerk of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, a board member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and a certified Conciliator regularly appointed by the Massachusetts Trial Court as a Special Master, Attorney for Children, and Parent Coordinator.
When family law issues intersect with real estate, trusts and estates, tax planning, or business interests, we collaborate with colleagues across Ligris to provide coordinated, practical guidance. That integrated approach is especially valuable in divorces involving real estate holdings, closely held businesses, significant assets, or estate planning considerations. Our goal is simple: clear advice, thoughtful strategy, and a path forward.
FAQs
What should I do before filing for divorce in Massachusetts?
Before filing for divorce, it is helpful to understand your legal rights, financial picture, parenting concerns, and the issues that may need to be resolved. Speaking with an experienced Massachusetts divorce attorney early can help you identify priorities, avoid common mistakes, and evaluate options for negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce in Massachusetts?
Even when both spouses agree on the major terms of a divorce, an attorney can help review the agreement, identify issues that may have been overlooked, and help ensure the final terms are clear, enforceable, and consistent with your long-term interests.
How is child custody determined in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts courts determine child custody and parenting time based on the best interests of the child. The court may consider the child’s needs, relationships with each parent, stability, living arrangements, each parent’s ability to provide care, and the circumstances of the family as a whole.
Can child custody, child support, or alimony be modified in Massachusetts?
Depending on the type of order, a modification may be appropriate when circumstances materially change. Changes in income, living arrangements, relocation, or a child’s needs can be relevant. Because the legal standard varies depending on the issue and the existing order, case-specific advice is important.
Can a prenuptial agreement protect inherited assets or family wealth?
Yes. A properly drafted prenuptial agreement can help protect inherited property, family wealth, premarital assets, and certain business interests by clearly defining how those assets will be treated if the marriage ends.
What happens to a business in a Massachusetts divorce?
A divorce involving a closely held business may require a business valuation and careful analysis of ownership interests, income, compensation, and other financial considerations. These matters can be more complex than a typical divorce and often benefit from coordinated legal and financial analysis.
Is mediation a good option for a divorce or custody dispute?
Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution can help families reach practical agreements without the time, expense, and uncertainty of a trial. These processes can also give participants greater control over the outcome and may help reduce unnecessary conflict.
When should I contact a family law attorney?
Early legal advice can be valuable whenever a family transition may affect your children, finances, property, or long-term obligations. A family law attorney can explain your options, help you plan strategically, negotiate on your behalf, and advocate for you in court when necessary.