Family Law
Intentionally Designed to Serve You
At WCN, we are large enough to have expertise in many law practices including family law, while small enough to deliver exceptional service through a personalized, concierge approach. We serve clients in Massachusetts with our primary office in Wellesley, MA and additional offices in Chelmsford and Boston.
Family law cases can involve complex collateral questions regarding taxes, trusts and estates and business entities, and family lawyers at small family law firms may not have ready access to tax attorneys, trust and estate attorneys, corporate and real estate attorneys to assist and advise their clients on such questions. As a mid-sized law firm, we have these experienced attorneys available to collaborate, working together on our clients’ behalf at a value Boston-based firms cannot match.
Resolving Your Family Law Matter through Mediation or Litigation
The family law attorneys at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins are experienced and have proven track records resolving family law matters through mediation and litigation. We have a wealth of experience in resolving cases through collaborative negotiation and mediation and in litigating complex and contentious cases in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court system.
Mediation
Mediation can be an effective and efficient process for resolving a divorce or other family law matter. We serve as mediator, working with both parties to a divorce, and in other matters, advise individuals as they negotiate the terms of their divorce before another mediator. The parties are actively involved in attempting to determine the terms of their divorce and when mediation is successful, the parties often end up with a judgment of divorce well suited to address their particular circumstances. In addition, mediation often results in relationships left more intact than those after a contested divorce. Individuals also tend to be better equipped to resolve future questions and disagreements, something particularly important when children are affected.
Litigation
Litigation is the court-based approach to resolving disputes, and Massachusetts divorce and custody cases are litigated in the Probate and Family Court. As family law attorneys, we advocate for our clients in court, and in cases that are not eventually settled by agreement we represent clients at trial. Our family attorneys are skilled and experienced in litigating family law matters, including complex and contentious cases.
Representative Cases
Family Law
Case Study
Financial Settlement Saves Thousands of Dollars in High-Conflict Divorce Case
David Burgess
Attorney
Other Cases
In a divorce case involving a contest over the division of assets, we demonstrated at trial, through a handwriting expert, that notarized documents purporting to transfer our client’s rights to valuable marital property had been forged. Our client was awarded a larger share of the contested assets than he otherwise would have received.
In a divorce modification case, we secured a substantial reduction in our client’s child support obligation because one of the children now resided with him and, in addition, secured an award of his attorneys’ fees based on our good faith early attempts to resolve the case without the need for contested litigation.
Following trial in a paternity action, we obtained a child support order including retroactive child support to the date of the child’s birth.
Following trial of a modification of alimony case, we successfully proved that the payor had undisclosed sources of income available to pay alimony, resulting in a larger award than our client would otherwise have received.
Following trial of a modification of custody case, we obtained a change in custody for the father of a teenaged son with special needs.
Following trial in a removal case, we obtained leave of court for a mother to move with her minor child to New York so that she could pursue a career opportunity.
Meet Our Family Law Attorneys at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins
David Burgess
Of Counsel
Michael P. Friedman
Senior Counsel
Meredith A. Havard
Attorney
Jennifer J. Normand
Attorney
David Burgess guided me through a year-long process of mediating a divorce settlement … and helped me set aside my emotions to keep my kids’ best interests at the center of all my decisions. The legal outcome was exactly what I hoped for, and I’m grateful for David’s guidance.
– S.A.
Why WCN for Family Law Matters
Right-sized. We are large enough to have the depth of expertise and knowledge, while small enough to be available, accessible and personal.
Channel WCN
The Latest in Law
Child Support Guidelines October 2021
On August 2, 2021, the Executive Office to the Trial Court published new Child Support Guidelines. The new Guidelines become effective on October 4, 2021. There are significant changes to the calculation of support as compared to the previous Guidelines published...
Attorney Erin Nielson Discusses Recent Changes in the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines
https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1tJK0l73R8 On August 1, 2001 the Executive Office of Child Court issued new child support guidelines which will go into effect on October 4, 2021. There were three major changes made to these guidelines. It is important to note that if...
Important Changes to Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines
On August 2, 2021, the Executive Office to the Trial Court published new Child Support Guidelines. The new Guidelines become effective on October 4, 2021. There are significant changes to the calculation of support as compared to the previous Guidelines published in...